I would be tempted to try an aluminium drink can.

Empty can, use scissors to cut top and bottom off and then cut into strips by scribing along a ruler.

Drink cans would be far too flimsy -we use twisted pipe cleaners that do at a pinch

How about 1.0 mm household solid wire, leave the insulation on – a bit stiffer 1.5 or 2.5 – ridiculous 4.0mm (squared)

I use material from tins & cans fairly often in my modelling and whilst the aluminium (in drinks cans) is very thin – you could fold it to make it stiffer and also to give a 'safe' edge.

I've not actually tried this with aluminium cans (as it cannot be soldered) but it certainly works OK with the thin tin I've cut from biscuit boxes. I do cut up drinks cans (scissors will do it very easily) for shim material though – it's quite good enough for tool height packing and such like. The cans are simple to source and to cut up – and when folded would probably do the job. Be worth trying…

Regards,

IanT

Hi, my wife is making fabric masks and we initially used 1.5mm squared cable. Small eyes formed each end to prevent poking etc.

But now she uses a pattern with no need for any nose piece and it's much easier. They wash too which might have been an issue with the metal ones.

Think of the masks Hawkeye wore on mash, no metal and they were boil washed.

Mick

Just go full "Ned Kelly"

I have an old one of this type and the strip is magnetic and appears galvanised but is very soft. It is 90mm long 5mm wide 0.5mm thick. There is a thin strip of soft foam on the inside of the filter layer (directly under the metal strip) rather like a very soft door draught seal. Used to use them at work but only for a few minutes at a time. Been wearing it shopping and it gets very uncomfortable after twenty minutes. Huge respect for NHS staff wearing them all day.

Florists flat aluminium wire. Comes on various widths (I have used 5 mm) and 1 mm thick and sold by the metre, or by weight. There are a number of people on ebay selling it, mostly in China, but I got mine from Oasis Floral Products here in UK. Usual disclaimer, no connection to supplier, they just happened to have some in stock.

I have also read that some people are using aluminium flashing strip (from builders merchants) and hand cutting strips of suitable width.

There is a healthy maker community in the USA making and donating face masks for their health care providers, support workers and vulnerable. Various chapters of US sheet metal workers unions are making nose strips and sending them to the makers on request, free of charge. I have been following the activities of UK based groups who are doing the same charitable work over here, making masks and scrubs for health carers. I have seen no mention of UK unions offering any similar assistance over here. Would be happy to be proved wrong on that.

Me? I have been wrestling with a piece of alien technology (aka sewing machine) of late. I am not sure who is getting the better of who. There has been a bit of language. None of it good. So far I have managed to avoid being dragged head first into the infernal clanking contraption.