should i wear a respirator or air purifiing mask when poring off paint into a 55gallon drum?

Question

please give me proof of ur answer

Answer 1

A nuisance dust respirator or paper mask may seem to help a little with the smell. If its latex, I wouldn't worry about it. For oil or other solvent based paints you need a chemical cartridge respirator...they will take the smell of a solvent right out of the air.
You can get them at the paint store. There are specialized cartridges and also a general purpose one for all solvents which is cheaper. The mask lets you breathe in through the cartridge. When you exhale it goes out a valve. A cartridge is good for 5 - 10 hours depending on how much fumes are present.
There is a small section on chemical cartridge respirators in this Wikipedia article on respirators...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respirator
If the fumes are really bad, you want to use a supplied-air respirator...this has a full face mask and thier are several different types. Regulated, compressed (cool) filtered air is fed in.

Answer 2

The company that supplies the paint should have an MSDS on their website for that paint. Look at section 3 in the MSDS and it will tell you all the proper personal protective equipment that you need to use with the product. It's the only sure way to give yourself the proper level of protection without going overboard.

Answer 3

For a gallon, I'd hold my breath, but for that much, yeah, protect your lungs.