DIY Air Cleaner and Dust Filter

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Folks, a lot of you comment on this video to tell me all of the reasons this unit will not work. I hate to disappoint everyone, but it DOES work. I've been using it for two years and have not had a problem. I did a follow-up video where I made it more efficient (Even Better DIY Air Cleaner and Dust Filter). I know that there are many ways to make a high powered super efficient unit, but I chose to make one that is cheap. Everyone has their own idea of cheap, but I used my definition. So if you're going to tell me it's impossible for this to work, you're wrong. It may not work as efficiently as you would like it to, but it has served me well for two years and it's still going strong.

[@terryrobinson7634]

Nice work sir! You just gave me an idea for not only cleaning the air in my shop, but I am also going to build some for my living room. I believe I could build them so they look like an end-table to sit lamps on but also to filter all the dust in the air. I'm with you sir! There are always a bunch of folks....aka 'experts; who have opinions but have never actually taken the time to build one. Keep doing you sir and don't worry about the naysayers!

[@Kulo_WC]

i'm no expert but i don't see how this set up is not going to work.

[@tracischeelk29]

Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge. I'm a woman. This is very helpful. I have enough intelligence and sense to know it is just as helpful for intelligent men! Subscribed

[@Chase023]

Just curious why 3 filters for the intake and 1 for the front? Couldn't 1 or 2 be enough? Would 4 hamper air flow by alot?

[@mikemason4758]

Like what you did here. Curious about cost. Also the purpose. You said shop but what kind of shop?

[@лилианадолгова-и2м]

*Works great with **Fastly.Cool** , exactly as described. Love the fact that it can push, pull, or exchange air with the push of a button. The remote is a nice bonus too!*

[@ryansimmons3818]

Just a little piece of advice in regards to the switch … to make things simple, could’ve just added a smart outlet plug in & turned the fan on/off via a remote. Obviously this is no use for this particular video now lol but just a future reference or to any others reading the comments that are deciding on using the same method(s) 👍🏼👍🏼 great work, though! New subscriber!

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I actually did that, but I still wanted to be able to change speeds on the fan. I figured it wouldn't add any value to the video, so I left it out. Guess I should have left it in.

[@pdavis4853]

Great setup. Simple clean and quick. 1. Put weather stripping in each slot to stop air blowby around the filters. 2. Put foam insulation in the gaps at your fan corners to stop dust from settling there. 3. Use different grades of filters say MERV 8 then MERV 11 then MERV 13. This will catch a ton more dust. Your MERV 8 filter will need more frequent changing but is also a lot cheaper. The MERV 13 will catch the finest of partials that you don't see but get deep in your lungs.

[@scottmiller5975]

I'm not sure why other window fans have become such pieces of garbage kzbin.infoUgkxGjG43--gYqIoT4Xkur2PqCrtbKwTv2h6 but this one definitely is nice. It's quiet, it has buttons for different functions that you generally don't have to keep pressing over and over again like some of the others, and the remote is a nice feature. Still, button simplification could go further to single functions for each and every one, but it's decent enough. It's a very quiet fan, the quietest window fan that I have ever had, and that alone is worth the extra money over the cheaper ones.

[@WillN2Go1]

This is terrific. Thanks. A lot of us have duct taped filters to box fans and found that they do a pretty good job, and the motors in the fans don't burn out with the extra resistance from the filter. I think your adding a front side filter is a good move. I've noticed that on all of my DIY filter/fan combos that dust does build up on the blades. As there's no dust inside the filter box, this is air somehow moving across the blades from the exit side of the fan. This seems counter intuitive, but the moving fan blades will be the coolest surface so 'stuff' wants to collect on them. Young wood workers should never forget that after all the solvents and glues etc... one of the most dangerous long term risks for woodworkers is the tiniest dust particles settling in their lungs. Multiple sources say that these tiny particles are permanent... I don't know (Do I have formica dust from the 1960s? yikes!). Keep your exposure low, live long and enjoying making stuff.

[@FreshAirRules]

Probably would help a lot if people did as much work outside as they could. If you live in the southern US this is a lot easier than other areas. We are jealous!

[@michaelwarholak1512]

Thank you for taking the time to share this. Very helpful. I am in the process of giving my classroom shop a little tune-up and as i have tried to keep all my sanders and dusty machines in one area- a dust filter is going to be a must. I will be including my students on this and all other builds where our shop is concerned and hopefully they will take more pride in using our shop when they also have a hand in helping to make it better. Thanks to you we will be designing our own system based on your advice. Thanks again. 👍👍

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Thank you for the kind words! There are so many ways to handle the unavoidable dust, and my way was the best that worked for me. Many folks don't understand why I used so many filters. My explanation is that having cheap low merv filters in a rotation is far cheaper than one high merv filter that will get clogged very quickly. I'm sure with a class of interested students, you will all come up with a design that works great.

