DIY face masks

[Qxxx]

I'm reposting this in a new thread, as I think it got totally lost in the banter on the other thread. Some of us may want to be wearing masks in public as this epidemic hopefully subsides. (original courtesy of Minivanmotoman).

Materials:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-coro...2100e63129

(vector of that page) Study of efficacy of materials, as well as breathability:
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best...ial-covid/

Original:
https://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=39723&pid=491026#pid491026

[Ella1]

Even a scarf tied loosely over nose and mouth makes it almost impossible for me to breathe.

A different kind of mask:
I have severe COPD. I cannot breathe with a regular mask, even a scarf tied loosely covering nose and mouth quickly just about cuts off my ability to breathe.
I need to see the doc etc.

I made a mask--a face shield, a full face one, using a 2 liter soda bottle. I cut off the top and bottom, leaving as much middle as I could, then slit it open. Lo and behold, it covers my face, ear to ear, just above eyes to chin, and I can see!
Next I rounded the corners.
Then, using a small hole paper punch, I put a few holes around the top and strung a long cord through the holes and tied it tightly to hold it on my head. I can wear it while walking, I can talk, I can breathe with it on! It stays cool, doesn't fog. I can push the bottom out a bit for more air. I can push it onto the top of my head then pull it back onto my face when needed. I can take it off and hang it on the doorknob,, and slip it back on in a second.

As an extra precaution, I did add a cloth napkin to the bottom via masking tape. That cloth does make it a bit warmer, but it's light enough that even with the bottom of the plastic pushed away from my face, others are still protected. :happy

I have a few of those bottles to recycle. I'll make another one. Free, easy, quick.

(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 11:00 PM by Ella1.)

[maki2]

Here is a link to an easy to understand youtube DIY video on how to make a face shield from a 2 liter plastic soda bottle. From the youtube channel: "Our Human Planet". The channel belongs to the veteran National Geographic filmmaker Karin Muller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTbwcZjrPag

(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 11:56 PM by maki2.)

[DannyB1954]

I have been making face masks out of two layers prewashed cotton and 2 layers of non woven polyester. There is also a space for additional filter material if desired. So far I have made about two hundred of them. I donated most of those to a nursing home in Utah. A nomad buddy of mine ended up getting a room there in exchange for working on the house. The home owner is a nurse. They were reusing paper surgical masks because they had none.
There are lots of patterns out there. Mine was based on the Olson design which some hospitals recommend. I went with behind the head straps so that they could be worn fo long periods without irritating the ears.

[sneaks]

Blue shop towels are good filter material, and with a few rubber bands and a stapler, can make a disposable mask.

   

(This post was last modified: 05-01-2020, 03:02 PM by sneaks.)

[Ella1]

Some people are suggesting using furnace filter material for masks. Be aware that some furnace filters are made of FIBERGLASS. That's not good for your lungs... I checked the filters I have, and the material is not listed.

[trailer-t]

I ordered a couple yards of 14 oz denim. Now I am trying to figure out how to tie the noose thingees.

(This post was last modified: 05-01-2020, 09:01 PM by trailer-t.)

[maki2]

I have a commercially made washable woodworker's dust mask that being a woodworker I bought about 7 years or so ago.

The behind the ear ties are adjustable. Very simple adjustment, they slid a pony bead onto the pair of ties and knotted the end of the each of the pair of the ends of the tie strings so it would not slip off. The pony bead is just the right inside diameter so that it holds position but can still be moved for adjustment. You can likely buy a package of pony beads in the craft department at Walmart or other super grocery stores such as Fred Meyer that have a craft department.

If you don't know what a pony bead is, it is a large (often colorful plastic) bead with a large hole in it. The hole is large enough to slide onto leather lacing. But they do come in several sizes in the crafts stores such small, medium, large, XL.

A pair of flat, white shoe laces will also make good, soft, ties for a DIY fabric mask and the coated tip left on at one end will make it easy to thread into a pony bead and keep the end from unraveling in the laundry. But you will still need a knot to keep the bead from slipping off the end of the lace.

link to an image from a crafter's web page showing a DIY fabric mask with elastic cord ties made adjustable with a pony bead on the ties.
https://i2.wp.com/www.prettyhandygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Best-Fit-Face-Mask-Stack.jpg?resize=634%2C791&ssl=1

(This post was last modified: 05-02-2020, 03:15 AM by maki2.)

[JeanInaBox]

I love crafty nomads. Lol.

My favorite thing is to see a problem and come up with a solution using repurposed items. Got that from my grandmother. She would disassemble any and everything to keep what “may come in handy someday” -she used to say.

[txmnjim]

i love crafty people in general. i hate that i was always so non-crafty and non-artistic but hey, ya'll
could sale those masks at our marketplace here! i just spent 7.99 each (4) for reusable cloth masks on
Ebay and i would definitely had preferred buying here. in fact, i have an order from Amazon that is way
back-ordered and taking forever that i would cancel if someone here had any? i won't even tell you how
much those were but it was a disposable pk of 40...
jim