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From: optilink!cramer@uunet.UU.NET (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Gas Masks
Message-ID: <29772@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 31 Jan 91 22:15:51 GMT
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Organization: Optilink Corporation, Petaluma, CA
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Approved: gun-control@cs.umd.edu



I've been meaning for some time to buy gas masks, principally for
railroad accidents.  (It seems that railroad cars of ammonia,
chlorine, and other charming substances get derailed far too
often in the U.S. for me to be completely comfortable without
some limited ability to protect my family from accidental
gas warfare).  The Gulf Crisis sort of pushed me over the edge
to get around to buying masks.

I obtained surplus (but apparently never used) German gas masks
that are roughly equivalent to the Israeli surplus gas masks
that were so available for the last two years or so.  I have a
question concerning the filters.  I know that leaving the filters
open and installed on the mask will destroy the filter.  Is it
exposure to the air that does it, or is it flow through the
filter?  Would it shorten the lifetime of the filter significantly
to install the filter, but leave the outer seal on the filter
in place?  (Therefore, only one seal is open -- the one that
points into the mask).
-- 
Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
"The tree of liberty must be watered periodically with the blood of tyrants 
and patriots alike.  It is its natural manure." -- Thomas Jefferson
You must be kidding!  No company would hold opinions like mine!