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Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

armbrustusa.com

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Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#81

Post by BugsJustFindMe »

lloydarmbrust wrote: post #71
wrycoder wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your filtration test appears to be only testing the mask fabric, but not the fit. I see a number of surgical masks over 95%. I don't think that would be possible in practice, because of leaks at the sides and top. I'd expect more like 50%. But, you don't appear to have the equipment to do a fit test. Refer to the 3M video on how to fit test an N95. I realize that N95 and surgical masks have different standards, but y…

A good mask needs both fit and filtration... most people can put a mask on, check for air gaps and see how well it fits, but they don't have a $250k mask lab to make sure the fabric is good. We are just solving for the filtration and letting people figure out the fit. But, you make a good point, in the videos I try to point this out but we could do better. Where could I add this to make this more clear?

You could start by adjusting your given filtration ratios by predictable leakage based on the type of mask. It's wholly misleading to rate the filtration potential of an earloop mask as equivalent to that of a 3M Aura.

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#82

Post by newman314 »

lloydarmbrust wrote: post #72
newman314 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorting by breathability is broken. It'd be nice if you had pop-up dialogs upon hover over each of the fields. For example, if I hover over breathability, explain what it is and how you measure it. Some color codes/gradient would be nice to help with the visual effect (Green for Pass, Red for Fail etc.) But please do include a toggle for color-blind mode if you do add color.

It's working for me, can you describe what's happening? Good call on the color coding... I'm color blind so didn't think of this :)

Interesting, it seems somewhat fixed now.

Initially, I was seeing the sort return 1, 10, 100, 2, 20, 200.. so sorting by the first numeral instead of the number. But now it seems to be sorting ok-ish except if you jump to the bottom and the row for "Staples / Beixikang Face Mask" shows a % symbol for some reason. So possibly some data entry issues.

Below the Beixikang, there are then about 12 entries in 80-168 range so the entry for the Beixikang may be throwing the sort off.

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#83

Post by lloydarmbrust »

GavinMcG wrote: post #78
BugsJustFindMe wrote: post #70

The page claims over 99% filtration by some dinky earloop surgical masks, which seems impossible unless they are only measuring the fabric and not the mask as a whole. It definitely seems like the testing method can't possibly account for side leakage, which IMO makes the measurements basically useless.

Useless? It still tells me that the US-made masks I bought from a reputable manufacturer aren't up to spec. Eliminating the ones that fail regardless of fit is extremely helpful.

Exactly. We can't tell you how it will fit on your face but can tell you if the fabric fails.

You need both filtration AND fit to make a good mask.

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#84

Post by dylan604 »

https://www.armbrustusa.com/blogs/mask-review/kn95-wwdoll-fl...

The review for this mask is a great example of the games on Amazon. The review claims this product is from a well known vendor of counterfeit items. The big claim on this product is that the required printing is not on the mask, so they just write it off then and there. However, clicking the link to the item, the required text is prominitely visible in the image. Somewhere along the way, the vendor must have been made aware of the negative reviews (not on Amazon though), and tried to up their counterfeit game.

Daily, I see more and more reasons to never use Amazon for anything. Luckily, I made that decision years ago, and just constantly am amazed at how it gets even more blatant.

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#85

Post by [deleted] »

lloydarmbrust wrote: post #71
wrycoder wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your filtration test appears to be only testing the mask fabric, but not the fit. I see a number of surgical masks over 95%. I don't think that would be possible in practice, because of leaks at the sides and top. I'd expect more like 50%. But, you don't appear to have the equipment to do a fit test. Refer to the 3M video on how to fit test an N95. I realize that N95 and surgical masks have different standards, but y…

A good mask needs both fit and filtration... most people can put a mask on, check for air gaps and see how well it fits, but they don't have a $250k mask lab to make sure the fabric is good. We are just solving for the filtration and letting people figure out the fit. But, you make a good point, in the videos I try to point this out but we could do better. Where could I add this to make this more clear?

[deleted]

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#86

Post by lloydarmbrust »

halpert wrote: post #41

So much focus is on N95 masks, but P100 full-face respirators are AMAZING. I bought one for a home construction project I as doing. I was fully expecting fully labored breathing. To my surprise, my breath was completely unhindered. You also have full visibility and your glasses don't fog up, which is nice. I could definitely wear a full-face respirator all day.

Yes, Elastomerics are awesome but require a completely different machine to test... plus I've found that most consumers will not buy them because of the darth vadar effect.

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#87

Post by nobodytoseehere »

lloydarmbrust wrote: post #75
nobodytoseehere wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great work, thank you for sharing it with the world. I am very curious about country stats and have 2 questions. First, I found this one randomly: https://www.armbrustusa.com/blogs/mask-review/kf94-try-mask-... The country of origin on your page says China, but the photo's box says Korea. Is this a mask repackaged and exported from Korea that is actually from China? Second, does "China" also include Taiwan? If so, I…

Ah! You caught a mistake. Thank you it's fixed. China and Taiwan are separate (they make very different masks) but I haven't been able to find any from Taiwan to test.

thanks for the clarification!

(apologies, I edited my original message with a third question, which I would love to get an answer to, but now I don't want to mess with this thread anymore)

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#88

Post by lloydarmbrust »

Tagbert wrote: post #29

@lloydarmbrust , I’m curious about the fail rating for masks where Standard = KN95 is fail? Specifically for masks that claim to be KN95 and filtration values are high. How do you determine a failure here? Just curious. I think this work is amazing.

Thanks!

Yes we are adding those notes now... most of the KN95 fails are the incorrect markings on the mask. To pass the GB2626-2019 standard (where the KN95 lives) you have to put the manufacture name, standard name (eg, "GB2626-2019"), and mask type (eg, "KN95"). About 90% of "KN95s" on amazon are fake because they do not include this... I image because the manufacturers are just trying to make a quick buck and didn't ever read the 57 page standard.

If a KF94 fails it is usually because it's not made in South Korea where all official KF94s are made.

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#89

Post by boardwaalk »

dylan604 wrote: post #84

https://www.armbrustusa.com/blogs/mask-review/kn95-wwdoll-fl... The review for this mask is a great example of the games on Amazon. The review claims this product is from a well known vendor of counterfeit items. The big claim on this product is that the required printing is not on the mask, so they just write it off then and there. However, clicking the link to the item, the required text is prominitely visible in t…

Beware confirmation bias…

Re: Show HN: I bought and tested the filtration of every mask on Amazon

#90

Post by lloydarmbrust »

koyote wrote: post #46

That's a real trove of information! I see there are no cloth masks tested. I'd love to know how useful they are (or can be) as I much prefer being able to reuse my masks. Edit: just realised that both Type and Style can be cloth and the cloth ones are presumably all under Style. All of them failed :(

Cloth is pretty useless... here's a neck gaiter compared to a surgical mask: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40gAXGOlEmI

Also tested my kids minion pillow case which beat the gaiter :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_WryN-Y40

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