Post by davesenesac on Apr 2, 2020 11:45:41 GMT -8
If I can do this so quickly, so can others. Ordered the below linked 2 each filtretes on amazon today for $45 total including shipping and tax. Earlier had ordered same item for $38 total so price not surprisingly is rising as people discover these filters fabrics can make a superior filter mask that much better removes virus particulates. Note these filtretes may soon become scarce given the sudden US media reversal in wearing mask recommendations I from simple logic knew was coming. MERV 12 and 13 are about the highest rated filter elements and the only ones appropriate for capturing most virus droplets versus ordinary filtretes.
Nordic Pure 16x20x4 (3-5/8 Actual Depth) MERV 12 Pleated AC Furnace Filter, Box of 2
www.amazon.com/Nordic-Pure-16x20x4-Pleated-Furnace/dp/B005ESPBFC/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Nordic+Pure+20x25x4+%283-5%2F8+Actual+Depth%29+MERV+12&qid=1585852125&sr=8-5
Before my original order, was not sure how I was going to put a mask together since I don't sew though have needles and thread and minor hand stitching items. However as someone doing much creative electronic hardware construction work in test engineering am a cluge master haha. Then read online about using a glue gun so went and bought one yesterday for $8 at CVS as an older one I had failed open. Was able to make the mask above in just an hour after getting materials and tools set up atop my work table.
Note one 20x24x4 filtrete is 480 square inches on a side but because of doubled 4 inch pleating there is 8 times as much fabric or 3840 sq-in that is 26.7 square feet minus filtrete edge areas so maybe 20 square usable feet. To extract the fabric from a filtrete is about a half hour effort of cutting the thin wire on the inside at edges and then gently pulling it off the fabric it is glued to. On the outside of the filtrete is a thin cardboard frame that likewise can be gently pulled off the fabric. The sides of the filtrete can then be scissored and pulled apart though note that is where the glue is stronger.
In making the above mask, I used the thin mesh wire to create a lightweight form that the fabric would cover. First folded the edges of the cut mesh and then used a 1 inch strip of Gorilla tape to fold over the wire edges to make a 1/2 inch black rectangular perimeter. Note otherwise the wire tends to be awkward to bend into a form as a unit. If even, that also will help an even fit against the face. I then used the yellow little plastic cup to shape the wire mesh into a like cup shape. That required squeezing together then folding the excess mesh at corners to fit the round shape that was additionally taped.
Next cut out a larger piece of fabric than I needed. I used the glue gun to attach it to the mesh frame by folding it over the taped edged on the two nose and chin sides. Next had to cut away some fabric as I crudely snugged fabric in the end sections to the frame and glued. Lots of gluing of loose fabric parts as was more like molding. That just left a section of the inside bottom of the mask with just a single fabric layer so then glued a section of fabric to the bottom. The elastic straps were from a small supply I have and will need to buy some more at a Walmart. Just glued the ends and then added small safety pins to temporarily adjust the strap length.
Nordic Pure 16x20x4 (3-5/8 Actual Depth) MERV 12 Pleated AC Furnace Filter, Box of 2
www.amazon.com/Nordic-Pure-16x20x4-Pleated-Furnace/dp/B005ESPBFC/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Nordic+Pure+20x25x4+%283-5%2F8+Actual+Depth%29+MERV+12&qid=1585852125&sr=8-5
Before my original order, was not sure how I was going to put a mask together since I don't sew though have needles and thread and minor hand stitching items. However as someone doing much creative electronic hardware construction work in test engineering am a cluge master haha. Then read online about using a glue gun so went and bought one yesterday for $8 at CVS as an older one I had failed open. Was able to make the mask above in just an hour after getting materials and tools set up atop my work table.
Note one 20x24x4 filtrete is 480 square inches on a side but because of doubled 4 inch pleating there is 8 times as much fabric or 3840 sq-in that is 26.7 square feet minus filtrete edge areas so maybe 20 square usable feet. To extract the fabric from a filtrete is about a half hour effort of cutting the thin wire on the inside at edges and then gently pulling it off the fabric it is glued to. On the outside of the filtrete is a thin cardboard frame that likewise can be gently pulled off the fabric. The sides of the filtrete can then be scissored and pulled apart though note that is where the glue is stronger.
In making the above mask, I used the thin mesh wire to create a lightweight form that the fabric would cover. First folded the edges of the cut mesh and then used a 1 inch strip of Gorilla tape to fold over the wire edges to make a 1/2 inch black rectangular perimeter. Note otherwise the wire tends to be awkward to bend into a form as a unit. If even, that also will help an even fit against the face. I then used the yellow little plastic cup to shape the wire mesh into a like cup shape. That required squeezing together then folding the excess mesh at corners to fit the round shape that was additionally taped.
Next cut out a larger piece of fabric than I needed. I used the glue gun to attach it to the mesh frame by folding it over the taped edged on the two nose and chin sides. Next had to cut away some fabric as I crudely snugged fabric in the end sections to the frame and glued. Lots of gluing of loose fabric parts as was more like molding. That just left a section of the inside bottom of the mask with just a single fabric layer so then glued a section of fabric to the bottom. The elastic straps were from a small supply I have and will need to buy some more at a Walmart. Just glued the ends and then added small safety pins to temporarily adjust the strap length.
Was surprised how snug the mask fits against my face without air being able to get around the sides. Maybe that was luck that the plastic cup shape worked for my face shape. Note the wire frame mesh made forming the nose shape easy and it does fit snugly. Most DIY masks being made have an issue of fabric being so close to one's nose that it can somewhat interfere with breathing. By using the thin wire mesh I was able to get the fabric nicely away from my nose just like is the case with my 3M 8293 P100 mask. Nicely easy to breath. Plan to make a few more and each one ought go smoother as I record dimensions of materials, especially cutting the fabric methodically to shape around the mesh frame and steps to the process.
