Hello. In very tldr fashion, my dad had this old respirator from many years ago, never used, and when we took it out of a box to look at, this yellow circle (which I'm assuming is a seal or a diaphragm) crumbled like a thin sheet of dried paint. Does this render the mask unsafe/unusable? If so, is it replaceable, or would it be easier to get a new, modern one? Any information is welcome.

10/14/2026 received email from Amazon that a 3M 6800 mask I purchased 12/2024 was likely counterfeit. It‘s a pretty good copy…I compared it to a 6900 I have…the differences were some of the very small detailed plastic letter and number markings were not sharp and I would say the rubber face gasket material was not as pliable. Also, the strap broke at some point. So beware they are now confirmed.

A family member needs to go out of the house in a particulate haze heavy situation, but she is unable to wear the masks we have (typical N95 masks with metal strips at the nose) as the pressure on her nose makes her very dizzy (Surprisingly, its not due to airflow obstruction).

I offered her my 3M 7500 series mask to try on. She feels that while the soft silicone feels much better, she still feels dizzy, even ten minutes after taking the mask off.

Do any masks or mask systems that don't stress the nose exist for this situation? (full face seal maybe? I'm unfamiliar with masks)

I purchased from them last year and used the 2025 code, but I haven't seen a new code for a while and the old one no longer works. Do they still offer a discount, and can somebody send me the current one?

Bit of an odd request, but I’m wondering if anyone has any unopened WellBefore KN95 Pros lying around, that you maybe bought but realized you preferred a different brand or fit. 

In particular, I’m looking for the older models that come in the green packaging, NOT the new ones that come in white ones.

The previous versions of this masks fit me better than anything I’ve found in the nearly 7 years I’ve been masking, but WellBefore keeps updating their model, and with every update, they get more and more uncomfortable for my face shape. 

If you’ve got any lying around, I’d be happy to pay you the price you bought them for, plus cover shipping!

Hello,

Three Fridays ago I flew home from Italy, wearing an N99 mask the whole way. From pickup at my B&B in Sicily until I left JFK some 10-12 hours later.

I must have worn it with the straps adjusted too tightly, because on my left ear, the area where the strap would go is, according to my dermatologist, 'compromised' (it's been sore and irritated since I got back, I was finally able to see him today). He has prescribed me a salve called Neo-Synalar, I have a treatment plan.

Ideally, I would stop wearing a kn95 until this thing heals.

Problem is, I work with people who come to work sick, so I really need to wear a kn95. And I wear glasses (I've wrapped some gauze around the frame that overlaps my left ear).

Any suggestions, are there good masks that would not rest on my ear?

Thank you

A friend asked me to replace the battery. To do this, I needed to remove the original battery protection circuit board. Then, I took the battery to the battery manufacturer to have a battery of the same shape custom-made. I recharged and welded it, and tested it. They came back to life.

Hi, i'm going at a big protest soon and i've read construction masks are just for dust, but mask that protect from gas are too big, is there an alternative with good protection against tear gas but isn't too big ? Thanks

Hello Everyone,

Recently I work with an Acid but in powder form instead of Liquid Form. At that time Im wearing a 3M 8210 Mask but the I can still feel the Sting eventhough Im wearing the mask.

Could you guys recommend me any suitable mask for Acid Powder?

Thank you very much

i finally got the courage to ask my dentist to wear a n95 mask and they agreed, but only if i bring them with me. i figure individually wrapped would be good since im a stranger and don't want them have to trust me.

i know need surgical rating for fluid resistance because its a dentists. im not entirely sure what the minimum level needed is. but ASTM level 3 is the highest level fluid resistance and i figure ill aim for that to be safe. something more comfortable would probably be ideal but not as important. any recommendations are appreciated thanks

Has anyone fit tested n95 with a neck gaiter over it? I wonder how it affects fit, particularly for 3m Auras.

hi, I recently got a bunch of KF94s and I'm in love. before I had some fake masks* that were so awful that tearing them off and binning them when i got home was the highlight of my day, and before before that i wore bifolds which i'd place in ziplock bags when they were not in use, which i understand now you shouldn't do. My basic regime for reusing masks right now is a mask goes into a paper bag with the day of the week and the date i first used it written on it, it gets used again a week later, and after four weeks i toss it (if it gets wet, or soiled, or i sneeze into it, or i think i've worn it for too long in a too crowded place it gets tossed earlier)

I know that you're supposed to take a mask off by the straps only, but I can't figure out how to do that? To get it to fit in the bag I have to fold down the top and bottom panels and that seems wrong even if I wash my hands before and after doing it

Minor additional question: it turns out I severely overestimated how many plain paper bags I have on hand and have had to store one mask in a paper bag with a transparent window. Is that cause for concern?

* in my defense it was from the same brand i got my bifolds from and I trusted they'd be good masks. I found out they discontinued the bifolds. Never again.

To put it briefly, I want to design my own elastomeric half-face respirator. I'm largely a lay person without access to expensive equipment. I don't know if it's possible to make a working one, so I'm asking about it here to try to learn more.