[@TheLongjohntim]

I made two of these HEPA filters for my home one for the home office and one for our bed room. I know for a fact they saved my husbands life. Remember to change your filters! Wasn't really aware the difference they made till I changed the filters. I'll never let them get that bad again.

[@stephanelarose9165]

The nice thing I liked from this video was the transparence of the men explaining the cons they had to face as they were experimenting this project. Thank you.

[@haroldfoster3221]

Many years ago a friend and I made something similar to this but with just one filter for carving when using power tools. Instead of a box fan we used an attic exhaust fan. Tons of air movement and worked like a champ.

[@63Ducati1]

So what filters did you use? Are the all the same, or progressively higher merv rating closer tot he outside on the exhaust? It appears that you have one filter on the inlet, and three on the outlet. Space of 1" between filters is a great idea. Larger spaces are always better, but any space is good and no one can tell you how much a wider space will improve performance. I will go with 1" on my filter assembly. Have you thought of two fans? The fans don't pull much current so double the amps should not be terrible. One fan in front of the other will not increase volume air flow (CFM), but two fans will increase the pressure (Delta P between inlet and outlet) by something less than double but significant. Having the air flow parallel to the fan axis is important to reduce direction changes (read reduced momentum of the air) in the filter. Removing the plastic guards is a great idea. Increases the flow area! Excellent video!

[@losthighway7856]

Nice! With the recent wildfire smoke we built a similar one but used a rubber made storage tote for the box, layered merv 5, merv 12 and a hepa layer for filtration at air intake where the tote lid would go, used pipe insulation to make gaskets, used a Milwaukee m18 fan to have adequate air movement in a compact size with option to use 110 or 18 volt, position inside the tote on the bottom against another gasket on the end for air exit and an access panel to change the battery

[@rogergrace2976]

I am very familiar with construction, filters and own a Hepa 500. I guarantee you this unit will save you $500. and work just as well. It will absolutely work and I thank you for putting one of the best video guide on how to build a filter. Excellent job guys!

[@MrWkendwarrior]

Your DIY AIR CLEANER project is verrrry well done! Very meticulous. I made a DIY AIR CLEANER, albeit not as sweet as yours. Mine is a simpler concept: $2 estate sale box fan, leave plastic safety screens and wire/plug in place, encase in plywood, caster wheels on the bottom, hinges and carry handle w simple hook lock on top door, cheap furnace prefilter, and my used HVAC MERV 11 5" thick ( higher the MERV number more it cleans down to micron level for allergy and asthma sufferers). I swap out my furnace HVAC MERV 11-13 filters 3-4 ti es a year, then swap out MERV filter in my DIY air filter at the same time, use an airgun to blow dust out of prefilter, change it once a year.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Those are good ideas. I'm working on a design for a new assembly/outfeed table that will also have a filtration unit as the base. I plan to use a more robust fan, so I'd be interested in the reusable filters.

[@michaeldvorak5556]

Very nice design. Possibly build to hold a 4 to 6 inch thick hepa filter close to the fan for the fine dust and a 1 inch thick filter for the initial removal of the larger debris.

[@panagdimi]

Nice video succinct and to the point, no verbosity, just 5 minutes and there you have it! And including the plans is a much appreciated gesture. You guys are awesome - I'm subscribing! I'm also a musician but a novice at woodworking, hopefully I can make this and save my lungs too. Cheers guys!

[@worldview730]

What a magnificent project Guys. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheLongjohntim]

I building a 16 x`12 work shop this summer I'm planning to build one of these air filters for it Thank you for posting the video!

[@AZTEC_ARTS2023]

Good job. Question ...where do you place this ? (Floor ? Table top ? Eye level ? and how close to the tools : miter saw, table saw ? Etc Thanks !

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Because I have a low ceiling, I put it right over my table saw. It's in the center of my shop, and because it's over the table saw, I don't have to worry about unwanted headaches. I wish I could put it closer to my lathe, since that's where most of my "uncontrolled" sanding takes place, but there's no way I can do that in my tiny shop. Maybe when I build my dream shop........

