How to Make Emergency Gas Masks

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Permalink Reply by Komrad Gas Mask Killer☭ on May 2, 2010 at 10:06pm

Permalink Reply by Komrad Gas Mask Killer☭ on May 2, 2010 at 10:12pm

An emergency gas mask that can be made at home was demonstrated in Manhattan last week by the American Women's Voluntary Services. The necessary materials can be found in almost any house: a bathing cap, a small tin can, the transparent cover from a powder-puff box, a bit of wire net (from fly swatters), two handkerchiefs, elastic ribbon, adhesive tape, and (from the drugstore) a few ounces of activated coconut charcoal and soda lime. The principle behind the homemade mask is simple; the assembly is more difficult. The rubber cap is fitted snugly over the face and two holes are cut in it; one for the powder-puff cover (to look through), one for the tin-can respirator. The ends of the can are removed, replaced with the wire net. Inside the can go the chemicals (two parts activated charcoal, one part soda lime) wrapped in the handkerchiefs. All openings in the cap are hermetically sealed with adhesive tape. An elastic-ribbon harness holds the mask on tight. An alternative model makes use of rubber baby pants (see cut) instead of the bathing cap.

When carefully made, this improvised gas mask is effective against all known war gases. But the A.W.V.S. and the War Department are leary of inexperienced workmanship. The least carelessness in fitting the parts of the gas mask together would permit gas to enter. The A.W.V.S. recommends that all such masks be made under its supervision.

Permalink Reply by Komrad Gas Mask Killer☭ on May 13, 2010 at 2:08pm

Things You'll Need:

* Paper bag
* Toilet-paper tube
* Cardboard box
* CPU fan
* 3.5 -inch cleaning floppy disk
* CD case
* Duct tape
* Plastic tube (optional)

Step 1

Cut a square hole in the paper bag, slightly smaller than the size of the CD case. Remove the transparent side of the case, and tape it securely over the hole. This will form the gas mask hood, with a window to see through.

Step 2

Make the filter cover from the cardboard box. Cut four trapezoidal shapes, somewhat wider than the case fan on the long end and as wide as the diameter of the toilet-paper tube on the narrow end. Tape them together to form a four-sided funnel, and tape the toilet-paper tube onto the small end of it.

Step 3

Remove the plastic case from the cleaner floppy, and tape the round disk to the top of the fan in such a way that the airflow is directed toward the disk. Tape over the hole in the center of the disk. Insert the fan and disk into the funnel, disk-side first. Seal and secure with tape.

Step 4

Cut a round hole in the paper bag beneath the window. Fit the small end of the filter into it and tape it on. For added cosmetic effect, tape both ends of a two- to three-foot plastic tube to the sides of the upper part of the funnel, with the tube looping around behind the wearer's head.

Step 5

To use the gas mask, put the paper bag over your head, looking out through the window. Attach two 9-volt batteries to the wires powering the fan to turn it on. This will blow air through the filtering disk and into the mask so that you can breathe. Tape the edge of the bag to your shoulders for added security.