Face Mask Choices: If face masks don't interest you, move on to another topic. In more than one online article, the masks sold by Vistaprint were rated the best. They're not the...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If face masks don't interest you, move on to another topic.

In more than one online article, the masks sold by Vistaprint were rated the best. They're not the cheapest, at $18 each, so it you think your life isn't worth that much, keep looking.

I made several masks with two layers of fabric and a HEPA filter. I used shoe laces and a cord lock for adjustment. I also made several using those blue shop towels, staples, and rubber bands, following online directions.

Whatever your preference, have fun and stay healthy.

https://www.vistaprint.com/masks/

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Be careful with the HEPA filters and where they came from and are intended to be used. My wife found out that many of them have very fine glass particles in them that can be ingested into your lungs and cause serious problems. Most HEPA filters are not meant to be used to breath through.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Jerry, I'm so glad you continue to remind members of the use and importance of the masks. These are essential if we are ever to solve this problem. I have an additional thought to share. I use my regular masks whenever I'm out of the house, as in doing Curbside Pickup of orders. However if I ever go into a store or business (which is very rare) I use one of the KN-95 masks I bought back in January, before they even "became a thing". So that I can re-ware them, I've purchased a UV-C light. The "C" is the one that will actually kill a virus on a surface. The portable lights (I bought two) are very small, battery, and charged with a USB source. When I arrive home after wearing a KN-95, a run the UV-C light on both sides of the masks. Here in St. Louis, one hospitals collect theirs daily, hang them up like socks to dry, and then bombard the closed room with a high level of UV-C lights. That makes mine very reusable. Just an additional idea.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I believe in the ‘happy medium’. My wife and I have been using masks made by my sister, in which the air is filtered by several layers of cloth and a ‘filter’ which is the kind of material used in the interior of a quilt. This will stop water droplets - which research has indicated is what we can expect of them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

elliott937 wrote:

Jerry, I'm so glad you continue to remind members ... (show quote)

Thanks for that. I've heard of the UV sterilizing. I wash the ones I made in the washing machine. The HEPA filter holds up fine.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

NCMtnMan wrote:

Be careful with the HEPA filters and where they came from and are intended to be used. My wife found out that many of them have very fine glass particles in them that can be ingested into your lungs and cause serious problems. Most HEPA filters are not meant to be used to breath through.

Yes, I heard about that, but this material is okay. I also ordered a bunch of actual face mask filters from Vistaprint.

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

DON'T make this mistake....

(Download)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Funny.

Those one-way valves in the masks are bad because they let exhaled breath escape, perfectly defeating the purpose of the mask. I'm glad to see mention of it in today's news.

Vigneron

jerryc41 wrote:

Funny.

Those one-way valves in the masks are bad because they let exhaled breath escape, perfectly defeating the purpose of the mask. I'm glad to see mention of it in today's news.

This is true about the N-95 having a one way valve but it will help you from getting the virus from someone else and if you don't get it, then you are not going to pass it along to someone else. Of course, there is also the option of wearing a cloth mask over the N-95. Also, more mention should be made of virus load exposure and for how long. the "95" means it is 95% effective so if one is worn for extended periods of time in a high concentration area, it may not offer as much protection. For example, in scuba diving it is the length of time and the depth or partial pressure that has to be taken into account. For work in radiation areas, the concentration plus the time are the two factors. More mention should be made of the concentration and time of exposure in the virus situation. Of course, we are still learning about such things.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

jerryc41 wrote:

If face masks don't interest you, move on to anoth... (show quote)

I really like the shop towel homemade mask. Very comfortable and easy to breathe through. But I have not gone into a store since this started. I get deliveries in the parking lot or at home.

buckbrush Loc: Texas then Southwest Oregon

Jerry,
Heres another company that makes very good, reasonably priced masks..

http://www.tombihn.com/

Alex

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

You all may find this article interesting. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory mentioned is where I work and though I know Dr. Lonnie Love, I don't work in that area or expertise. Also, the facility where they were/are working on the mask research is where they typically work in researching 3D printing and is where the first 3D printed car was produced in prep for Local Motors to do it for publication.

https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state_region/the-humble-knoxville-scientist-who-became-a-worldwide-hero/article_3f43bba1-6d2e-56f6-93b7-e37388813219.html

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

NCMtnMan wrote:

Be careful with the HEPA filters and where they came from and are intended to be used. My wife found out that many of them have very fine glass particles in them that can be ingested into your lungs and cause serious problems. Most HEPA filters are not meant to be used to breath through.

You may be right, I don't use HEPA for my home made masks, I use 'Micro fiber', like the 100% polyester for the front layer and cotton/polyester 60%/40% what ever percentage it is, using it for the second layer.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

elliott937 wrote:

Jerry, I'm so glad you continue to remind members ... (show quote)

Yes UVC light is the best, but there are so many in the market, you can't prove the one you got is a real one, because you can't find a prove. There are so many scammer out their to take advantage to make big money, they can just put some sort of purple LED bulbs and claim there are UVC bulbs. They need to be certified by the government! Money lost is one thing, risking your life is more serious!
I always thing about this idea, just like my A/C -Heating central unit, there is a UVC lamp built in, that I am sure is a real one.

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

This novel corona virus is overhyped, panic inducing, hysteria. Where were the hysterical calls for distancing, isolation, mask wearing for all the previous corona viruses and influenza viruses? Those were also classified as pandemics and vaccines did not obliterate them. Wake up to the leftist political implications of this fear-mongering. Use sensible hygienic practices and other precautions but do not succumb to panic induced hyperbole.