mask alternative

[lazyworm]

I had been thinking about what alternatives I have if/when I run out of my mask stash.

I see that there are still plenty of A/C air filters and vacuum filters for sale at my local walmart.

Quick research said they're probably not as good as N95 masks, but if you can get some that are MPR 1500/MERV 12 or better, you can make decent masks out of the fabric.

Scientific research indicated that if the virus is attached to droplets (e.g. cough/sneeze) the size is large enough for most filters to handle.

[lazyworm]

update: found this table...

MERV Average Particle Size Efficiency in Microns
12 ..... 1.0 - 3.0 80% - 89.9%
14 ..... 0.3 - 1.0 75% - 84%
16 ..... 0.3 - 1.0 75% or greater

N95 means 95% or better at 0.3 microns. So you can draw your own conclusion.

[swilson]

You could cut up furnace filters and try to stitch them into a mask, or get them to fit into the replicable cartridges on a reusable respirator. They're expensive but so is dying in a hospital. Just modifying the filter may make it lose its Merv value, but not sure. Pretty much any filter you can put over your face is better than nothing.

[Fear58]

Friend who vapes sent me this link yesterday. It's from a vape shop lol. Looks like they have masks though (the surgeon's kind)

https://vapordna.com/products/face-mask?variant=32831319736379

[357manny]

Stuff to read about, related to N95

DIY N95:

http://diyn95.com/index.php/make-it-yourself-the-guide/

Some "fuzzy math" is included in this link, if you basically double up the filter sheets. I don't know how verifiable this is, but hey, it could be better than nothing.


The origins of the N95:

https://www.fastcompany.com/90479846/the-untold-origin-story-of-the-n95-mask

[Mushin]

Findings from a Cambridge study of the effectiveness of different materials for DIY masks: https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/...ce-mask-virus/

[bangel]

I have tested a mask design by a Chilean 3d printer filament company and it's garbage. (The copper3d design)

I'm looking at these now:

https://longliveyoursmile.com/3d-printable-mask-for-covid-19/

The OSHA mask testing procedure is here:

https://www.osha.gov/video/respiratory_protection/fittesting_transcript.html

If you've ever been fitted for a mask for work/healthcare reasons you'll recognize the above process.