[@beebob1279]

Your shop filter is well done workmanship. I like the idea because now it can be hung out of the way unlike the ones I'm seeing where all the guy does is put a filter on the fan and let it go. Nice project for the winter. Those filtration systems are just too expensive. This helps to reduce my surplus wood and makes it easier to breathe. I'm now looking for your sequel to watch.

[@rickschuman2926]

I usually just duct tape the filter to the intake side of the box fan. Then I put a plastic bag over it and carry it outside, cut the tape, and lift the fan out of the bag. Then let the bag drop flat, gather it closed, and tie it shut. Of course if you have time to make the fancy box and space for it when you are not using it that is good too.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

If what you're doing is working for you, keep doing what you're doing. I did the same thing, and it was basically fine. But one thing I like to do on my channel is duplicate an expensive jig or other shop item for as little as possible. Granted, I used really nice plywood on mine, and there were other things I could have done to make more inexpensive,but I think mine is essentially equivalent to a commercially made home wood shop unit. And like most commercial models I've seen, I mounted mine on the ceiling so its out of the way all the time.

[@lmejia6438]

Hi, from a guy that likes to fix things I really enjoyed your video great project.

[@sharksys]

Really appreciate that you made the video. I just constructed one and it works great! My lungs thank you so much!

[@billybike57]

Thanks for reminding me I am a kool kid!😊 great design and I subscribed 😉

[@daisiesandroses5107]

Can you come up with simplist day possible that any teacher can use in their classrooms right now.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I will cautiously give you suggestion. I say cautiously because I really don't know anything about COVID-19 and how it is communicated in a setting such as a classroom. Ideally, you would want to exhaust air out of the classroom, and filter the incoming air, but I don't think that would be possible. Simply duct-taping a quality HEPA filter onto the front of a fan may accomplish much of the air filtration you are looking for. However, the exhaust of the fan may keep the atmosphere of the classroom in turmoil, possibly causing more transmission that filtration. For about $150 you could have three fans with HEPA filters going on a relatively low speed, but noise may be an issue. I wish I could offer something that I know would be effective. I wish you the best and I appreciate your desire to keep yourself and your students as safe as possible.

[@nicholasfrappy4033]

What a great idea. This will do under my house to keep down mold or orders. As well as in the house as well. Now all you guys need to do is make it solar with a timer. Thank guys. Keep it up.

[@jaymathew]

Very nice filter. I've done this with duck tape and the cardboard box my box fan came in which had about 4in of depth available for filters. I used the cheapest filter I could find in front of a $35 MERV 14 filter. I tested with a dylos air quality meter. I was able to easily get down to 0 big parts and sub hundred small particles with that set up. I didn't do exit and entry filtering though. And I believe I put the filters on the pull side. I'm not sure if it makes much of a difference. It did take it awhile to clean the air though. Plus I had to walk around the room with it because of all the dead air spots in my shop.

[@tcbridges]

This is a great idea. I want to make 2 of these. Thank you for sharing this fan system with me. It will save me alot of money. Keep up the great videos.

[@orcasea59]

If you make a circular shroud for the fan (with as little clearance as possible for the blades) it will greatly increase the unit's efficiency. Otherwise, pressure differential will cause blow-back and leakage through the gaps around the blades (especially the big, open corners in your example). If you were to add up all the surface area of the spaces around your fan you would probably be shocked at how big of a hole you wind up with where the air is just being recirculated around the fan and not forced through the unit and filters at all. I might also suggest that weather stripping in the filter slots would be a light-weight and easy way to help seal the outer edges of the filters and prevent blow-back and leakage, as air - like water - will follow the path or least resistance and if it can avoid being forced through the filters, it will. Likewise, a thin seal of soft rubber, etc. on the door surface will help prevent leakage, as well. A second suggestion would be to stop the 'vortex effect' (which also decreases efficiency by wasting the inertia of the air leaving the fan) by making an 'egg-crate' grid composed of squares an inch or two square and at least a couple inches deep to 'straighten' the flow and redirect it into the exit filter while it still has the velocity to flow through the material. This could be made out of inexpensive & lightweight material and should be as close to the fan as possible.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

You are correct, and I've been looking at this recently. Matthias Wandel did a video that I've been studying. I plan on doing an update video with any alterations I make to the unit. Thanks for watching.

