FS: Face mask to help with COVID

[CaliperCreations]

Fellow pelicans,

I wanted to gauge everyones need for a face mask to help reduce the spread of COVID. We are in the process of prototyping a mask for distribution. The mask will not hold an N95 certification or be approved by a 3rd party. We approached the CDC/Niosh to get an approval and we were told that the fees were $7000 with a 45 day waiting period. We can't wait 45 days or afford $7k in fees right now. This is primarily a project we took on to help the community. The masks will be reusable and filters will be replaceable. Email me with any questions.

Thanks,

Vik

[CaliperCreations]

Additionally, this is something we received approval to post by the Pelican Parts crew

[djpateman]

Can you provide any information on the mask such as materials and what it will be similar to?
Dave

[ian c2]

Originally Posted by CaliperCreations

Fellow pelicans,

I wanted to gauge everyones need for a face mask to help reduce the spread of COVID. We are in the process of prototyping a mask for distribution. This is primarily a project we took on to help the community.

Thanks,

Vik

This is great !!!
Allthough I don’t see why you would need this parts suppliers forum members opinions on what is right and what is wrong during the current worldwide pandemic ...
Bearing in mind 1000 people in America died in the last 48 hours , I think you know you must do all you can to help .
I love that you are using your knowledge and facilities for free to help your local community , thus freeing up regular supplies for the health proffesionals who are going to work each day expecting to catch it .
Anything you can do for free to help certainly gets my approval .

Please pass on your design , as maybe others on this forum are in a position to work for free in order to help .

:/

[ian c2]

Clothes companies in California have teamed together with kieser permanenti to come up with a simple 2-ply cloth masc to help contain the virus .
Many clothing factories are now producing them .
Nordstrom are keeping their clothes alteration s people on whilst the shops are closed to make masks .

All for free .....

[Jack Stands]

While cloth masks won’t do much to protect you from the virus, they may at least help contain any droplets if you sneeze or cough, as well as helping to deter you from touching your face.

[ian c2]

Yes .
And , all thought limitedly, can protect you from somebody that coughs or sneezes in your vicinity .
Allthough the best vacinity is no vicinity as you’re at home ...

Here’s a news story of car people that have succeeded in what they promised a week or so ago when formula 1 teams released statements that would volunteer their services ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52087002

[ian c2]

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-teams-working-to-answer-call-for-more-ventilators-amid-coronavirus-crisis.4ogiraIR2pzyL9TpI6MRRt.html

[CaliperCreations]

CDC is currently telling physicians to use a bandana over a surgical face mask. Many physicians have already asked me for an alternative. DJPATEMAN, our mask will be make of a urethane. The seal that makes contact with your face will either be a rubber or foam. We are still working though which product to use. The filters we are using prevent .3 micron particles from entering. We are doubling up on the filters. We currently have 1 inhalation valve and 1 exhalation valve. We are trying yo add antlers inhalation valve to assist with breathing because breathing through 2 .3 micron filters is not easy. Here is a pic of the initial prototype.

[CaliperCreations]

[CaliperCreations]

The 2 holes are where the inhalation and exhalation will go.

[CaliperCreations]

Ian,

Thanks for the feedback. There is a reason we are using this forum. We are essentially a custom prototyping shop that focuses on classic reproducing classic Porsche parts. We started by approaching hospitals directly after physicians asked for our masks. We emailed multiple hospital groups and only received automated replies back. Pretty sad that no-one at the hospital cared enough to contact us back and figure out a way to get these masks to physicians, nurses and pas. I hope this helps get them out to more people.

Vik

[93nav]

I would not be surprised if the hospitals are getting a lot of emails, some offering valid help, and some offering bogus solutions. Hard to sort thru.

Note that there are multiple efforts out there to create simple clothe masks, to more complex ones like you are working on.

If you have not, take a look at this forum and it's related forums. Look around before posting anything because it can get quite hectic.

https://app.slack.com/client/TUTSYURT3/CV1CKD7S6/thread/CV1CKD7S6-1585494477.123100

Originally Posted by CaliperCreations

Ian,

Thanks for the feedback. There is a reason we are using this forum. We are essentially a custom prototyping shop that focuses on classic reproducing classic Porsche parts. We started by approaching hospitals directly after physicians asked for our masks. We emailed multiple hospital groups and only received automated replies back. Pretty sad that no-one at the hospital cared enough to contact us back and figure out a way to get these masks to physicians, nurses and pas. I hope this helps get them out to more people.

Vik

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by CaliperCreations

Ian,

Thanks for the feedback. There is a reason we are using this forum. We are essentially a custom prototyping shop that focuses on classic reproducing classic Porsche parts. We started by approaching hospitals directly after physicians asked for our masks. We emailed multiple hospital groups and only received automated replies back. Pretty sad that no-one at the hospital cared enough to contact us back and figure out a way to get these masks to physicians, nurses and pas. I hope this helps get them out to more people.

Vik

Interesting that you say this...

I have been asked by a close acquaintance to assist in selling N95, KN95, and regular disposable face masks during this time. He has a company that has modified their supply chain with a supplier for lightbulbs in China, to supply up to 1 Million masks/week, 2 week lead time from date of order, very competitively priced...

I have reached out to all of the largest Healthcare organizations in CT and am getting no responses, despite knowing that personal friends (Drs/PAs/Nurses etc) are being told they can't get masks and are being forced to reuse what they have for a minimum of 3 days...

The supplies are available...they are ignoring

Your solution looks like a much more robust and long term offering than all of the disposables though.

Saucy

[safe]

Originally Posted by CaliperCreations

Ian,

Thanks for the feedback. There is a reason we are using this forum. We are essentially a custom prototyping shop that focuses on classic reproducing classic Porsche parts. We started by approaching hospitals directly after physicians asked for our masks. We emailed multiple hospital groups and only received automated replies back. Pretty sad that no-one at the hospital cared enough to contact us back and figure out a way to get these masks to physicians, nurses and pas. I hope this helps get them out to more people.

Vik

I'm guessing that US hospitals, like our Swedish, need to issue certified personal protection. No matter how good the stuff is, if its not certified they could be liable.

[CaliperCreations]

It’s definitely a liability issue. But with the current state of affairs it’s almost a certain that the mask we are building will safe lives and offer a much better solution to rewashing masks.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by CaliperCreations

It’s definitely a liability issue. But with the current state of affairs it’s almost a certain that the mask we are building will safe lives and offer a much better solution to rewashing masks.

YES!

Washing masks seems like the worst in a weak effort in "helping" those on the front lines.

[safe]

Contact your local politicians, its them who can change rules and regulations, push for exceptions of the normal routines.
I'm guessing, I don't know how your system work. But public pressure on politicians usually is the way! Start a twitter storm!

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

Hello Everyone - we've received a few messages about this post and wanted to clarify some things.

- Pelican Parts are not selling these nor are we taking a cut off any of the sales.

- We allowed Vik and his team, a trusted vendor of ours, to post this because he is genuinely trying to make an item available for people that seems to be impossible to get for some. This is by no means a malicious scheme to profit in a time of need.

- We have not tested the masks ourselves.


Thanks.

[Harpo]

Any mask even if it is untested/certified has to be better than no mask at all.