Well this is a genuine air scrubber. I know that the dust in the air is really bad for your lungs and just isn’t fun to breath. I know once I get my dust collector, that dust will be down to a minimum but there will always be some dust in the air. Even when sanding or during any operation that won’t connect to the collector. So I was thinking about also getting a air scrubber that was cheap yet effective. I was looking at Shop Vac’s model, but it seemed kind of cheaply made and it didn’t really fit into my price range at the moment, even though it’s only around 100 bucks. I was then looking in my Wood Magazine and found the article on air scrubbers and found out that they were talking about making your own with a simple box fan. Well I have to say that I am very impressed with this homemade contraption. It may not work as well as a $300 Jet but it will still filter the air and get some dust out of the air that would have otherwise been in my lungs. And, best of all, it only set me back around $17.
Materials
One box fan- $12 at walmart :)
One furnace filter (mine are a pack of 4 and are just some short life ones)- $2 on clearance at walmart :)
Duct tape (white for prettiness)- $3
All you have to do is place the furnace filter on the back of the fan and tape it to the box fan so that air won’t leak around the seal. Then flip it on and your ready to go.
If you happen to have on hand a small remote plug thing than you can even rig it to go on with a cordless remote!!
-- Tyler, Illinois
12 comments so far
teenagewoodworker
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1676 posts in 155 days
posted 44 days ago
cool idea, it must be hard in a small shop to because the dust is more condensed instead of spreading out as in a larger shop. that is a cool solution to that problem!
jockmike2
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3814 posts in 633 days
posted 43 days ago
very good idea, I must have 4 of those fans in my basement. Since we got air conditioning.
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Splinters
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128 posts in 569 days
posted 43 days ago
I also use this system in my shop…works great…glad you found it…it is important to control what goes into your lungs
-- Splinters - Living and Loving life in the Rockies - http://www.splinterswoodworks.com/
Scott Bryan
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7733 posts in 208 days
posted 43 days ago
This is an inexpensive route to dust collection. Good idea.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
freedhardwoods
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37 posts in 54 days
posted 43 days ago
That is a good idea to capture all the dust you can. In my opinion, a homemade air cleaner like you made can do just as good as a factory made cleaner, IF you put a good filter on it. I needed to filter a fairly large area so I made a cheap plywood box that will hold three filters and use a furnace fan to pull the air through. I buy good air filters, clean them periodically, and replace them every year.
-- David, Southern Indiana, http://www.freedhardwoodflooring.com
dennis mitchell
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2793 posts in 701 days
posted 43 days ago
Good idea! Steel City has a small dust collector. One machine 300 cfm for around $50.00 bucks. I like to see how that works. I’d like it for when I’m out on a job site.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
matter
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165 posts in 156 days
posted 43 days ago
I filter the air with my lungs. As a professional carpenter I don’t have a retirement plan, so I have to die by 65…..
I use a similar system in our shop, I have the fan pulling the air to the outside though, through a window. It helps with the really tiny particles that our filters won’t catch.
-- The only easy wood project is a fire
Blake
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1792 posts in 261 days
posted 43 days ago
Great simple dust collection solution. One thing to think about though… where you place your dust collector can be the most important factor in how well it works. The “air in” side is more important than the “air out” side. Point the “air in” side toward your dust making tools. It is actually better if the fresh air is not pushed toward you because it turns up the dust into the air even more.
-- Dust collectors suck.
GaryK
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8182 posts in 375 days
posted 43 days ago
Can’t beat the price that’s for sure!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
David
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80 posts in 102 days
posted 42 days ago
Woodshopfreak
Nice setup. You’re a creative guy. I can only say my ‘Redneck Removal Dust System” is a bit cheaper than yours… but far from being as nice. Not too handy when it’s coold outside and ya want the door closed!
chrisagnew
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6 posts in 112 days
posted 23 days ago
I like the redneck system better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hawgnutz
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478 posts in 463 days
posted 6 days ago
I think I will take your system and meld it to a real redneck system…Yee Haw!!
I wlll set the fan in the window blowing towards our horses and donkeys. (Maybe they will take a liking to sawdust flavored air!)
God Bless, and happy breathing!
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards