Operation Face Mask: A Fortuna Veteran, his Three-Legged Dog, and a 3D Printer

Albert Wade Kuykendall on the day he adopted his three-legged dog Skylar. [All photos provided by Kuykendall]

Albert Wade Kuykendall, a 53-year-old veteran from Fortuna, watched the world change overnight as waves of closures swept across California in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Learning of the need for personal protective equipment across the North Coast, Kuykendall, along with his three-legged dog Skyler, enlisted his 3D printer in an undertaking to provide facial coverings to the citizens of Humboldt County.

Kuykendall used his 3D printer to create this prosthetic hand.

Kuykendall had his right arm amputated in late 2018. While researching how to make his own prosthetic arm, he discovered an organization named E-Nable, which he described as “a consortium of 3D printing enthusiasts that print open-source prosthetics for kids that can’t get prosthetics otherwise.” Using Facebook to fundraise for a 3D printer, materials, and tools, Kuykendall raised nearly $1,100 and started making prosthetics for kids and himself. In early March, he participated in E-Nable’s drive to “deliver dozens of prosthetics to the Dominican Republic for kids who lost limbs from landmines.”

Kuykendall modeling the face shield he 3D printed.

Kuykendall described how his creations changed when “the coronavirus hit.” Members of E-Nable started sharing files so members could use their 3D printers to make face shields, “ear savers” (holders designed to secure mask straps behind the head relieving pressure on the ears), and bias tape makers (a device that simplifies flattening and folding fabric for mask straps).

With his three-legged dog Skyler by his side, Kuykendall got to work. He estimates that he has made about 10 face-shields, 20-30 bias tape makers, and a few hundred ear-savers.

Kuykendall has been providing members of the Facebook group Humboldt Coronavirus Mask Makers with bias tape measures to speed up their mask-making process.

Another of Kuykendall’s 3D printed creations, a bias tape maker used to flatten and fold fabric for mask straps.

Teri Westfahl, a member of the Facebook group, said, “Albert has been amazing!” Westfahl explained that Kukendall’s bias tape maker expedites the mask making process: “This 3D double-fold allows for you to cut your strip of fabric, insert the end into the 3D mold, and from there either iron and sew, or if it has wings you can tape it to the machine and sew the bias closed bypassing the whole ironing steps.”

Austin Seder, a Eureka man who works as a FedEx delivery driver, said Kuykendall provided him and his co-workers ear savers. Seder said after 12-15 hour shifts of wearing the masks, the pain on his ears was “terrible.” Seder’s wife works at Bear River Casino and Kuykendall has offered to provide their employees with the same device.

The mask Kuykendall designed so those with hearing difficulties could still lip-read.

Kuykendall teamed up with Eureka’s Tri-Counties Independent Living, an organization committed to providing support and services for Humboldt County’s disabled population. TCIL told Kuykendall that their Deaf clients were having a difficult time adapting to a world of facial coverings because they rely on lip-reading to comprehend others. Kuykendall was able to design find and make a face mask prototype with a clear window so a speaker’s lips were clearly visible. Kuykendall found the design at amaskforall.com

Donalyn Sjostrand, the Executive Director of TCIL, said “we looked all over the internet for a product that would address the needs of our Deaf clients but there wasn’t anything.” Now that Kuykendall has designed found a design and created a prototype, Sjostrand hopes to partner with him and produce the see-through face mask for all their hearing-impaired clients.

Reflecting on his 3D printing, Kuykendall said, “You know, it’s given me a sense of purpose honestly, giving back….for all the people that helped me over the years. It’s good for the soul to give back like that.” He made sure to point out that his endeavors were not unique saying, “There are so many people doing the same thing. The 3D printing community is a bunch of hobbyists. When there is a need, they tend to jump up for it.”

Kuykendall’s at-home, 3D printing work station.

Looking to the future after the pandemic has passed, Kuykendall said, “When the coronavirus is over, I will get back to making prosthetics with E-Nable. I want to start a chapter here in Humboldt County. That’s the type of organization I live to support.”

Ultimately, Kuykendall’s outlook remains optimistic and hopeful: “There are so many people engaged in work like this. It gives you hope for humankind.”

If you have a story of resiliency and strength in the face of the pandemic, please email me at [email protected] to share.

Earlier Stories in the Series:

• Working Out While Locked Down: How the Local Fitness Industry Is Adapting to the Pandemic
• Small, Local Florists Finding Ways to Flourish Amid the Pandemic (Psst, Mother’s Day Is Tomorrow)