Affordable DIY Fume Laser Fume Extractor that actually WORKS!

Commercial Fume Extractors are super expensive! DIY Fume Extractors are hit and miss. This one actually works! What's the secret? It uses commercial BOFA filters. That makes it a little expensive to operate, as filters alone are just under $450. However this is first fume extractor I had that eliminated all laser cutting odors in my basement. See how I made it and you can too.
Update: I recently added a 6" charcoal hydroponics filter (like this one: amzn.to/3EzWC86) after last fan and it COMPLETELY eliminates all orders! What's even better that filter is cheap, and it lasts and lasts and lasts because it has to filter tiny bit of fumes. I never vent outside anymore!
I want to give credit and huge thanks to Brandegee Pierce ( • DIY Meets High End Fum... ) as it was mostly his idea, and I just built upon it.
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:::: Please Check out my Online Shop: lensdigital.com/shop ::::
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3D Model (STEP) and Plywood Cuts (DXF) :
grabcad.com/library/diy-bofa-...
Parts (Some Affiliate Links):
- BOFA AD350 Filter (www.matterhackers.com/store/l...)
- BOFA AD350 Pre-Filter (www.matterhackers.com/store/l...)
- 1/2" Maple Plywood (www.lowes.com/pd/Top-Choice-1...)
- 2" x 2" or 2" x 3" boards (5 ft)
- Two 6" Inline Duct Fans (amzn.to/2ZURIkY)
- 6" Duct Flange (amzn.to/2VZBbrY)
- 1" wide High density Foam insulation tape (amzn.to/2NBdjpG)
- Thin foam weather strip (amzn.to/2Cc1FiM), goes between top and bottom halves
- Caulk (amzn.to/2AIPdXy)
- 3D Printed Handles (www.thingiverse.com/thing:431...)
- Two Latches aprox. 3.5" long (www.ebay.com/itm/112752436891)
- Two 2" locking casters (www.lowes.com/pd/TITAN-2-in-R...)

[@ThatMomWithALaser]

This is excellent! I’ll have to give it a try one day. Thank you!

[@adinamm]

Did you try this filter? Are you using one? Thanks

[@kchassa_]

Thanks for the guidance!

[@jaycunningham2723]

Thanks for the video! Wondering how quiet these fans are? Do you always need 2? Could I use a AC Infinity axial for the second fan?

[@pauloosthuizen]

Excellent video. I am trying to source the Tjernlund M-6 Inline Duct Booster Fans and was just wondering if they are available in 220/240v, because I am in the UK. Any alternative recommendations will be appreciated

[@HockeyPop29]

I'm definitely going with this filter, but rather than using 2 inline fans, I'm upgrading the small furnace blower for the Fasco Centrifugal Blower B45267, which can give me 460 cfm under negative pressure for about $300, and let me vent back into the room. The one thing stopping me is I need to find a local maker that can 3d print me a fitting to replace the input's metal ring with a mount that I can attach straight to the box. I've got until winter to find one. The next few months I'll just hope I don't annoy my neighbors TOO much!

[@B.A.Bassangler]

Great build, and love the 'CAUTION' theme! What is the footprint of your laser, that smoke lingered, was it vented for fresh air intake? I have an Atezer with extension kit, roughly 17" x 33" (430mm x 850mm) and am wondering if I should plan for 2 fans as well.

[@adinamm]

I may make this for my Mira 7. Any updates? Are there printed plans? Where do i get the filters? Thanks!!

[@amybarber347]

You are hilarious 😂. Thank you.

[@MAKESUPPLYLEATHER]

Nice! Ive been using a Filtrabox for the past few years since I am not legally allowed to exhaust outside where my shop is located. Moving to a new location soon and would rather try something like this. The filter prices REALLY add up.

[@madeinbasement]

How much are filtrabox replacement filters?

[@MAKESUPPLYLEATHER]

@@madeinbasement Very late on this reply but as you can see Im still looking for other options haha. Pre-filter runs about $125, HEPA runs about $225 and the Carbon filter is $350. I do mostly acrylic so I need a new carbon every 2.5 months or so. The price is brutal. However the Filtrabox filter comes with about 40lbs of carbon. The most out of any others Ive seen the the market. Next project is figuring out a way to modify the carbon metal container so I can easily dump and pour new carbon each time.

[@ericramcharan]

Hi thanks for this video I am new to laser - does the filter need to be leading outside through the duct like you have it, or can it be used completely indoors?

[@madeinbasement]

Short answer is yes it does need to be vented outside. Especially for acrylic. But when I cut wood or cardboard I sometimes leave it venting inside and I get very little smell...

