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Why N95 masks are hard to make

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71–80 of 363 posts

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#71
post #50
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Thats basically a misinformation. They are completely useless, and if you dont change them each 40-50 minutes - bring you more damage then good Evidence required. If mist forms on my glasses from breathing, I assume the mask must be doing something. I read a comment the other day on how many efforts are impeded by the "quest for perfection" I know such homemade masks are not 100% proof. But even if they only work t…

Even the N95 are not 100% proof, even if used correctly. Any barrier helps, and the claim that mask use promotes false confidence is highly dubious.

So, are condoms, they fail, can be worn improperly, etc... yet they are recommend over and over for safety reason....

Same with masks, they are not perfect, they could be miss-handled, yet they provide some degree of safety and are better than nothing.... otherwise why would health officials wear them at all?

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#72
post #46
post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

All the workers being replaced by automation and having to rely on "gig economy" work could pursue manufacturing instead. We have the workforce. We can pay workers livable wages and give them meaningful work. Cost of goods could be reduced through greater efficiency. Research into robotics and automation could fuel a new decade of American growth.

"They were replaced by automation" is a vile anti-worker canard. The manufacturing jobs went to humans in China, not robots.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#73

I made a dozen good homemade masks in a few hours, and I am inept at sewing. With some practice I could make 200 a day. There's no point to doing so, it would be illegal for me to sell them. US is doing nothing whatsoever to ramp up mask or ventilator production. It's going to result in a lot of deaths.

> US is doing nothing whatsoever to ramp ...

Why do you think that? Couple minutes of googling:

https://news.3m.com/blog/3m-stories/3m-responds-2019-novel-c...

https://www.venteclife.com/page/covid19-coronavirus-ventec-l...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#74

This is the price we pay for outsourcing our manufacturing capabilities. We should have kept in-house manufacturing alive, there is plenty of capacity for it here in the States.

3M makes these masks in the US and around the world:

https://news.3m.com/blog/3m-stories/3m-responds-2019-novel-c...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#75
post #66
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surgical masks are protecting patients not doctors. Please educate yourself. "The coronavirus is an upper respiratory virus and a surgical mask does not protect you from that kind of virus,” he said. “In fact, when people buy up these masks and hoard these masks then they might not be available for healthcare providers to use for patient care.” He said surgical masks are more effective on people who are already infec…

> The coronavirus is an upper respiratory virus I thought it was a lower respiratory virus. I have no idea if that changes the efficacy of masks but...

Probably a typo/fumble finger. Wading through all the dreck it seems that it causes viral pneumonia which is always bad news.

Read just today that an advantage of any mask is it keeps people from transferring the virus from their fingers to their mouth and nose. A paper on the effectiveness of home made masks, like from tee shirt material says they are in no way a replacement for N95 masks but are better than nothing.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#76
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's false and you are wrong and are posting dangerous misinformation that is harming society. If I am infected it protects others. If I am not infected it protects me.

Surgical masks are protecting patients not doctors. Please educate yourself. "The coronavirus is an upper respiratory virus and a surgical mask does not protect you from that kind of virus,” he said. “In fact, when people buy up these masks and hoard these masks then they might not be available for healthcare providers to use for patient care.” He said surgical masks are more effective on people who are already infec…

"(N95) Masks won't protect you" was an expedient lie. How can it be that medical professionals are in dire need of N95 masks to protect them from the virus, yet they are powerless to do any good in the hands of the public?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-face-...

If everybody in the US could wear one of these when out in public, we would be in a much better place. The sad truth is we don't have enough to do that, not that this would not help.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#77
post #19

I made a dozen good homemade masks in a few hours, and I am inept at sewing. With some practice I could make 200 a day. There's no point to doing so, it would be illegal for me to sell them. US is doing nothing whatsoever to ramp up mask or ventilator production. It's going to result in a lot of deaths.

Of a material that is sufficient to meet the standards of N95 masks?

Doubtful, given poster said masks and not N95 masks. Like the 199 million masks being produced in China daily that are not N95 per the article. Cheap, easy to make, comfortable enough to use for extended periods of time, and reduce chances of catching and spreading respiratory disease (but not considered good enough for hospital use, at least until the good ones run out).

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#78

I made a dozen good homemade masks in a few hours, and I am inept at sewing. With some practice I could make 200 a day. There's no point to doing so, it would be illegal for me to sell them. US is doing nothing whatsoever to ramp up mask or ventilator production. It's going to result in a lot of deaths.

> There's no point to doing so, it would be illegal for me to sell them. Surely only making medical claims is illegal. You could sell them as a fashion accessory, with all sorts of funky designs. Make masks fashionable and desirable just like funky socks were made cool. Just make sure to make it clear in your sales copy (not in fine print) that the masks are a fashion item only, don't protect against COVID19, and "Th…

Indeed, they are sold as a fashion accessory in regions where mask usage is common. It helps social acceptance.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#79
post #72
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the workers being replaced by automation and having to rely on "gig economy" work could pursue manufacturing instead. We have the workforce. We can pay workers livable wages and give them meaningful work. Cost of goods could be reduced through greater efficiency. Research into robotics and automation could fuel a new decade of American growth.

"They were replaced by automation" is a vile anti-worker canard. The manufacturing jobs went to humans in China, not robots.

Haven't heard that definition of canard in a while...

As with most things, I'm fairly sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle and it varies industry to industry. Yea, a lot of stuff went to china, but a lot of workers were also replaced by automated systems. In a lot of cases, I'd even venture to say maybe a majority, it was both. It's not even close to factually true to say it's JUST china or JUST robots.

Also, do you mind elaborating on how that's specifically anti-worker? Either case can be construed as such depending on your position.

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