Homemade masks

[mountainmoma]

Here is a way to make a homemade mask from the size "y" HEPA rated vacuum bags.  I cant figure out of the generic bags that dont specifically say HEPA would also work, so I changed my order to get the specific Hoover brand HEPA filter bags, so now I am getting 5 times less bags, because $$.  I am getting the set of 6 bags. SO, only 24 masks could be made.  We have 2 nurses in the family., one is specifically working with COVID-19 patients in CO.  She still has gear, but gets one mask a shift, more personel are off work and she is sometimes taking on extra shifts.   Hopefully our real masks will ramp up in time to not need alternatives, but if not, if you have a few HEPA bags at home, maybe make a few of these for your home use or potential donation if needs must


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6d3twpHwis&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0964UzgU36uZBtzfLl-xhJfdB2satT4zp6rfBy1QWh8gWrtM7gT7CtHpc&app=desktop

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LFW6X2K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Morning Sunshine]

Here is a way to make a homemade mask from the size "y" HEPA rated vacuum bags.  I cant figure out of the generic bags that dont specifically say HEPA would also work, so I changed my order to get the specific Hoover brand HEPA filter bags, so now I am getting 5 times less bags, because $$.  I am getting the set of 6 bags. SO, only 24 masks could be made.  We have 2 nurses in the family., one is specifically working with COVID-19 patients in CO.  She still has gear, but gets one mask a shift, more personel are off work and she is sometimes taking on extra shifts.   Hopefully our real masks will ramp up in time to not need alternatives, but if not, if you have a few HEPA bags at home, maybe make a few of these for your home use or potential donation if needs must

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LFW6X2K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I do not see the pattern, just the amazon link for bags

[mountainmoma]

and here is written instructions in case you tube doesnt run where you are. or you want ot print out for others:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fW_Qrv_1J26Lgd1kawSWqqyKvbYOY2Fu/view

and the pattern to cut out masks

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gaiM3yZLalU1_7mlMeLR-3967A8cEu5H/view

Here is the link to Hoover bags that specifically are rates HEPA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016TXGFFK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

the link in the OP is for the cheaper generic bags, which might be the same, but I dont know

[FreeLancer]

Fixed the link.

I think this is a great idea for a DIY mask with high filtration capabilities.  Might try it myself.

[Greekman]

a question...are these vaccumm bags made of paper or cloth? Things are different on this side of the pond

[fritz_monroe]

We keep hearing over and over that homemade masks are not effective against coronavirus and that homemade masks should be used as a last resort.  I stumbled upon this article about how different materials work for filtering out the virus.

I have no idea if this is a trustworthy source, but it's worth a look.

What Are The Best Materials for Making DIY Masks?

[LvsChant]

+1 Fritz. That was a great report.

[armymars]

I wonder if making the mask with twice the surface area would cut down on the effort to breath through it.

[Greekman]

area, like face coverage, or like thickness...

[armymars]

  Same size opening to the mouth and nose, but a bigger duck bill. You would have to add pipe cleaners to the sides so it wouldn't collapse when you inheld.

[Greekman]

I see...But I think material permeatance plays a role. From a point on the mask area will be inconsequential.
But at the same time, the larger the area the air is suctioned from (I will assume mostly in front of the mount/nose) the longer it will take for the materials to saturate by the micro-droplets suctioned and trapped.

[Greekman]

it seems there is one material better than cotton fabric. Blue shop towels
https://www.businessinsider.com/homemade-mask-using-hydro-knit-shop-towel-filters-better-2020-4?amp

[fritz_monroe]

I think that surgical masks are made from polyester hydro knit material.  So it would make sense.

Those Tool Box shop towels are available at Harbor Freight in addition to the link they have to Home Depot.

But no pattern yet.

[Morning Sunshine]

I think that surgical masks are made from polyester hydro knit material.  So it would make sense.

Those Tool Box shop towels are available at Harbor Freight in addition to the link they have to Home Depot.

But no pattern yet.

could you use these as a filter inside the washable cotton masks?

[fritz_monroe]

could you use these as a filter inside the washable cotton masks?

I would think that it would make the mask filter better. 

[NickJ]

could you use these as a filter inside the washable cotton masks?

That's  what they did for testing.
"Inserting two of these towels into an ordinary cotton mask brought filtration up to 93%"

[fritz_monroe]

While looking around for more info on the filters that I could use in 3D printed masks, I stumbled upon a good video and tutorial of masks that Unity Point Health in Cedar Rapids is making for their people.

Olson Mask PDF
Instructional video for sewing the Olson mask (COVID-19)

[NickJ]

While looking around for more info on the filters that I could use in 3D printed masks, I stumbled upon a good video and tutorial of masks that Unity Point Health in Cedar Rapids is making for their people.

