Homemade Air Cleaner

Nice job, thanks for the pictures

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

pretty ingenious. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Love it. I need to make one of these for my shop. What was the total damage for that unit?

-- Rookster, (http://www.robertkarl.org/woodworkingblog/)

How much? Hmmm…...

Wood I had left over, but the ply wood would be less than a 4×8 sheet. I think the fans were around $20 each. I had to purchase the plug adapters with wires for the fans, so I would guess $25-$30 for those total. Maybe $10-$15 for the switch and timer.

So, without accounting for the filters, probably by the time I bought the plywood new and the misc. fasteners to boot, somewhere around $150+/-.

I’ll have to see if I have the link to the fans in my computer at home.

-- Kalamazoo, MI

Ok, here is a link to where I bought the fans. Good guys to deal with. One of the 3 fans they sent me was loud, like something was hitting inside the fan. They sent me a new one free and didn’t ask for the old one.

About the 4 item down… TN3A2 – ROTRON TARZAN FAN, 6.8” square X 4” D plastic frame fan moves 340 CFM of air from 115 V 50-60 Hz 85 watt input; 5 lbs shipping. used-clean,
$19.95 each
http://www.fairradio.com/catalog.php?mode=view&categoryid=200

-- Kalamazoo, MI

Looks like a well made Air Cleaner.

Is there any possibility that the motors will clog up with wood dust and die? And is there any possibility of the electicl components igniting the wood dust, i.e. fire hazard?

I guess both questions relate to how much of the dust is filtered out of the air, or how much gets through.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

I think the filter catches a lot, but only time will tell on the clogging. I don’t think I need to worry about the explosion hazard. They are axial fans which are brushless, and I’ve been using smaller versions in my airbrush booth for years (using lacquer paints)

-- Kalamazoo, MI

Of course, I would probably make sense to bow out the motor area when changing the filters. If you spray finish you have a compressor. Thanks for the idea.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

O.K. I was thinking about installing a filter before the fans, and when it gets dirty, you can replace them of clean them or whatever it is you do. That way the fans stay free of paint and sawdust.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

I was wondering how many microns your pleated filter stops. I have a Jet air cleaner that filters down to 1 Micron. I’m not sure if your pleated filter is that affective. mine has a pleated filter plus a bag to catch what the pleated filter misses, & the bag catches an awful lot of dust. They say the dust below 5 microns causes the most danger to the lungs.
I like your fan system though. It should be much quieter than mine. I have a composting toilet that has similar fans, & they’re real quiet. I don’t think you should have any clogging problems either.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I’m not sure the micron rating on the filters, but there are 2 filters running, both rated at 11 merv. Whatever that merv translates into?

EDIT: Looks like with Merv 11, the efficiency rating on particles 1 to 3 microns is probably 65%-80%. Would have to get something that was rated at 16 merv.

EDIT: Looks like I should of built the unit to 12” high, then I could of got some bag filters from Penn State. Anyone know where to look for some bag filters, besides Penn State?

-- Kalamazoo, MI

I am just curious about the ease of changing the filters?

I glad this post came back around. Looks like a great project, I see it’s about a year old and I was wondering how this unit has been woeking out for you. It looks like something I will have to put on the project list.

-- Frank Auge---Nichols NY----"My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked, but it is price competitive."

Crab…

It’s really easy to change. Just lift up the door and swap out the filters. I’m 6’3” so it’s easy to reach for me…....other than that.

FrankA…

I haven’t used to much in my new space, haven’t built a lot since the big “D”. But from what I used it, it trapped a ton of particles. I remember once cutting some MDF (a small amount) and forgot to have it running while cutting. It didn’t take long to clear the room, granted it wasn’t a big room, but still didn’t take long. You can watch the dust just pile up. I was running it one of those cheap fiberglass filters first, then a pleated filter second. Even the cheap blue filter was catching a ton.

-- Kalamazoo, MI

I am glad this came out of the archives, too. This is a good project.

-- Maplewood, MN

me too ive been thinking about something like this for a while . my idea was a 20 in. box fan for ten bucks from the dollar store

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

I got the fans, just have to get the time.
That’s a very nice design you came up with.
I’m using my old one now and will probably back burner the new one until it breaks.

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

no problem with the woodworking end of things. Not so sure about the electrical. Did you rig this up so that its plugged in or is it hardwired (you mention plug adapters)?? Any info on the electrical end of things would be appreciated.

lovely!! you were my inspiration.

-- Eddie. Columbus, OH --

btw, did you ground your fan? because i didn’t ground mine..

-- Eddie. Columbus, OH --