How to make a decent mask - tested in Northern Italy

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Off Topic >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

How to make a decent mask - tested i...

To make a mask like the ones we are producing here.
It is pretty much based on this plan:

https://sarahmaker.com/how-to-sew-a-surgical-face-mask-for-hospitals-free-pattern/

You need to be ok with a sewing machine, or it is going to take a lot longer by hand.
Not supposed to be washable but I found no real evidence of degradation from washing and it should last a couple of months of regular wear.

We use close woven cotton from a sheet and sew in a Hepa filter (20x18 cm.) cut from these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079NKN5TG/

With the addition of Hepa, I measure (with a computerised laser particle sensor) around 80% efficiency (in the .3-.5 micron range of the coronavirus) compared to no mask and 40%-50% with just the plain cotton (no Hepa).

In addition, we sew in some thick electrical wire to bend over the bridge of the nose. Elastic is used for the ear loops.

Pleats point down and the mask is pulled snug, once in place, by tugging gently at the bottom. The elastic can be knotted to adjust fit.

I now use it when I go out in Northern Italy. It's better than pretty much anything outside of a clinical N95 mask. I hope this helps.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (2)

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 6 2020 12:14:36

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Dec. 22 2022 15:33:05

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 6 2020 15:42:25

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: How to make a decent mask - test... (in reply to El Burdo)

quote:

I've copied the text and links to my FB page. Hope that's OK.

No problem and it is with my doctor friend in the UK too.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 6 2020 16:45:54

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: How to make a decent mask - test... (in reply to El Burdo)

quote:

I've copied the text and links to my FB page. Hope that's OK.

I’ve done the same with the pattern link. Thanks for sharing this, Simon.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 7 2020 16:56:23

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: How to make a decent mask - test... (in reply to RobF)

Please note that the tightness of the cotton weave is an important factor. Maybe 30%-40% of the total efficiency.

Adding Hepa doubles efficiency

Make sure you read the instructions properly or you will end up with so much garbage.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 7 2020 18:20:57