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K8Toledo
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  #2539125 12-Aug-2020 09:14
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tehgerbil:

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I want to buy/make a mask(s) for my family should I need to use one to go out if the worst happens and we get community spread.

Are there any good deals on single-use (not preferred) or any reasonably priced reusable ones?

 

Happy to have a conversation around the efficiency of cloth masks, I am aware they're really quite ineffective in a hospital environment at stopping viral type illnesses but it's still better than nothing at all.

I was looking at this..  but at $25 for 7 single use filters that's going to be really expensive really quickly.

What do you guys have on-hand?

Please note I tried to ask this elsewhere and the response was:"Just rely on deliveries". People have short memories, deliveries were horrendously unreliable and had to booked weeks in advance during lockdown plus my work in IT means I am an 'essential business' and will need to do travel/meet with people should we go into another L4 lockdown. 

 

I had one lying around, works great.  Normally used for cabling 55 yo ceilings full of Rockwool & aspestos.   :P

 

 

 




NightStalker
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  #2539332 12-Aug-2020 13:02
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Crofton Downs (Wellington) Mitre 10 has a good supply of disposable masks at the moment.  Few 50-pack surgical type ones and a large number of KN95 5-pack ones.  All by the checkouts


Oblivian
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  #2539420 12-Aug-2020 14:20
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Spotlight and most sewing places are packed to the rafters and limited elastic and so on.

 

If you can be bothered waiting in line and missing what people already have in their hands or isn't restocked back to the shelf yet.

 

And looking at local community sellers they're so over-run they can't keep up like the commercial ones!.

 

On the one hand, good to see people are taking notice. On the other, supplies might be quick out the door




esawers
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  #2539432 12-Aug-2020 14:38
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I just made 2 of these out of one old stained sock, smells mostly like fresh laundry powder

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiYjb5U-Vo0

 

 

 

But seriously it took 2 minutes to make and it fits reasonably well if you fold over the top, you could even hand sew a nose wire into it. 


jonathan18
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  #2539436 12-Aug-2020 14:41
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So I have the basic cloth masks (as per an earlier post), but am now finally thinking about filters. 

 

At this stage I'm thinking of getting the Helix filters (all places I've seen sell them for $25 for 7; cheapest postage I've found is Little Yellow Bird at $5).

 

Are there any other suitable (and easily available) options for filters that insert into a basic cloth mask with a 'pocket'?


K8Toledo
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  #2539521 12-Aug-2020 16:31
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esawers:

 

I just made 2 of these out of one old stained sock, smells mostly like fresh laundry powder

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiYjb5U-Vo0

 

 

 

But seriously it took 2 minutes to make and it fits reasonably well if you fold over the top, you could even hand sew a nose wire into it. 

 

 

Watching the vid  suddenly this random image popped into my head....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 
 

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Eva888
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  #2539825 12-Aug-2020 23:40
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K8Toledo:

esawers:


I just made 2 of these out of one old stained sock, smells mostly like fresh laundry powder


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiYjb5U-Vo0


 


But seriously it took 2 minutes to make and it fits reasonably well if you fold over the top, you could even hand sew a nose wire into it. 



Watching the vid  suddenly this random image popped into my head....


 



 


 




That was quite brilliant. Finally a legitimate use for all the orphaned socks produced by the washing machine.

Handsomedan
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  #2539861 13-Aug-2020 08:44
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I'm really unhappy with the sock one...it seems my socks all get holes in the heel and that's the bit you need intact. 

 

I'll have to do something about the quality of socks I wear, I think. 





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zenourn
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  #2540364 13-Aug-2020 17:38
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I ordered some of the Earth Sea Sky ones when masks became recommended over a week ago but I think they became slightly overwhelmed with orders so might take a while!

 

Hence I'm now making some of my own. I don't like the advice that is being given at times that "something is better than nothing" as a mask that has a loose-knit single-layer weave is likely to break up large droplets into smaller droplets and make things worse.

 

I'm following two guides:

 

Selection of fabrics https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/07/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-make-a-cloth-mask.pdf
Pattern: https://media.rainpos.com/220/jessemask.pdf

 

Outer layer: Water-resistant fabric (polyester / polypropylene) - to keep any external droplets out.
Middle layer: Fabric blends (cotton polyester blend / polypropylene) - filter
Inner layer: Water-absorbing fabric (cotton) - absorb any produced droplets.

 

I went for polyester, a polyester/wool blend, and cotton. Got enough fabric, elastic band, and wire to make ~8 masks for $30 from Lincraft so material wise a reasonable fabric mask is cheap to make.

 

 

 

 


Handsomedan
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  #2540751 14-Aug-2020 09:59
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I like the idea of the simple sock-made one, but as stated above; single layer, loose weave is not ideal, so you could put pantie liners in them to make them a bit better, which is something I have seen online somewhere...





Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

 

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale 

 

 

 

*Gladly accepting donations...


 
 
 

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RunningMan
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  #2548798 24-Aug-2020 15:33
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There seems to be some sellers on Trademe offering masks that have a one-way valve on the side to let air out. Surely this totally defeats the purpose of wearing a non-medical/n95 mask, which is to protect those around you from your exhaled breath? The idea of fabric type masks is to capture droplets you exhale, but if the valve just opens and lets it spray with each breath, then it isn't effective.

 

Of course, different story for a n95 type mask where the objective is protecting the wearer, not those nearby.


Oblivian
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  #2548804 24-Aug-2020 15:42
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RunningMan:

 

There seems to be some sellers on Trademe offering masks that have a one-way valve on the side to let air out. Surely this totally defeats the purpose of wearing a non-medical/n95 mask, which is to protect those around you from your exhaled breath? The idea of fabric type masks is to capture droplets you exhale, but if the valve just opens and lets it spray with each breath, then it isn't effective.

 

Of course, different story for a n95 type mask where the objective is protecting the wearer, not those nearby.

 

 

'Some' have a 'filter' in them. But usually costs more to replace than the entire unit. And recommended to do every x days

 

But yep, Standard 3M Dust marks (that look 95) have similar. And some even rated with them. But 1-way... in

 

Media have been wearing them too

 

https://vitals.lifehacker.com/if-your-mask-has-a-valve-its-half-useless-1843182019


msukiwi
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  #2548806 24-Aug-2020 15:43
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Hopefully the person near the wearer has a mask also. Therefore is it a problem?


freitasm
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  #2548809 24-Aug-2020 15:48
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For those wanting, there's a truckload of masks at the Wellcare Chinese Medicine on the Left Bank, Cuba St.





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