And I bet they never used to use the PPE like we have now?

When I joined the RAF air fed masks were just coming (1999/2001) in as a legal requirement, and we had no choice not to use them, if we was caught without we would be in serious shit.

I've sprayed plenty of jobs using just a half mask and as above been tested as it was a 4 monthly medical we had to take. I always wear masks, and if they have a life of 60 mins (ours were 60 mins, may vary?) I'll change it under that to make sure, A half mask is fine for the job above imo.