Ask HN: Would you use a custom-fit face mask adapter?

I did my graduate work in a tuberculosis lab where disposable n95 respirators were part of our standard PPE, so I have a few opinions on this.

> virtually every person who was on the plane with a facemask on was wearing it improperly.

Yes, and it drives me crazy. The disposable masks today are excellent and learning how to fit them properly isn't hard.

1. Shave. Sorry if you love your beard.

2. Put the straps over your head and the mask loosely in place. The top strap goes at the top back of your head just below the occipital protuberance, not over your hears. The bottom strap goes at the base of your skull.

3. Starting from the bridge of your nose, gently mold the metal strip to match your face. It should not dig in, but when you exhale, no air should come out from the top of the mask (your glasses shouldn't fog, if you wear them).

4. Stretch the bottom of the mask down over your chin with your mouth closed.

Now inhale deeply. You should feel the mask's shape crumple slightly from the negative pressure inside. If it does not, you have air leaking in from the sides. When you exhale, the mask pushes away from your face and the positive pressure of breathing out prevents contaminants from entering.

To test your fit, get a bottle of vanilla extract from the kitchen. When you hold the open bottle up to your face with a properly sealed mask, you shouldn't be able to smell it or barely be able to smell it at all. If you can, your mask isn't fit right. If you were being properly fitted there are much better tests, but this is a quick way to check.

If you have a long chin or other unusual shaped face, you may have to try a few models of mask. I generally stick with 3M's masks.

While wearing it, you can't open your mouth wide or work your jaw laterally much. You can't scrunch your nose very much. People have to get used to having the thing on their face. I don't think 3D printing rubber will change that.

That being out of the way, part of the point is that they are disposable. For smoke, it doesn't matter. Just wash it. For biocontamination, being able to autoclave and dispose of the thing is...kind of important.

So, no, I wouldn't buy one.

Thinking about pushing this further, but would love some feedback.

After the fires/smoke in the Bay Area for the last few years and now seeing thousands of folks wearing their masks improperly during the Coronavirus pandemic, I'm finally feeling like this is something that could actually come to market and provide significant benefit to many people.

Give me the hard truth, please :)