[@markoboyle9764]

Hi - great video. We used the same source first of all and have the same issue- smoke not being drawn out. Would you please let me know what fans you used in series? We’re going to have another crack at it and you’ve done a great job

[@madeinbasement]

You can find link to all the parts in the description. Two of these fans should work: amzn.to/2ZURIkY

[@KiwiOnIce]

Thank you so much for this video!! Will give it a try with an 8 inch fan. It‘s been 5 months since you posted - are the filters still doing their job? I‘m concerned that they clog up pretty fast. Another question: what‘s the distance between your laser and the filter? Wondering if it‘s a fire hazard if it‘s too close?!

[@madeinbasement]

Yeah it's still working, but seems like air flow slowed down, so I'm about to replace the filters for the first time. It's very close to the laser, but I'm not sure what do you mean by fire hazard?

[@johnowenbuhay8969]

Hi. Is there a suction blower in-between the fume extractor and machine?

[@bratan007]

No, it's connected directly to machine exhaust port

[@arsena.7685]

Do you have any idea if it is possible to build a stationary unit to support 12 Epilog lasers at the same time?

[@madeinbasement]

At the same time? I don't think so... 2 maybe, but for 12 you'll need an insane amount of suction

[@eduardrodriguez3206]

Thanks for sharing! Is the filter washable? how much long lasts?

[@madeinbasement]

It's not washable. How long it lasts depends on materials you are cutting and how frequently. On average I think about 6-9 months

[@saeedsadeqin8260]

Thank you! It seems ok, I have a big problem with the smoke, my neighbors complained. I was just going to buy a complete filter set but after I watched your video I try to make it. My question is how many percent of the smoke is reduced by this filter you made? My laser machine is 1610 and big, if it works fully and 2 hours per day how often I have to change the filter??? Thank you in advance for your kind reply

[@madeinbasement]

Probably 95%. Your neighbors will not be able to smell it unless you stick their nose right to the exhaust hole :) How often, is harder to say. In your case probably every 4 months...

[@greywolf7025]

@@coasterchris01 Have you tried to use BOFA largest filters, the ones they have fr 1000 and 1500 iq ?

[@davefong2656]

I built this before you made this video. Mines still smells. I was thinking I have leaks in my box, but after watching your video I might have my fans configured incorrectly? I use 2 fans in Paralell. Do you think running it in series would be much better?

[@madeinbasement]

I'm not HVAC specialist, but from what I read about serial vs parallel, in this application you definitely want serial configuration. It will increase overall static pressure. Serial config is recommended when there's large resistance to airflow. Parallel is used to increase overall air flow but doesn't work good when there's a resistance to flow.

[@jwlaserco2969]

Great Video, will be building one in the coming days as my 100w is bad with smoke and fumes. Would upgrading the fan from a 6 inch to 8 inch assist this more than running two 6" blowers?

[@madeinbasement]

I think it might! Or do 10" right away! :)

[@jwlaserco2969]

Made In Basement I purchased a 8” 780CFM and will let you know how it works out!

[@jwlaserco2969]

@@madeinbasement to follow up, did the 8" and ended with the same result with one blower needed! my laser does have an internal fan as well that is also helping run some air out of it, but man what a night and day difference, thank you for puttin gthis build together, I have mine setup and running solid and could not be happier!

[@madeinbasement]

@@jwlaserco2969 That's awesome! Thanks for letting me know!

[@binevonmamafieber4598]

​@@jwlaserco2969 quick question: how big is your laser? Ist it 28x20? Trying to decide which fan I should buy.

[@johnsimpson99]

Thanks for the video, very useful! I am planning on building a filter similar to yours with the Bofa filter. Now that you've had this filter running for a while, do you have any indication of how long the filter lasts?

[@epicwood5665]

I run my laser approx. 5 hours a day, 3 days a week cutting and engraving ply and cutting acrylic. Built this unit in November with an initial set of BOFA filters. Airflow stopped completely (530CFM FAN) in February with the filter in. FAN pulls just fine when I get the filter out of the unit so I guessed the BOFA mainfilter was already full. Replaced it with a new one and added an extra G4 pre-filter before the BOFA pre-filter and it was all fine again. Now, just 2 months later, airflow stopped completely again. Got the pre-filter out to see if it was maybe that, but unfortunately even with only the AD250 main filter in the unit, there's still no airflow. With my usage I expected the filter to last much, much longer but unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case so I'm going to have to find a replacement since I can't keep up with having to replace the filter every 2 to 3 months. Just a little FYI :)

[@johnsimpson99]

@@epicwood5665 That is certainly disappointing. I can't vent outside without filtering due to neighbors, will have to figure something out :( Thanks for the info.