Very basically (simplifying a lot of my intentions), could I learn to use CAD software to model a nose cup that is compatible with existing respirator interface components (such as the filter attachment, exhalation valve, or even speech diaphragm), and have a company make the silicone nose cup? Depending on the exact existing interfaces it would be designed for, I'd find a suitable way to attach them. I'd then have to acquire fit testing materials to test how it works on my face. It would be purely for my own face to wear as personal health equipment, not in occupational safety environments.

Basically, the goal would be to create my own respirator because of two reasons. There are some great-looking respirators, but none that look the way I want. Some of their appearance is just by nature of their function, but other aspects could theoretically be different if commercial considerations weren't at play. The second goal would ideally be to try to have all the features I want on one mask, mostly using existing parts since designing all of them would multiply the work.

BIG QUESTIONS:

Is what I'm describing possible? Or are existing services (like having a silicone nose cup made by another company) not at the point that this would work? I imagine equipment to do it myself would be much more expensive.

If it is possible, what would it take?

I have some 3-D. modeling experience, but I figure I'd need to learn CAD, some materials science, do a lot of experimentation and careful attention to measurements, and potentially some basic engineering. It would likely take months to years. What am I missing?

If I'm asking in the wrong place, or if there are other places I should ask, please share your suggestions. Thank you so much.

Hello! I'm an insane respirator enthusiast! I was wondering if any of you have any experience with the MSA Comfo Classic half-face respirator. How did it feel? Could you wear it for long periods? How does it compare to other respirators if you've worn multiple? What was especially notable about it, if anything?

Thank you!

Hey, everyone 👋 I’m looking for advice or recommendations for my situation. I routinely use masks like the 3D Well Before KN95, Benehal MS8225-B N95, and 3M Aura 1870. Out of the three of these I thought the Aura would have the best seal along the nose bridge because of the foam but I know I have to be leaking air because my glasses STILL fog up :\ I’m definitely putting them on properly and doing my best to mold the wire to my nose but my nose bridge is very thin and I think that is probably the issue. And I’ll be honest, I had no idea there was a breach until I recently started wearing glasses and noticed immediately they fogged slightly with every breath.

My question is — is there any other type of mask you guys might recommend? I know that the ReadiMask is an option but I can’t afford to buy those regularly and I’m worried about my adhesive sensitivity + fragile skin. It’s one thing if I used those every once-in-a-while but another if I had to use those every day. If there are no options, my next bet is to try some double-sided mask tape along the nose bridge and see if I can make that work. I just wanted to see if there were any recommendations I could try before I have to deal with adhesives since my skin is very sensitive and I know it’ll be a headache.

Thank you

I primarily wear wellbefore 3D pro ear loop masks, and I’ve noticed the last batch I ordered feels different- it’s stiffer, and the seal isn’t as good. The packaging is different too (white papery package instead of the old green one).

I’ve been wearing them almost daily for several years and am familiar with and loved the fit. Bummed and hope this isn’t the new norm. Anyone else notice this?

(I wear the light pink ones and light purple, but haven’t seen this change with the purple yet.)

Hello all,

Question: Assuming both masks pass a mask-fit test, do 3M 8110s/8210 series masks work as well as 1860 series masks against COVID?

Both series are N95 certified, but the 3M 1860 series masks are classified as surgical masks (see user instructions) while the 8110S/8210 masks are classified as industrial masks (user instructions).

Why I ask: I used to work as a Respiratory Therapist. The 1860s passed two qualitative tests for me, but I did a quantitative mask fit test at another hospital where it failed, and they recommended wearing the 8110s. The former two hospitals didn't carry the 8110s masks, and I wonder if it was because they weren't considered fit for use in surgery and against biological particulates... except I also had to wear the 8110s masks for surgery :shrugs:

Any folks working in infection control or mask-fit testing able to weigh in on this?

looking for some fun and easy ideas that could include having a black or white mask on your face.

Has anyone here used air purifiers and found they worth it? I saw a post on a local page about the dust from the nearby road construction and these people said they have noticed such a difference since getting an Air Purifier. Great I thought that sounds like what we need but then I looked and there are soooo many to choose from. Budget isn't an issue so please let me know any options that you're happy with.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Hey everyone,

Im new here. I’ve heard the Zimi masks were a good fit for people with short beards so I ordered some based on their size guidelines. Turns out it’s a bit small and I need to upgrade to a large.

I ordered 20 of them plus the filter that came with the shell. Does anyone want them?

Thanks!

I use VFlex 9105 masks almost exclusively, any time I walk into a building that is not my own home. Because the elastic tends to tear, I always carry at least one spare. They don't quite fit in my EDC bag and I'm worried they may get damaged sticking out. I have a new, longer bag on order, but even then, with the amount of crap I tend to carry, I worry the masks will get damaged, even in the bag. So onto my question:

Has anyone seen/designed/3D printed a hard sided case that will hold 2-3 masks? Something that snaps closed. Hell, I'd fine with something I had to rubber band or Velcro strap shut.

If you have an .STL file, can I have a copy?

Thanks in advance.