[@ldlink3935]

@orcasea59 where did you learn your fan wizardry? I am going to attempt to make a shroud for my box fan based on your recommendation. Also, you talk about eliminating the vortex...if I created a one to two foot exit "tunnel" that is slightly angled to a smaller opening--lets say angled to a 17 inch square from the 20 inch box, in a sense funneling the air upon exit, would that reduce the vortex effect? Or how about just having a one to two foot tube the same diameter of the shroud, it seems that may help channel the air to maintain velocity. Lastly, it seems pointless to have a filter on the "exit" side of the fan...not sure if it makes a difference having that filter on the exit versus the entrance side, other than providing an opportunity for the fine particles that were not pre-filtered to come in contact with the fan and motor---what does your fan wizardry say about that?

[@freddyrosenberg9288]

The shrouding of the fan blades is a must, otherwise the air just recirculates. I have several of these fans in my shop where I duck taped a 20X20 filter to the back of the fan. It is barely able to pull air through one filter, I don't see how it could work with more than one filter. I made a better filtration unit using a squirrel fan inside a sealed wood box and one filter as the side of the box.

[@headlesnorseman701]

as an engineer watching this was giving me anxiety. such a nice build but with a huge design flaw lol

[@defiantlion231]

orcasea59 Air does not flow like water especially if there is any turns, bends, ripples any thing that the air hits will send that air else where if not for blow backs almost all the time. But here for example air is being moved from all directions possible, that's why the blades get dirty, it's not getting air from the back pull position!

[@robertkerby2581]

Well done! I need the plans so that I may build this one for my shop.

[@timzhukov8869]

I did a real basic one by just duct taping the filter onto the box fan. I use 3 of them around the house. Merv 13 make it into an air scrubber for asthma too. Just gotta make sure you got box fans that are not a fire hazard.

[@phartblossum]

Nice, informative video. I like the slide in filter setup you use. A suggestion for higher, easier air filtration "airflow" might be to change out 1 or 2 fewer filters and instead ADD a second fan. In a sort of push-pull arrangement. EXAMPLE: A lower MERV filter > fan > high MERV filter > 2nd fan > low or high MERV filter. [depending on your preference]. Initial lower MERV filter for larger particles like sawdust, pet fur, dander. Then the middle of the box would have a high MERV filter for smaller particulates, like smoke. Finally the last filter could be a low or high MERV filter.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

That is an idea to think about. Two fans in series will not increase the amount of air moved, but may be able to overcome the resistance of the filters easier.

[@88mindstate]

Can I ask what the brand name of the dowel jig you were using at one point?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Dowelmax. I love it.

[@valeriedhodson3014]

Thank you. I am broke with asthma. This will help tons. Covid is no friend of trigger asthma. Daily I get looks of horror so need to do something asap.

[@peteryoung9164]

thanks for your video. I have a garage/shop and was wondering where to put my filter. Floor, ceiling or elsewhere?

[@jessebrown2916]

Franklinwoodworks I downloaded the pdf and cut everything exactly to spec according to the pdf. After tacking all the strips in to the 3 sided box and the strips across the door opening I was left with a 1/4 inch protrusion of the hinge side(bottom side) above the strips across the opening. The other end fits perfectly. I’ll try and send a photo. Don’t know what I did wrong unless the bottom panel was supposed to be 20 1/2 instead of 20 3/4.

[@ludwigchristiankaempffer7932]

Geat builds, what is the noise level of this unit. I am looking into installing this in our home's roof cavity with piping to different rooms (this is more like heat distribution in winter - I am in South Africa)

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I don't think this kind of unit will work for that. This type of fan is not nearly strong enough.

[@theconfidentnovice5789]

THank you so much for this video. This looks so much nicer than a box fan with a filter duct taped on it.

[@inspectorraycharles]

I've been using a 20 x 20 high quality HVAC and a 20 dollar box fan for years. At least as good as any room air filter for years.

[@greggbrown0]

Nice knob on the door.What finish is on the box?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I didn't finish it at all.

[@kalenfagre2540]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I am a single mother of two little ones and would love to have one of these in our house. Unfortunately no one to build it for us yet.

[@Oldman505]

So I just built this box. I bought a Lasko 20" box fan, but everything else (dimensions et cet) was as shown. Imagine my surprise when I turned the fan on and saw the little "tell-tale" streamer on the front hanging down limp against the output side filter. Interestingly enough, when I opened the door that closes over the filter I got enough air-flow to make the tell-tale flutter kind of half-heartedly. I started removing filters until I had only one on the input side. As soon as I closed the door the airflow dropped to zero. I am using MRV 7 filters which is really on the low-end of the scale as far as dust & pollen go. I just don't understand why the fan doesn't pull air through the filter. Oh, one last thing. I took the fan out and re-installed the grills and turned it on and put one of the MRV 7 filters against the back. There was a slight reduction in air-flow, but the fan worked and the streamer waved proudly in front of the fan. Go figure. I could have just duct-taped it to the back of the fan and saved myself some money and time.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

The merv rating of 7 is way too much for the intake filters. I've done a few follow-up videos on the subject. I use really cheap filters on the intake side (1 or 2 merv) to catch the big stuff. Then a 7 on the exhaust side will work well.

