respirators

[ulivisweldworks]

Hi all,
I have been looking thru some of the previous posts about respirators because we are doing a HUGE stainless steel piping job at work right now and I am trying to get educated about the risks.
I am a pipe welder/fitter in a shop environment and we use all processes of welding. Stick, Mig, and Tig. also some plasma cutting. I have been doing this full time for about a year, and I am getting concerned about all the "black snot" I blow out after each day. (what is going in my lungs?) I also run a small side business so I spend alot of time working with metal. Grinding and Welding.
So anyway, with all this stainless we are working on I decided to wear a mask from here on out. This is the one my job supplies us with:

3M 8233 N100 Respirator

It says it protects against metal fumes....how protected am I really?? How many people out there wear their respirators religiously? Any suggestions on a better mask? (I dont think I could get the company to spring for one of those SCBA type ones. lol)
The info out on the web is sketchy when it comes to welding and respirators so maybe someone has some GOOD info?
Thanks!

[WookieWelding]

I use a half mask with a back pack adapter so i am not breathing from the weld zone

[180guy]

The back pack respirators are nice although I found doing out of position work they can some times get twisted up. Sometimes gets a little scary when your mask sucks to your face and you cant breath lol. I personally like the 3m half masks with the pink pancake style filters.