Introduction: Mask Nose Hold Down

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About: I miss the days when magazines like Popular Mechanics had all sorts of DIY projects for making and repairing just about everything. I am enjoying posting things I have learned and done since I got my first to…

My wife sewed a mask for me to wear during the COVID pandemic as needed. This mask does not have a wire over my nose to form the mask to my face and keep air from simply going between my cheeks and the mask. I made a sturdy slip on attachment that forces my breath to go through rather than around the mask.

Materials

  • 22 gauge sheet steel
  • 22 gauge steel wire

Tools

  • Side cutter pliers
  • Measuring device
  • Vise
  • Hammer
  • Round bar form
  • Spring clamps
  • MIG welder
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Grinding wheel

Step 1: Cut Two Wires

I cut two pieces of wire. Each is two inches long.

Step 2: Bend Wires Over

i need to do some welding on these wires. From experience I know it is very easy to burn them off. I put a quarter inch of wire into a vise and bent them over.

Step 3: Weld Wires Together

I placed the wires next to one another as shown and welded them together.

Step 4: The Sheet Steel

The first photo shows a piece of sheet steel 3/4 x 7/8 inch. I rounded the corners and smoothed all edges.
In the second photo I have placed it into a vise with a 1/2 inch round bar. I lightly tapped the steel with a hammer to form it loosely to the round bar. (The curve is parallel to the long side of the sheet steel.)
In the third photo I checked the fit on the bridge of my nose. Adjust the curvature so it fits your nose.

Step 5: Weld Wires to Sheet Steel

I bent the wires a little so I can hold them in place with spring clamps for welding. (I did shorten the section where the wires are welded together to be a little shorter than 1/4 inch.)

Carefully weld the wires to the sheet steel without burning the wires off.

Step 6: Bend the Wires to Fit You

The first photo shows a forward angle I used in bending the wires to fit my nose and cheeks. I did bend a slight upward curve into the end of the wires to prevent poking myself with sharp wire, but it does not show in the photos. I pressed the wires against my nose, but also left a space between the curved sheet steel and the wires so the mask can slip into that space.

Step 7: Fit and Wear

A little practice is needed to fit the mask to the hold down and to your face. I put the hold down in place and fit the mask around it. Once fitted, I can feel my breath going through the mask rather than around it.