COVID-19: Wearing a CPAP full face mask outside in the day?

[chunkyfrog]

If you are intubating, a splash shield is a good thing to wear, especially if one is in a hurry.

[zonker]

If you are intubating, a splash shield is a good thing to wear, especially if one is in a hurry.

shockedkoala.jpg

[babydinosnoreless]

So I am not a great sewer but was thinking about getting a sewing machine to make masks for my family. I can do basic stuff.

Then I thought of crocheting them.

Has anyone here made their own masks?

[Okie bipap]

A neighbor here in the housing area made masks and offered them free to people. My wife and I each have one of hers. We will use them if we have to go out for anything.

[DanceDiva26]

So I am not a great sewer but was thinking about getting a sewing machine to make masks for my family. I can do basic stuff.

Then I thought of crocheting them.

Has anyone here made their own masks?

Hi! Haven't been on this forum in aaaqes...but am home a lot now! Here is one of my attempts at crocheting a mask. It is sized to form fit to my face...no gaps on the sides, under eyes, or on cheeks.. My glasses sit on top. The middle portion is more tightly crocheted. i.e single crochet, smallest hook.. Since the coronovirus is .125 microns in size, the mask is essentially swiss cheese for the virus itself...but acts as a pre-filter for the big droplets, and as a holder for the filter. Ear loops are elastic hair ties from Dollar Tree.

According to some quick reading earlier on, I found a site that detailed filtering capabilities of fabrics. (Sorry, can't find it now). All I remember now is that SILK fabric (scarves) are the worst at filtering. However a better filter is any NONWOVEN fabric, as the MSDS says it CAN filter down to .1 microns. (True or not? Just what I read)

Guess what? Baby wipes are thermal bonded nonwoven fabric. So are some thin microfiber cloth and certain thick cottons. I use the natural, gentle baby wipes (which are essentially just water anyway).. rinse them, dry them out, double up and insert. Easily changeable and cheap!

Absolutely no guarantees of course, but better than nothing if I HAVE to leave the house. Hubby is immunocompromised so anything is better than nothing IF he must go to Dr. office, etc.

Notes: 1. The yarn masks get hot and steam up my glasses! So I've made other versions with much finer yarn, looser stitches, relying more on the filtering. Loose enough to release CO2.
2. I have a sewing machine and lots of fabric but can't reach 'em due to clutter in basement, so yarn it is for now! Nevertheless I would think that fabric masks would still greatly benefit from having a filter.

3.I'm only making for family and friends and precise sizing is difficult. One thought is to insert thin beading wire around the edges [at least the nose Bridge area] so one can press form to their face.

Sending good thoughts and wishes to all forum members to stay safe and healthy!

[babydinosnoreless]

So I am not a great sewer but was thinking about getting a sewing machine to make masks for my family. I can do basic stuff.

Then I thought of crocheting them.

Has anyone here made their own masks?

Hi! Haven't been on this forum in aaaqes...but am home a lot now! Here is one of my attempts at crocheting a mask. It is sized to form fit to my face...no gaps on the sides, under eyes, or on cheeks.. My glasses sit on top. The middle portion is more tightly crocheted. i.e single crochet, smallest hook.. Since the coronovirus is .125 microns in size, the mask is essentially swiss cheese for the virus itself...but acts as a pre-filter for the big droplets, and as a holder for the filter. Ear loops are elastic hair ties from Dollar Tree.

According to some quick reading earlier on, I found a site that detailed filtering capabilities of fabrics. (Sorry, can't find it now). All I remember now is that SILK fabric (scarves) are the worst at filtering. However a better filter is any NONWOVEN fabric, as the MSDS says it CAN filter down to .1 microns. (True or not? Just what I read)

Guess what? Baby wipes are thermal bonded nonwoven fabric. So are some thin microfiber cloth and certain thick cottons. I use the natural, gentle baby wipes (which are essentially just water anyway).. rinse them, dry them out, double up and insert. Easily changeable and cheap!

Absolutely no guarantees of course, but better than nothing if I HAVE to leave the house. Hubby is immunocompromised so anything is better than nothing IF he must go to Dr. office, etc.

Notes: 1. The yarn masks get hot and steam up my glasses! So I've made other versions with much finer yarn, looser stitches, relying more on the filtering. Loose enough to release CO2.
2. I have a sewing machine and lots of fabric but can't reach 'em due to clutter in basement, so yarn it is for now! Nevertheless I would think that fabric masks would still greatly benefit from having a filter.

3.I'm only making for family and friends and precise sizing is difficult. One thought is to insert thin beading wire around the edges [at least the nose Bridge area] so one can press form to their face.

Sending good thoughts and wishes to all forum members to stay safe and healthy!

Thank you!

[chunkyfrog]

I'm giving my spare sewing machine to my 21-yo grandson.
He and his girl friend want to make masks.
They are getting popular, especially with the teen girls.
It is working in Korea and China--smart to go with it.

[kteague]

My granddaughter ordered a 6 pack of cute masks right before things got serious because they had to travel and we were concerned about the plane trip. Others looked at them like they were strange, but they all 5 wore them the whole trip.

There are an abundance of DIY no-sew mask videos out there. Some are so very easy, requiring nothing more than a folded bandana and 2 ponytail holders. Saw one with nothing but a t-shirt cut strategically. My daughter saw a designer who tested many materials for effective filtering. They found the Tool Box Brand of blue shop towels cut and folded for 2 layers gave the best results. Any of these no-sew masks have folded layers that filter material could be slid between the layers. I would feel better knowing it was protecting both others from me and me from others. My daughter just bought a large container of the shop towels from Costco. If the need for masks last a year or two, I think we've got enough inserts to last. lol

[CPAPforever]

CDC has "no sew" face masks on its website. I prefer the coffee filter one. The best cotton to use is high thread count cut from bed sheet or pillow case. Much tighter weave for filtering.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc ... rings.html

[colomom]

As someone who has enjoyed crocheting and knitting my entire life I love the creativity of a yarn mask, but I fear yarn is not the right material to use.

A homemade mask should be made from at least 2 layers of a densely woven fabric, high quality cotton works well. An insert of an additional filter from something like a vacuum cleaner bag will help if you can find it.

For those of you who don't sew, here is an easy way the Surgeon General suggests for making a mask:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne3-HyGHTDw

If you do sew after much research this is the mask I am making for my friends and family:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CI8AJz ... Qfl9a/view

[kell420]

I happened to already have a 3M N95 mask one with the rubber exhaust (cool valve) I purchased a year ago from Home Depot using it for sanding, and yard work still clean works great. What I do is use it when i'm out and when I get home I drop it into a bin let it sit for 3 days before touching it again just in case the virus has been sucked into it.

I would just buy a full face respirator they are still easy to get other then 3M brand which was available until today. That is the best protection against the virus the home made masks won't provide you any protection. The CDC is trying to keep N95 masks for hospitals because they screwed up didn't have enough this is why at first they said population didn't need it now they are saying to make your own. The virus is .2 microns only a N95 or cartridge filter will stop it goes down to .02 micron filtering.


New data shows the virus goes much farther then 6 feet and even sucked into AC duct work. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/ ... 086553002/