/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Tools: A cutting tool like a razor blade, exacto-knife or sharp scissors, glue and a permanent marker.

Materials: One 2-liter soda bottle, one roll of 1″ wide rubberized foam insulation strip, and one N95 particulate mask.

Step 1. Use the permanent marker to draw out a U-shaped area just big enough to fit your face. You want the mask to fit snug against your face so start small and work your way up if you have to.

Step 2. Cut away the bottom of the bottle just above the start of the ridged footer area. Then carefully cut along the lines of the template to remove the U-shaped section from the bottle. Once you have the basic shape defined, hold the bottle up to your face to make sure it fits well. Make any necessary adjustments for an optimal fit. Again, you want it to be tight, but not uncomfortable.

Step 3. Using a single length of insulation, fold it over the edges of the bottle a little at a time until you work your way back to the beginning. Over-lap the insulation by at least 1/2″ to get a complete and secure seal. Make a circle of insulation inside the bottle roughly 2″ up from the spout. This will serve as a resting place for the N95 mask.

Step 4. Carefully remove the 2 elastic bands and metal bridge from the N95 mask. Set the elastic bands aside for later use, feel free to discard the metal bridge. Carefully remove the majority of the edging from the mask, leaving just enough to keep the edges sealed. Push the mask down into the neck of the bottle, angling the filter outwards and down towards the spout.

Step 5. Make 4 small holes in the sides of the mask, 2 near the top and 2 near the bottom. Feed the ends of the elastic bands through the body of the Soda Bottle Gas Mask and tie them off so they can be pulled back through. Seal the holes with a bit of glue to prevent leaks in the mask.