Olson Mask PDF
Instructional video for sewing the Olson mask (COVID-19)

In the video they mention making their filters out of HEPA vacuum cleaner bags and inserting them into the mask. you could do the same with the shop towel material. The Suay article mentions the vacuum bags but considers them too restrictive.

[fritz_monroe]

In the video, they also recommend using double sided skin tape to get a good seal.  Probably not needed to wear while shopping.  But should probably be used if caring for an infected person.

[fritz_monroe]

I decided to try my hand at making an Olson Mask.  I don't sew, but pulled my wife's sewing machine out of the closet.  Start to finish it took me about 45 minutes to sew it up.  If I knew what I was doing, it would have been about 10, but I haven't sewn anything since Home Economics in High School.

So here's my new mask.  I'll be making more for my wife and daughter.  I'll use different fabric though, something that the pattern doesn't need to match up.



I did not use a pipe cleaner in the nose for this one.  I 3D printed a nose piece, that's the curvy thing in this pic.  The hair ties were too small, so on the next one I'll use regular elastic.  The ladder looking thing and the other red thing with hearts are to connect the elastic to so the mask isn't attached to your ears.  Basically makes the loop around to the back of your head.

[Morning Sunshine]

I was thinking about the hair ties, but was unsure how they would work.  Thanks for doing that experiment for me 

[fritz_monroe]

Came across this video on a very quick printing frame that makes use of that blue operating room tray material.  It 3D prints quick and since the filter is fabric squares, each person can carry around a fresh supply of filter material.

https://youtu.be/xVYypLYEo_0

I also stumbled upon this page at the National Institutes of Health.  These are all approved models or models currently being tested.  Of course to meet the requirements, all instructions for these must be followed precisely.

COVID-19 Supply Chain Response

[FreeLancer]

I also stumbled upon this page at the National Institutes of Health.  These are all approved models or models currently being tested.  Of course to meet the requirements, all instructions for these must be followed precisely.

Lot's of ingenuity on display, there.

[armymars]

Here in Michigan they found a way to clean the m95 masks. First UV light then heat them to 165 degrees for 30 min.

[Greekman]

thanks for the offer to assist...

Personally, i fond all these efforts are commendable but i see many mistakes in the making in general. i.e. too many hard material masks with too little breathing surface (becoming rather uncomfortable and clogging/saturating easily).
Why back when the DIY mask was going rampant, I stopped following all, other the ones designed by doctors.

Sorry for being critical, but designing a piece of PPE involves many parameters that only an every day user can know.
I have nothing against the technology, in fact years ago i took a short seminar and designed a battery carrier for the purposes of.

That said, if I had known of a promising (after all of this time, tested) design by a doctor or nurse, i would save it for the future.

[fritz_monroe]

That said, if I had known of a promising (after all of this time, tested) design by a doctor or nurse, i would save it for the future.

There are some designs for various items on the link above in the NIS system.

But as a whole, I agree.  Most of the designs are good for a last resort, but would be pretty uncomfortable to wear any length of time.  I've printed off 5 or 6 of them.  I have not sealed any of them because I have yet to find one that I feel is comfortable enough to wear, or gives enough air flow to not have to rip it off in 20 minutes because I can't breathe.

[Mona]

Here we have been required to wear a mask on public transportation, in shops and worst of all at work if a distance of 1.5m or seperation by barrier can't be kept up. Therefore, when I'm not behind the counter by myself I'm sometimes talking for hours with a mask on.

Because of this my mask creating hasn't been focused on actual protection but on fulfilling the letter of the law while beeing comfortable.

I like a simple square mask,pleated or scrunched up at the sides, with a tie from one top corner to the other, quite loose as it rests above my bun, a long tie between the bottom corners so it can hang around my neck when not needed. The newest one is a single layer of light weight cotton. Most important is the quite wide wire across the nose (I doubled up 1mm aluminium craft wire and hammered it flat to make it less flexible), it keeps the mask in place and enables me to see as it prevents my glasses from fogging up.

These masks still do the job we're told we're wearing them for: reduction of virus flying all over the place and therefore protection of others. Protection for the wearer? Nope, but that isn't the reason they are beeing pushed.

[Greekman]

There are some designs for various items on the link above in the NIS system.

I think you meant NIHS...went to the site and fund a COVID19 mask design. Was that one of, you mentioned?

[fritz_monroe]

It was the NIH site.

https://3dprint.nih.gov/collections/covid-19-response

There's a mask on there that was approved for clinical use and several that were approved for community use.