[@madeinbasement]

With my usage (which is probably around 3-4 hours a week on average) it lasted me about 6 months. It was still working but I did notice that it takes much longer for fumes to dissipate...

[@KingShinobi82]

@@epicwood5665 oh thats some bad news... That probably scraps my plans for using those filters as well :(

[@epicwood5665]

@@KingShinobi82I gave up on homemade solutions and bought the BOFA AD500iq a while ago. Works like a charm, but that's to be expected when spending so much money on a exhaust system :)

[@Mwwwwwwwwe]

I bought a car dry/wet vac then filled the drum half with water/ bicarbonate solution and have water a submersible caravan shower pump circulating water from the vaccum inlet to the drum...haven't tested ityet - know it won't destroy the co2 but it should trap the odours and wood resins

[@Xaggy4297]

Hi there. Great video. Its a real good follow-up to the other guy's build. I'm running into some issues getting set up. We have a 6" duct coming from our boss laser into the box with the filter and a 8" blower fan pulling out the top. We paint sealed the box with a rubberized paint. After it was sealed the filter is really struggling to keep up. Now that the fan is pulling air almost completely through the filter it's not moving near enough air. It's a 740cfm fan and should be pulling fine but no good. Any ideas on what could be going on? Running another fan in series didn't seem to make any difference. It was an in-line 8" fan but it does have a lower cfm.

[@madeinbasement]

Hmm that’s strange. How do you know it’s not pulling enough air? How long does smoke lingering in the machine? If it’s about 30 seconds after cut is done that’s normal. Do any smells escape from machine while lid is closed? How long is your 6” duct between machine and filter? Try to make it as short as possible with no bends

[@Xaggy4297]

It's the strangest thing. Before we painted the box it was moving air fine. Plenty of velocity on the meter we have at the center of the bed. Then we painted it,which is the only change, and it cut the flow to the point the air isn't moving on the meter at the center of the table. The laser fills with smoke and its escaping everywhere. The thought was a better seal would equal more suction. It cut the flow at the bottom of the filter box intake by about 2/3 on the meter. Was just hoping you had any ideas before we spend more on a much bigger fan. Thanks for taking some time to help out.

[@madeinbasement]

@@Xaggy4297 That's super strange. It makes no sense... I don't understand, something else must be at play...

[@ahrdee3041]

@@Xaggy4297 Did you plug the fan back in after painting it? You're not supposed to get paint into the blower unit. That is a sure way to keep the fan from spinning.

[@shamu3838]

Nevermind.....Didn't yet see how much smoke is produced! Nice build

[@madeinbasement]

Thanks! Depending on where you live exhausting stinky fumes outside might not be an option. With filter Very little residual Smell completely dissipates outside so neighbors wouldn’t need to complain. And none of it comes back thru gaps in window, etc. I actually forgot to connect it to outside the other day while cutting cardboard, and didn’t even realize it and couldn’t smell anything.

[@shamu3838]

@@madeinbasement dam, that must be a bad ass filter. Does it work with bad farts as well?

[@ManCrafting]

How much are the replacements when needed? Is it $400 each time? Nice solution for people with nearby neighbors.

[@madeinbasement]

Yeah $433 each time...

[@jimshepherd5291]

You wont replace them often

[@shamu3838]

Please explain to me why you are using a filter if the air is just going straight outside???? What am I missing? ?

[@ahrdee3041]

It isn't very nice to neighbors, animals, and plants to exhaust certain concentrated volatile chemicals directly outside. Imagine if, for some reason, you wanted to laser rubber. That smell becomes offensive rather quickly.

[@thomaswade3072]

I'm confused, why build this massive box if you're not putting 4+ MERV 13 HEPA filters into it?

[@KingShinobi82]

Amazing build... I hope you can answer me two questions. How often do these filters need to be replaced and will they also work in sideways operation?

[@madeinbasement]

About 6 months with light use

[@KingShinobi82]

@@madeinbasement Thanks. I actually build my own exhaust system with prefilter, hepa and activated carbon + radial fan now... works amazingly well and is super quiet. the filters can be replaced one by one and should last a long time (i hope)

[@madeinbasement]

@@KingShinobi82 Wow sounds amazing! Can you share details?

[@KingShinobi82]

@@madeinbasement I bought everything in Europe, so it maybe won't say too much. G4 prefilter, H13 HEPA and a Rhino Pro 800m³/h activated carbon filter. Usually it's used for growrooms 24/7 and should last around 2 years. The fan is a silenced radial fan with speed control. Overall it was around 700€ but the fan alone was 270€. I do not vent outside and cannot smell anything in my tiny 2,2 x 2,4m room. I do have pictures, if you want...

[@saeedsadeqin8260]

@@KingShinobi82 great, would you please leave us an image of that??