[@richardsims6095]

I love it. I have one I made for remodeling. Difference with mine I use a inline or floor blower fan that I put in the work area. I run a reusable plastic tube that runs to the filter in a window or outside. By properly putting up dust barriers I create a negative air work space keeping the rest of the home clean.

[@nicoled5160]

I’m making this 4” ductape version, but this is more visibly appealing

[@petermohlman]

Nice job, I had a jet filter system in my shop and I wonder how they would compare.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I imagine the Jet would be superior, but I got a working unit and a great product!

[@PlumdogMilli0naire]

I made a similar setup but used door seals that you can pickup from your local Home Depot to make sure it had a nice tight fit with no “leaks”. Setup is beautiful and does the job. I also threw in a few pieces of felt as a bushing in between the fan and wooden box to prevent vibration at higher speeds. Cheers and thanks for the help!

[@kentyler966]

Got one in my basement. 20 x 20 Walmart fan. 20 x 20 high quality filter and duct tape. Tape the filter to the front of the fan. Works great and doesn’t weigh a ton.

[@beebob1279]

But as a shop project I bet yours isn't as nice as his is. He put some thought into this one. And, as for duct tape? Why? The suction from the fan will hold it tight against it.

[@shelbytydings3457]

I just put the filter on the back of the fan when it is running. Stays in place just fine. Been using them that way for years.

[@Anna-tc6rz]

@@beebob1279 putting some space between the filter and fan is better on the motor and increases the speed (dont ask me why I dont understand, it just does) also think you shouldnt put a filter in front of the fan output....

[@kiyoponnn]

@@Anna-tc6rz Google static pressure then you'll know why

[@FringeWizard2]

@@shelbytydings3457 I've been doing that but my fan finally died after many years of continual use because it was sucking in lots of dust and crap from the front and it gradually ruined the fan and it died while I was away for a week.

[@Curtis-cp2gr]

Nice video. I worked on heavy equipment for years they have two air filters first one catch alot then second catches. That works on $100,000++ equipment Thanks nice video

[@limited-infinity]

Man you make wood working look fun. I work in I.T. and have been looking for things to do while stuck at home. This is one of them. I presently have two of the same box fans and use a Merv 11 pre filter on one and Merv 12 on the other. The post filter is Merv13 (Just found them for $6/peice on Azon). I used to place a fiber glass prefilter before the Merv 11/12 filters but the biggest issue is tape. I use duct table. I wanted to think of a way to easily make slots like you did. I wanted something simpler. Like a front and back door only. Just play not on the inside and one on the outside. I finally found cut to shape carbon profilers (24"x48"). The price isn't too prohibitive. My question about the shims. You mentioned not all filters are 20x20. I didn't know that. I was thinking of using window foam seal to make up for the extra space. My thought is that it would add a pressure seal as be able to compress gently enough. Thoughts? Great work. I live in a condo so I don't have anywhere to make something like this. I could but would have to use a hand saw and my cuts are sloppy. lol

[@bradleyschroeder1882]

where did you find merv 13 filters for $6. link?

[@HomeAirGuides]

This is quite a DIY project! The concept is sound, but the number of filters seems to be overkill. One filter on the front and one on the back should be good enough for a wood shop's purpose don't you think? We only review home air purifiers ourselves, so your video intrigued us to take a look. Cool concept!

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

You are correct that two good filters are enough. But there is a problem with that kind of design. Dust in a wood shop varies greatly in size, and if you want to get the small stuff, you have to have good - and expensive - filter. One project would destroy a good filter. $15 to $25 per day would price an effective filtration system out of reach for most woodworkers. By stacking really cheap filters ($1) in front of the fan, they will catch all the really big stuff. They more they catch, the better they get at it. This leaves the expensive filter on the back of the fan, to only catch the remaining small stuff. A the first cheap filter clogs up, simply rotate the 2nd and 3rd filter forward, and put a new cheap filter in. I have found that I can get a couple of months or more (depending on my activity level) out of the good filter, and I only spend about $1 per week on the cheap filters. This build was not just about clean air, but clean air in the most economical way. Hope that explains where my head is at.

