What options do I have to make a DIY full-face PAPR style face masks?
May 1, 2021 11:46 AM   Subscribe

2021 fire season preparation: full face masks edition. COVID-related masks dominate search functions for good reason, but I am building some full face PAPR style respirators for the family in preparation of the smoke-season that is inevitable here out west (if not this year, some summer soon). I can build 90% of what I need, I'm just having trouble sourcing the actual cover-up-your-faceparts portion of the project. I don't run in cosplay or prop-building circles, so there may be resources there that I'm unaware of? Help me source some weird ass helmets and masks.

The fire season in 2020 was seriously the fucking worst, and it was honestly much harder on my entire little family unit than the whole of the pandemic. I had rigged up a DIY powered papr style mask, but it is bulky, and honestly, the field of vision isn't great. It was a fucking godsend to have on hand though for when the fires hit, so we could still get outside for a walk and whatnot. While I am existentially depressed about the need to make or buy space suits for living on earth, I enjoy building things like this and solving these problems. This is more of a mental health project than anything else. I would prefer not to purchase a full PAPR system for three members of the family.

I am having trouble finding a helmet or full facemask to retrofit to work with a powered, filtered air supply. I have a lightweight, streamlined little pack that's all set up for supplying the air, I just need a good cheap-ish platform for a mask. I've tried contacting the prop makers from the movie 2067 with no luck, because they have a face mask (at the 0:37 mark) that would be perfect as a base; but I have no way of identifying what that was made from, or if it was a custom piece of prop for the movie.

Traditional respirators, and the diving mask i've used prior, have a mouth covering that needs to be removed or altered to be comfortable, and modifying the diving mask leaves brackets or scarring on the plastic that make it harder to see than is ideal.

I'd prefer just to have the face covered (eyes/nose/mouth required), with the fullest range of vision possible. I can retrofit just about any design to work with the air filter system I've made, but I can't find a good base that has a decent seal. Smaller and lighter are always better. Any suggestions?
posted by furnace.heart to Technology (8 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Would something like a full-face CPAP mask work? Googling shows them for around ~100 dollars.
posted by MadamM at 12:27 PM on May 1, 2021


I'm not sure why you need a full-face? But buy any 3M full-face mask and hack a cartridge to fit your air hose.

I do have a need though (sanding and my glasses fog). I'm going to try chem goggles and any half mask, and run the fresh air hose to both. I'm not worried about perfect seal because air will be flowing out. I haven't tried so don't know if it's a good idea yet.
posted by flimflam at 1:07 PM on May 1, 2021


Buy just the helmet from a PAPR setup and attach your DIY fan/filter system? It's much less pricey than the full system. Here's another helmet-only option.
posted by jpeacock at 1:36 PM on May 1, 2021 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: To clarify, for smoke purposes a seal is pretty important; I tried plugging up the outlet entirely for my first build, and it just leaked smoke in like a sieve, even with the blower maxed out (and its pretty powerful). The smoke got pretty insane.

Half masks and goggles aren't going to be a workable combination for the kiddo, and just generally the full mask solution is more comfortable for much longer; the current build is comfortable for a full day doing physical labor outside in the smoke (I've done 6-9 hours without taking it off a few times), visibility and bulk are more the issues with the current setup. I have built a half mask one, and it just defeats the whole purpose of having a powered air supply to it. Unfortunately, with the smoke getting as bad for as long as it was, having an option that is comfortable to wear for a long time (even indoors) is kind of the goal. It's an admittedly a shitty goal, but here we are.
posted by furnace.heart at 1:41 PM on May 1, 2021


Have you looked at full face snorkeling masks?
posted by 15L06 at 1:47 PM on May 1, 2021 [1 favorite]


There’s also these (they come in 3 sizes)
posted by blue suede stockings at 4:52 PM on May 1, 2021


I wear this stylish unit at work, it’s easy to adjust fit but it gets heavy fast. Maybe the form factor gives you ideas?
https://gemplers.com/collections/all/products/replacement-helmet-assembly
posted by momus_window at 7:27 PM on May 1, 2021


In 2020 there was a project called Puppy PAPR that was for DIYing PAPR. It required a pretty high level of DIY sophistication and it looks like the project is "in hibernation" now, but it was a community hack effort to do... broadly what you're after? So might give you links to follow that would lead to useful stuff.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:42 AM on May 2, 2021


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