[@1joiejoie]

Hi. Thanks for a wonderful video! I am just building this and I'm wondering where did you put the thin foam weather strip. I missed it in the video :-(

[@madeinbasement]

Look @6:48 Just place black foam closer to the walls. If you are asking about thinner foam strip, just places it on the edge of the box (where two pieces will meet)

[@RyKnocks]

I JUST built this and like you, can still very much smell the fumes outside. I'm going to add some foam gaskets to my inner shelfs, but I honestly don't know how THAT much smoke could be bypassing the filter. So far, in terms of a price to performance score, I give it a 5/10. My build is really no different from yours. What improvements are you going to try to make? I'm eager to hear from you. Thanks for the video!

[@madeinbasement]

Did you use BOFA AD350 as well? I can barely smell anything with mine. I have to stand for like a minute with my nose inside exhaust fan to smell something. Yes it's there, but not a big issue. I went outside and stood by the window for few minutes and could not smell anything. You don't want to vent it indoors but I think it's non issue when venting outside, nobody will know you running laser :) I'm curious why you getting so much smell... Only problem I had was when I placed high density foam on the "shelf" incorrectly. It has to touch edges or it will just draw air from the split section. I had to redo mine and check with incense stick (smoke test)...

[@RyKnocks]

Made In Basement Yea, my build is nearly identical to yours. Your shelves are a bit thicker as I’m just using 3/4in plywood as my shelves, but I do have my foam butted up against the wall. I have maybe a couple of mm gap on each side of the charcoal filter, but I don’t think it’s an issue. I’m going to try and seal it up a bit more to see if it improves.

[@jimshepherd5291]

@@RyKnocks Any gaps at all will compromise. Path of least resistance and all that. Also a little smoke goes a long way.

[@qaisariqbal7081]

hi, i followed your design and built mine. Worked perfect for a month then filters clogged. How much life did you get on yours?

[@madeinbasement]

It really depends what and how often you cut. I use my laser probably once a week so it lasted me almost a year. But if you heavy user and cut acrylic or plywood it won't last too long.

[@zulfiqurislam6603]

is there any update on this build? Is it working perfectly? did you do any upgrades?

[@madeinbasement]

It's working for me. I change filter aprox every 6 months with low to moderate laser use.

[@zulfiqurislam6603]

@@madeinbasement how about the smell? do you vent it outside? is your build still exactly as same as this video? i have a 60w laser and i use on a low to moderate level too. however, like you are doing with 2 fans, i guess i am gonna go into that path. right now, i have an AC Infinity Inline 6" fan hooked up with my laser to suck out the fumes from the machine. I will just keep that and will connect this filter to that. And then i will add another fan to suck out the filtered air from extractor like you did. do you think it is a good setup? For that fan, which one do you suggest?

[@madeinbasement]

@@zulfiqurislam6603 I didn't make any changes. If I'm cutting wood or paper I don't vent outside. For Acrylic I do. I can detect some smell when cutting acrylic if I'm not venting outside, but it's not strong...

[@zulfiqurislam6603]

@@madeinbasement right now, i have an AC Infinity Inline 6" fan hooked up with my laser to suck out the fumes from the machine. I will just keep that and will connect this filter to that. And then i will add another fan to suck out the filtered air from extractor like you did. do you think it is a good setup? For that fan, which one do you suggest?

[@madeinbasement]

@@zulfiqurislam6603 I don't recommend that. It's always bad idea to have fan before filter due to "venturi effect". Some Fumes will for sure escape before they get thru the filter. Always put your fans after filter.

[@christopherreichelt3303]

Why didn't you supply an additional filter level with coal? Great construction many thanks!

[@madeinbasement]

That would've complicated build and probably would be an overkill :)

[@daniel.j.rauscher]

Nice build! Does this filter clean the air enough that I could just let it circulate throughout my shop and NOT vent it outside?

[@madeinbasement]

YES! But with a small modification I recently added. I added a cheap hydroponics carbon filter (tube) at the exhaust of the last fan. It completely eliminates ANY smell, so I never vent it outside anymore. It also lasts almost forever because there's very little it has to filter and these are cheap, like $60-70 on Amazon.

[@daniel.j.rauscher]

@@madeinbasement That's awesome! I just bought my first CO2 laser and am going to build this over the next couple months as I wait for it to get here.

[@branislav24]

Sooooo, you built a housing for a moderately expensive Fume filters that come in the housing of their own and called it Affordable DIY Fume Laser Fume Extractor? dear god...

[@Gr8Success]

i'm affraid i need to thumb down your video... " filter under 500 $ " and you proceed to purchaise a commercial filter instead to build an effective one yourself...