[@lcan9447]

the filters should have been on four sides and not all in front. im sure it works but would be more efficient with filters on all sides and.

[@playstation2bigs]

Is it okay to add some air ionizer generator to that thing ?

[@evvie01]

Well, I know it works! Mine isn't so fancy but it works good enough for me to keep my two cat's even with lung issues. I only have one layer and a lot of ugly duct tape. But it works. Been using them for two years now, (yes changing the filters about every six months), I have two. One points into the living room from the back of the house, and one points into the living room from the front of the house. The air is cleaned up within 20 minutes of vacuuming.

[@adamtki]

Wouldn’t those filters quickly get clogged because of the large volume of dust?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Not with the multiple filter system. If you only change the outer filter, but rotate the inner filters outward, only replacing the inner filter, they can last a few months. The alternative...large volume of dust NOT in the filters.

[@adamtki]

@@FranklinWoodWorks2016 i see. I was thinking of making a box as well. Something with a bucket on the bottom and a single 4” thick filter at the top. It would sit outside and collect most of the dust. Most is good enough for outside. I originally tried using a dust collector bag inside but it still produces dust though it captures the larger particles well. Sending it outside finally solved my garage dust issue.

[@FredTheLutinoCocatiel]

No table saw so i will buy pre-cut 1/4 plywood pannels and 1x2 furring strips for dividers and support on the edges of the panels that will reduce weight of the unit considerably. Great design thanks.

[@BeansEnjoyer911]

great background music, commentary and visual. earned a sub

[@Gotimenick]

Impressive work 💪👷

[@brandonpayne5000]

Requested plans can't wait to build this. Great video.

[@hetaes]

Brilliant! Of course, I don't have the tools to do such a project, but that is creative thinking.

[@belladucati3345]

Ty, this will be perfect for me. I live in AZ and with dogs my downstairs seems to be covered everyday in a layer of dust. And for my workshop lol.. thank you again

[@dougc78]

Kitt Settle I too live in AZ & have 2 Rotties & am forever cleaning up hair & dust! This will work great in the shop & the house!😁

[@designdoctor247]

@@dougc78 totally agree w both of u. We are in Texas and live on a farm w dogs we adore. We give them baths and treat them like children the only negative thing about them is the dust and hair. We are excited to make this and try it out. Praying 🙏it helps.

[@moth.monster]

I have stumbled onto the "DIY Air Purifier" side of youtube. It's lovely.

[@jeffreyvb1]

Maybe you could make a followup video showing the filter in operation.

[@pseudoscientist4585]

Im guessing 3 filters looks good, but moves little air... why is there not three filters on furnaces?

[@DavisStillson]

I should have done this already.. sawdust and sanding dust have caused some health issues.. thanks for sharing.

[@pauldejesus9644]

nice video what are the green filters

[@tonynelligan1930]

simple and to the point and when the screens are in tight yes it works.but it works only about 65% which was what those screens only do.you need a more powerful intake system,and tight woven mesh for finer dustmites and such.but for simply dust and not smell works fine.

[@Random-rt5ec]

Excellent video - I don't have all the awesome tools that you do so mine will be a simple design with just one filter. I will use it close to the pellet stove to move & filter the warm air plus filter the dust during cleanings.

[@RebelDeW_]

Would this make the fan motor work a lot harder. Will it overheat the motor? Maybe installing a strong fan motor will work too. Maybe that is why the filters have a metal mesh on front. So they won't get ripped. During a strong Suction.

[@ryancook2674]

I checked your description to see who the music is from. My first thought was... is this a Pink Floyd song I haven't heard before? Great work on the filter, and on the music as well! You've got a wide range of skills, sir.

[@nunyabizness199]

Nice air scrubber... I only wonder if using that fan like that might overload the fan motor and cause it to overheat ?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I've used it for over two years with no issues. But, the stronger the fan, the better it works.

[@nunyabizness199]

@@FranklinWoodWorks2016 Great, thanks !

[@tonynelligan1930]

without good airflow it will,also if really dusty then lots of added dust will cake the fan in time.

[@seekingthetruth304]

I was hoping to see some type of particulate counter of ambient air and then placed directly in front of the fan to see the reduction amount. Especially with 4 filters like yours. 1 video I saw with just one "Good" filter reduced particulates by 90%.

[@gabipaduraru2004]

you must seal the filters frames on the filter box. You can use polyurethan streep.. