Muggles writes:
On 5/15/2020 1:34 AM, micky wrote:
In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 13 May 2020 08:29:10 -0400, micky
wrote:

no question, just a story.

I started with 3 N95 masks, but after wearing 2 of them for several
30-minute sessions eaach, one of the rubber bands broke on each.

I tied two pieces in a square knot, and it looks like the knot will hold
but now the band is over an inch shorter and I'm sure it will break
again.

I had to go to the doctor for hand surgery on Monday and found that even
with only one rubber band, the mask felt 98% the same as with two bands.

But still, I plan to replace the elastic.

Found what I wanted Monday night on the Jo-Anne's website.

By Tuesday they were sold out. Apprarently there is an elastic
shortage because of everyone making masks!

More than one person had written to a sewing site toask if you can cut
the elastic lengthwise (since they can find wide stuff for sale).
Answer was it would fray. That's better than I thought. I thought it
would fall apart.


Walmart is out too, and even if the other chain in Baltimore has it now,
I've sort of lost interest.

I'm going to wait until they open the new elastic mines in Zimbabwe and
start to import elastic from there.

Until then, if necessary I'll just use thread of a fixed length and rely
on my new bouffant hairstyle to apply the backward pressure on the
threads and mask.


Swimsuit stretch material will work as an elastic substitute.

Spandex (AKA elastane) _is_ an elastic.