I really like the fit of the 3M 9205 mask, but the straps aren't worth a poop; they break constantly, and I repair them. But stapling them again and making the strap shorter just stresses it, I guess. And the original strap is not that great. Anyone encounter this and devised a good fix?

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Hurts like a bastid...

I've used big rubber bands, though they catch on hair and ears.

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I haven't had that problem with my 9211+'s ... I think because they have a fabric elastic rather than a rubber one. I do also have some 9322+'s that have the rubber elastic though, and haven't really found breakage to be a major problem... I have found that the elastic tends to get twisted up in my hair and eyeglass holders though.

If it were a problem, I would consider maybe replacing the rubber elastic with the fabric type, maybe something like this?: [www.amazon.com]

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Aren’t these face masks disposable ie. meant to be disposed after 1 day of use?

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Forrest
Aren’t these face masks disposable ie. meant to be disposed after 1 day of use?

not to my mind, unless they get dirty, and they sometimes do because I use them for work in dusty and dirty environments, too.

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Hurts like a bastid...

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Forrest
Aren’t these face masks disposable ie. meant to be disposed after 1 day of use?

Yes, that is how they are designed and intended by the manufacturer to be used.

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C(-)ris
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C(-)ris

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Forrest
Aren’t these face masks disposable ie. meant to be disposed after 1 day of use?

Yes, that is how they are designed and intended by the manufacturer to be used.

Can you find a citation from 3M for that statement?

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Hurts like a bastid...

I posted this in another thread but its also relevant here:

N95 certification levels are based on an assumed 8 hour workday wearing the mask for protection from airborne particulates generated in an industrial or medical environment. The mask if fitted properly can be assumed to keep 95% of the particles in the tested size range out over that period. A single use is an 8-hour workday. If you only wear a mask for 1/2 hour each day then you would have a minimum of 16 days of use assuming that you store it properly. Also, since you are apt to be primarily wearing it when you are not doing physical work in a particulate-rich environment, then you can expect that the mask would remain effective for much longer. So, for most people who are not using these all day or around a lot of particulate sources you should be able to use these for much longer than a day.

We use these and other respirators a lot at work. They get filthy on the outside when dealing with dusty environments and the problem then is that if you handle the mask to take it off and put it back on again you tend to contaminate the inside of the mask with the contaminants on the outside. Also, you can't clean these as you can other types of respirators. I believe that this is the main reason that they are considered "single use". If you are careful not to contaminate the interior of the mask and the exterior is not completely clogged and filthy with contaminants, then you should be able to repeatedly use it.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2021 08:13PM by davester.

Yes, that is how they are designed and intended by the manufacturer to be used.


No citation from me, but I say much of that falls under the Lather, Rinse, Repeat doctrine.

As I said elsewhere, when masks were cheap and plentiful, sure, do what the manufacture says, dispose after one use, then buy more at your local BUY MORE store.

The N95s are generally used in a more destructive environment, getting damaged or clogged with debris.

Assuming one or someone else isn't coughing phlegm or spilling/spraying some other permanent or lethal substance onto a mask, or it's not used in a very dusty or other occluded environment, why not use it more than once.

Rotating it out of service for a three or four days would be a good idea, or at least not a harmful one.

Using those extender that keep the loops off of one's ears might help with repaired mask with shrinking loops.

They're probably a good idea for most wearers anyway.

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I seriously thought this thread was going to be about the straps on a Nikon N95 camera.

I don't own a mask.

Two fixes (based on/from one very special product):

#1) cut an elastic hairband to desired size, and sew on where/as appropriate.

#2) remove rubber band straps, and use under cloth mask that has elastic hairbands that have been cut to size, and sewn on as to be appropriate.

Comfort 101.
Pro tip; put a little of cloth around elastic hairband and edge of mask, so there's more "meat" to sew elastic hairband onto, and hairband won't pull out/off, and will be reusable/able to be resewn onto several masks.
Good luck, enjoy.
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