General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhere are you obtaining masks?
Now that they've finally decided that--yes we should be wearing masks, there are none to be had. I don't want to take anything from our medical personnel, and I am definitely self-isolating. But if this thing goes on as long as expected, I will have to pry myself out at some point.
I have asthma, and over 60 yrs. old. There's a ton for sale on Amazon, but looks like none are N95, and all come from China. Is it worth buying those as better than nothing?
All I have on hand are dust masks from the hardware store.
zackymilly
(2,375 posts)I have an old box I use for sanding and they are marked N95.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Clueless where to buy them now, sorry. 😢
greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)One of my hobbies involves spray paint, so I had a box of about 20 "painter" masks - I use these when spray painting, especially in the relatively close space of my garage. They are all N-95 masks. A lot of stuff is not medical grade but it's good enough for the particulate matter size.
underpants
(182,987 posts)Usually on the mops aisle. At the end they tend to have sink filters, locks, etc.
These are painters masks but its better than nothing.
Turns out my survival bag in my trunk that my wife put together years ago has 3 more heavy duty masks in it.
drray23
(7,638 posts)We are going (my wife and myself) to keep those at hand and reuse them if we have to go out get groceries.
neeksgeek
(1,214 posts)Turns out the masks I have for that are N-95.
LAS14
(13,790 posts)Actually, ask your local health authority where the need is greatest. Use surgical masks for ordinary situations.
neeksgeek
(1,214 posts)I appreciate the thought, but Ive actually worn all three of them. I mean for projects. Ive got one in my generic toolbox, one with my drill, and one with my Dremel tool. Along with safety glasses in each toolkit. Had a lot of this safety-consciousness drilled into me (bad pun, sorry) when I worked in the printing industry, and in commercial kitchens. So I have the appropriate PPE with the tools, out of habit.
Im sure theyre fine, but is a hospital or clinic really going to want three masks that have been worn?
Im just glad I have a few if they become necessary for outings.
Marrah_Goodman
(1,586 posts)Right now working on a bunch to send to my parents, children, and those friends who are essential workers on Monday.
If you know someone who sews, reach out to them.
LAS14
(13,790 posts)I expect the Chinese ones are basically the only available except for start ups here since the pandemic.
DenverJared
(457 posts)Youtube has videos
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)for wildfires, and they turned out to be 3M N95s. In fact, I was so sure they weren't anything special that it was only about ten days ago I even bothered to take them out and look at them.
Like other posters have written, they don't need to be N95s to do some good. Good luck!
snort
(2,334 posts)Use it for welding and such. I never thought that I would consider myself lucky to have the mask, its usually just a pain in the ass. Now its my new best friend. Instead of looking for N95s, you might try to hunt down a P100 mid-face mask. Good luck and stay home!
Withywindle
(9,988 posts)They're not medical grade or close to it, but better than nothing and OK for doing curbside-pickup type errands.
MrsMatt
(1,660 posts)the materials from the non-woven reusable grocery bags as a filter (non woven polypropylene), it's better than just cloth for filtering.
Vinca
(50,323 posts)The mask part was fine, but I had the wrong size elastic and it kept flipping off my ears. Oh, well. I might try again and make cloth ties instead. Or I'll just use some masks we bought for doing drywall work. Not the N95 ones, the less effective ones.
phylny
(8,393 posts)videos and web pages for non-sewing options. Im going to wrap some cloth around an old vacuum filter bag.
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)surgical style masks left over from my lady's abdominal surgery in November.
I'm wondering where the home mask makers are selling their stuff online.
Totally Tunsie
(10,885 posts)Last edited Wed Apr 1, 2020, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)
There are many scammers out there, and Amazon, despite their efforts, have not yet removed them all. They're going after the price gougers effectively, but the "bait and switchers" are still lurking. Then you have the hassle of trying to reclaim through the credit card companies.
How do I know? I'm about to submit a second round of paperwork to both Bank of America and Discover to prove my claims, since they're having difficulty resolving them. The company I purchased from was able to show I received the orders; the problem is that what I received is a far cry from the N95s I ordered. (I had placed two orders in early February - the second after a price reduction- on separate cards, to be able to easily distinguish between them if there was a problem.) It's turning out to be a real pain.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)People see me coming down the frozen food aisle and run in terror from me.
Distance is better than a mask in some instances.
displacedtexan
(15,696 posts)We watched a YouTube video on how to cut them to fit the hardware store masks we already had. Now we're making mask frames with the 3D printer for our neighbors.