Where can I get a face mask? I am getting all kinds of emails for them but don't trust those

[Quixote1818]

They seem like scams. Should I just order one on Amazon? I can't find any in stores.

[cwydro]

1. Make your own with a bandanna.

Tons of videos on how to do so without having to sew.

Very easy.

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. You are going to have a hard time finding them

and anything ent to your via social media/email/text/phone is 99.9% certain to be a scam, or price gouging.

I would suggest making your own, it is better than nothing. At worst, wrap a scarf around your face if you have to be out near people.

[mucifer]

4. if you have a bandana and two rubber bands you can do what the a hole surgeon general is

suggesting.

To make it fit better you can tape a twisty tie to the area that hits over the bridge of your nose so you can tighten it around your nose

[customerserviceguy]

3. If you're getting emails

from people you don't know offering to sell you ANYTHING, just treat them as total scams, and you won't get burned by them. That's my best advice for any time, not just this crisis.

[Newest Reality]

5. One tip...

Do not respond to email solicitations, period, ever.

You are better off doing searches and asking people about this than resorting to "all kinds of emails."

Just to not be a hypocrite, I ignore everything as spam that comes to me unsolicited and...it works!

[IcyPeas]

6. Etsy has some cool ones....

they range in price but make sure they are at least double layered.

[appalachiablue]

7. There are tons of posts & videos here recently, how to make

simple ones and where to buy them. *Insert a piece of paper towel inside for more filtering.

- Easy, No-Sew Face Mask Made From Handkerchief & Hairtie
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213213587



- Paper Towel Mask Inserts:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213236576

[TreasonousBastard]

8. You probably don't need one. The common ones, even surgical masks, are designed to...

stop you from transmitting disease, and do very little to stop you from getting one. Even N95 masks aren't 100%. 100% is more like a space helmet.

However, little is better than nothing, so you can make a mask from a handkerchief, bandanna, kitchen towel, or any pretty much any other cloth. Most of the patterns you see on the web will work as well as anything you can buy right now.

The main thing is how it fits on your face, because that's where most of the offending mist gets in. Gaps from hair, beards, high cheekbones jowls, and other natural things are more of a problem than the type of material.

[Jamastiene]

15. Bandanas are cheap too.

I have a couple of bandanas. Good idea. Thanks.

[femmedem]

9. I made one but also bought two from this Etsy seller and they are fantastic.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Malimvt?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=778497370

(I swear this isn't me drumming up business for myself or anyone I know.) It is well-made and fits well. I would still try to make one while you wait, but the seller shipped in three days, which I thought was fast considering she is getting slammed with orders.

[msongs]

10. make a mask from a sock - no sewing or elastic needed...

[AntiFascist]

12. This Chinese supplier is offering PPE "at cost" with limited quantities per customer per day...

https://www.utsource.net/home/healthcare

I ordered some KN95 masks that got held up in customs for a few days but finally arrived.
They're probably not as good as 3M's N95 masks, but seem high quality otherwise.

These would be good if you have to go to a clinic and be around sick people, or could always be donated to healthcare workers, nursing homes, .... HOSPITALS!

[AntiFascist]

13. Sorry but I have to post a disclaimer...

the KN95 masks I bought from this supplier have a flaw. If you pull on the elastic bands too hard they become disconnected from the staples that are used to connect them to the masks.

I have had good luck purchasing electronic parts from this Chinese supplier, but their KN95 masks leave something to be desired. (KN95 is supposedly the Chinese equivalent of the American N95 standard).

[AntiFascist]

18. Fix for the KN95 masks...

If you manually staple (or sew) the elastic band to the mask along the length of the elastic band (transversely) then it may prevent the elastic band from detaching.

[Jamastiene]

14. I used to order the ones with OSHA compliant in them

from Amazon back when I was still taking care of my aunt. I didn't necessarily needs the OSHA part. I just liked that it was up to some kind of standard. I had tried others before that that smelled funny. So, once I started looking for OSHA compliant, funny smells were eliminated and they didn't make my face break out so bad either any more.

[ananda]

16. Make your own.

It's pretty easy. You can even make one
with a sock and a paper towel.

[Goodheart]

17. Certainly you have some clothing you can spare.

Get some scissors. Cut out a rectangle for your face, large enough that when you fold it in two it covers your nose and mouth and fits under your chin. Then cut four cloth strips about 1 inch wide and 10-12 inches long, and tie one to each corner of the folded face cloth. Those will serve as the straps that you tie behind your head to hold the mask in place. Voila! No sewing necessary.

[Ilsa]

19. Do you have a HEPA filter type vacuum bag?

You can use the HEPA filter inside two pieces of closely woven fabric to filter out the micron-size junk whether you sew or not.

I'm sewing for family and friends.

[Hekate]

20. Links to DU discussions regarding DIY masks. Quilter's' guilds all over the country are now sewing

....as fast as they can.

I sent the following as an email to my brother and sister on March 25, which seems like a year ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cloth Masks, because you never know

A group of volunteer seamstresses in Ojai, Ventura County, made the news tonight because they heard about the shortage.

I make no warranties. These are simply the discussion threads I bookmarked that looked of interest, like the one for the 3D printer. Jennifer's son actually has one at home he uses for work, so I sent her that link after I sent it to you (last week?)

This links to a discussion thread because I don't quite know how to extract the photos etc. I only dispute the last comment because, well hell, when you have nothing else...
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213127523

Another, from a medical journal, 2008
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213130867

Pattern
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213133357

Materials
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213128319

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Sent from my iPad

[Blue_true]

21. If you order on Amazon, pay attention to the reviews, especially the new ones. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

22. I would suggest going to Etsy and looking for a USA based seller

I think most of them are hand-made by people suddenly at home with a sewing machine and an unexpected need for a new income stream.

[Catherine Vincent]

23. I agree with the others, make your own

If you purchase from Amazon, you won't find many N95 since healthcare have priority. You're right, they are hard to find in the stores. Even in early March when I was looking for them. I ended up buying a 3M Cool Flow respirator from Lowes for about $40 bucks. They probably ran out of those too.

In mid March on Ebay and Amazon, I was able to buy 5 N95 masks for about $3.50 each, then I bought several of those Curad antiviral masks that come individually wrapped. They're not N95s but are way thicker than the surgical masks and more effective. Even though everyone kept saying the N95 masks is what we need, I still bought them because I've used them in the past. I paid an average of $3 - $4 each which was too pricey but I was desperate. I'm happy I bought them when I did
since they're not even available now