Furry Gas Masks

[graafen]

I keep seeing art of furry critters wearing gas/oxygen masks, and every single time I see these I can't help but think that they look wrong.

Why is this? It's pretty simple really for anyone who has actually used a gas mask before. There are two major flaws with the majority of gas mask design in furry art.

Unfortunately I can't draw, so I can't show you what I mean. Hopefully you can understand what I'm saying.

1) Shape would play a major factor in gas mask design for furries. Critters with short to no muzzles (rabbits for example) would not really have a problem in this area, but those who do have long protruding muzzles (canines, lizards, etc) would definately have a problem due to length.

Most artists draw the masks as though the muzzle is covered in a single piece of moulded rubber. Although this would technically work for breathing requirements it leaves a large flaw: no jaw movement. Jaw movement would be required for conversation.

From what I can see there are really only two ways of combating this.
One is to have a large cavity below the jaw which would allow movement, but that would be impracticle and restrict downwards movement of the head.
The other option (which was suggested to me by toy_dragon) would be to have a section of concertina style rubber beneath the muzzle which would extend downwards as the wearer spoke. This would be more practical.

2) When I mentioned this to Ultrafox he also informed me that fur would be a major factor too. Gas/oxygen masks work by forming an airtight seal around the wearers face. This would be impossible with fur in the way. The only way to resolve that problem would be for the wearer to wear an NBC hood which the mask slips over.

3) This is a little addition. Gas masks for long muzzled critters would NOT have filters on the end of them. Think about it, filters are heavy and one of those hanging off the end of your muzzle would actually strain your neck.

If anyone wants to dispute this then feel free, but please give reason for your arguements. :P

Comments

[bondage-husky.livejournal.com]

is this for Furry bodage gear mate because its starting to sound very murry ^__^

[ours-garou.livejournal.com]

A couple of years back, Mr. S (http://www.mr-s-leather.com/) had some unusual, elongated riot gas masks that looked extremely canine. By the time I'd found them, they were already out of stock. The item is completely gone from their catalog now, too.

However, the point is that I think they'd look very much like the masks you'd expect to see on an anthro with a long muzzle. The filters appeared to be on the sides as well, and were "embedded," for lack of a better word.

[brunbera.livejournal.com]

Rather than re-invent the wheel, why not look at the gas masks that were made for dogs and horses for WWI (and WWII?)?

Just an idea...

[shep-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Here's a photo of such a device:

[bondage-husky.livejournal.com]

looks like a k9 gas mask for a rescue dog lol or a bondage hood for a dog hehe :-P

[graafen]

Same again, those don't really have much room for muzzle movement.

[orona-red.livejournal.com]

I think you wouldn't have to worry so much about opening your muzzle so much - how far do you have to open your mouth to talk? So long as there was maybe an inch or so of room for the muzzle in there you'd be able to talk fine, I believe. Even if you're restricted by it, you could wear a throat mike with a radio on it, cuz you're going to be muffled by a gasmask anyway. As for a hermetic seal - The hood would make it easier, but depending on the thickness of the fur you may not need one, assuming there are straps and things you can tighten, or perhaps manufacture it as two seperate pieces, one which surrounds the neck for a tight seal, and joins to a piece which plops over the head and seals around it - disadvantages there possibly being it being uncomfortable (but no more so than most gas masks, I guess) and it being more of a pain in the ass to get on... not such a problem if you're using it to infiltrate somewhere you suspect there may be some gaseous hazard, but moreso if you're just giving them to the general public.

I totally agree about the gas mask filter placement. At the end of the muzzle is silly, cuz it'll cause the mask to droop. My own mask (SL) has two filters on either side of the head, right up close to the face. There are only two for pretty symmetry, I guess you'd only really need one. XD

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Good points. :)

I could imagine that depending on the purpose of the mask, one might simply live with the fact that it'd restrict the wearer's ability to speak (or maybe you'd use a throat microphone, although I don't know how much mouth/muzzle movement those things require); also, as far as filters are concerned, I'd imagine that it'd be shifted along the side of the mask (or maybe split into two filters on both sides, to provide better balance) and that special care would be taken to make it as lightweight as possible.

But the fur would definitely be a problem, yes. I wonder whether furs who'd regularly wear gasmasks (like firefighters or soldiers, maybe) would shave part of their necks to make sure that the mask would come in contact with the actual skin so it'd be airtight... but you'd still need a different mask shape that covers more than the face even in that case.

[rorydedog.livejournal.com]

Better question:
Why in the world are they wearing them? I have seen them at con's before and the first thing that comes to mind is that they are retarded. To prove this, I asked a number of different furs at conventions why they were wearing a gas mask. not one of them could tell me why! one answered "I was told to" another answered "I don't know" yet others pointed and shook their heads like they couldn't talk.
If there are other reasons, I'd love to know.

[cetaphin.livejournal.com]

Rubber seals and fur. Not a good combo.

Old style, current-issue MOPP gear, all require the user to have a clean-shaven face so that a good seal around the edges can be attained. 'tis why Gillette got so big, they were the primary US razor supplier for WWI, specifically so that the soldiers could keep their faces clean and have a properly functioning mask. I have a set of MOPP myself, and I can tell you that even with a -tiny- amount of stubble, you're gunna be chokin' on CS the next chemmy drill you've got. Old style stays sealed throughout breathing, MOPP seals get tighter around the face as you inhale. If the rubber rests on stubble or hair, inward hairline gaps appear when you breathe in and the negative pressure of inhalation will literally 'pull' the agent inside of the mask.

But that's for real, not decorative. Decorative it doesn't matter much. :P

[hytiger.livejournal.com]

Uncle Kage talked about this during his sig @ EF12

[graafen]

Well how about that? :D

[cloneboy.livejournal.com]

to quote from the amazing film that is biodome

"shave poochy poochy"