Masks Work & How To Make Your Own Face Masks

Mrs M_V has made a couple masks from this kind of pattern...

But the one she made me kinda gaped out under my eyes and talking felt like it was shifting it around on my face a lot. Tried inserting a bit of spoke into the hem over the nose and bending into shape which helped but still not great. Also they have a lot of doubling over of material and sewing round curves so not the easiest to make.

I tried one where you start off cutting round a dinner plate. There's quite a few similar tutorials on youtube listed as 'no sewing machine mask pattern'. I actually used a sewing machine which made them come together super quick and the fit seems pretty decent on my big coupon so I made a couple more for myself and made one with the missus for her too.

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Anyone else wearing glasses suffering from condensation with masks?

There are some available with a one way valve thingy that alleviates the mist, but then does that open up a whole port of nastiness into the mask itself (and consecutively face)?

One-way valves on masks should vent outwards, so they shouldn't allow anything to come in, but might reduce the effectiveness of the mask at preventing you from showering everyone with virus if you are coughing.

My understanding is the point of wearing a mask is to prevent you spreading the virus if you have it but don't know (because it is early in your infection or you are asymptomatic). Masks with valves allow the virus out of the mask and to be spread so shouldn't be used when shopping, on the bus etc.

If you want to protect yourself you need things like eye coverings, clean your hands before and after handling the mask, change your clothing frequently etc. Hard to do in a hospital, unlikely to be very effective in the normal world.

So this guy for instance. The valve allows air out but not in.

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Could be useful if you are cycling behind a sooty diesel vehicle or cutting some MDF.

So not useful then?

Does your mask have a filter on the inside?

Separately, research on mask use:
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342198360_Association_of_country-wide_coronavirus_mortality_with_demographics_testing_lockdowns_and_public_wearing_of_masks_Update_June_15_2020)

Conclusions. Societal norms and government policies supporting the wearing of masks by the public, as well as international travel controls, are independently associated with lower per-capita mortality from COVID-19.

So many mask options! My partner needs one for work. I might as well get one as well. Both of us wear glasses. Anyone bought anything they'd recommend? One of the sporty ones offered by Uniqlo or Under Armour would be awesome if they were available.

And while other countries have been doing this literally for months, finally the UK gov has got onboard, in classic tory u-turn fashion. Good to finally see it.

Thread aged well. Mask up @Fox 😉

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/13/face-masks-shops-england-24-july-boris-johnson

My other half has one from here (because the owner is a friend).

They are made so that filters can be added if needed.

Thanks! I'll take a look.

Ended up buying a couple of three packs from Milltag for myself and my partner (women's and men's). They ended up sending two sets of masks cut exactly the same size. Emailed them to ask about it and they've blanked me. So buyer beware if you're interested in the Milltag offering. Either they're just not bothered, or the men's size is the same as women's and is comically small on the face.

Got some nice masks from Milltag and some less nice from Etsy

For steamed glasses just rub a little washing up liquid on the inside of your lenses and that will keep them fog free for about an hour

For steamed glasses just rub a little washing up liquid on the inside of your lenses and that will keep them fog free for about an hour

Good tip!

If the mask has a seam along the top side, you can put in some wire/paper clip to shape around the nose. That’s what I’ve been doing so I can still wear sunglasses to complete spring/summer 2020 plague doctor look.

If you can push the mask further up the bridge of your nose, then your glasses can go over and not steam up.

https://youtu.be/wZQkBHysrig

This has reminded that whenever I’m in the supermarket or local shop most of the public still not wearing a mask

Fyoosh you were ahead of the curve on this. :)

I've got a few Thomson stem bags that I don't have the machines or skills to turn into masks - has anyone got a contact or someone who would be able to make one for me? Happy to pay or swap for bike maintenance or beers etc.

@Dexter My gf is pretty handy and has been making some masks, they have bendy nose bits and toggles on the elastic. She’d be happy to oblige for beers or money for beers.

Will pm you her details and you can sort it between yourselves.

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This article about anti maskers in 1918 is pretty fascinating:

https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-anti-mask-league-1918-spanish-flu-pandemic-2020-5

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I think you have to view those in the context in which they were made; everyone was supposed to be at home, except when getting food or doing their one daily exercise. Nobody was in the pub. Or the office. Or on a bus. There was a shortage of PPE for health workers.

Also don't be an insufferable cunt.

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arrogant asses like the majority of westerners.

I have a (...) coworker in his 60s who‘s a mask denier and has said people wearing masks are pussies. He had gone on and on about how he was suffocating within 30 seconds of having to put a mask on. I have several comebacks locked and loaded for when the time comes: maybe a My Little Pony mask would help him like it helps (little girl) wear hers without as much fuss, how disgusted his father and grandfather would be at him being afraid of a thin face covering when they literally fought wars wearing masks... In our democratic way of life we have to put up with imbeciles voicing their ignorance, but that doesn’t mean we have to listen to or entertain their bs.

Nothing to add to the mask debate, but not a big fan of using comparisons to small girls as an insult