alt Hacker NewsPut aside politics and anti-tear gas use cases: everyone should just have a full face gas mask for all hacker-ish activities, like painting. Skip half-face, go for full face. Half face models don't just leave eyes exposed but hurts the back of the neck. Maybe I'm wearing it wrong, but the headstrap for full face is much more comfortable. They also seal a lot better.
More random tidbits: You'd semi-obviously want a sacrificial wrap over the mask if you're painting, as well as few spare cartridges. There are particulate filters that are just regular paper masks, organic vapor cans for painting, and couple of acid cans for toxic gases. DYOR and use the right one for the task. Particulate filters go on top of gas cans on the iconic 3M 6000 series masks; it's not integrated to the can. The cans also technically only last few hours after opening the package, so technically you should be replacing twice daily. They also can't protect against large amounts of toxic substances like videogame thick green vapors of alien weapons, only what's somewhat casually filtered. In e.g. inside an active volcano, go for full scuba or something that don't rely on filtering. The reason why some masks use pair of cans as opposed to one can, is just for easier breathing. The performance on paper is the same; you can seal off one port with something if you want. The improvement is maybe not negligible, but you get used to breathing through masks quickly anyway. The mini mask that covers mouth and nose inside a full face mask exists to help clear condensation by forcing you to breathe in fresh air around its front surface and force exhalation through the exhaust valve. Removing it will steam up the shield. The air drawn in is filtered, but exhaust is not; if the wearer is infected with something, the mask won't help stop the spread.
TL;DR: gas masks is its own mini rabbit hole.
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For the UK/EU types, GVS make a good half resporator mask:
https://www.gvs.com/en/catalog/elipse-p3-respirator
This one is good for standard DIY duties that do not involve chemicals (ie cutting, grinding, sanding)
there is a quite readable guide you can get here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg53.pdf
For chemical resistance: https://www.gvs.com/en/catalog/elipse-a1p3-respirator
BUT you need to worry about mucus membranes (ie eyeballs can absorb some chemical). The A1 bit means that it'll protect against PPM that are less than 1000, (No I don't know what the PPM of teargas is.)
I guess but cannot assert that decent hardened safety goggles will help against gas in the eyes, but again you'll need to look at the standards for that. the all in one mask/face shields are a better bet.
Your local hardware store should carry this kind of stuff, especially if they do any kind of plastic solvent or fibreglass/epoxy stuff.
If you are the kind of person who has forgone wearing a mask or eye protection while working on a project because you thought you could be done quickly or it was too much of a hassle or too uncomfortable for the "little" amount of benefit it would have: get a full-face mask.
Full-face masks are so much more comfortable, so much clearer to see through than those stupid yellow sunglasses that get scratched up all the time, so much easier to put everything on, so much better in every aspect that you won't think twice about it anymore. You walk into the shop, grab the one thing, put it on, and get to work.
> everyone should just have a full face gas mask for all hacker-ish activities, like painting
Not everyone who wears eyeglasses, unless you're prepared to add another several hundred dollars for the lens holder and set of prescription lenses.
I do have the 3M 6800 full face respirator but almost never use it. The silicone 7xxx series is much more comfortable than the rubber 6xxx series, and the 750x silicone half mask is reasonably priced. Augment with comfortable googles as necessary (vented ones work for me since I'm painting, not rioting).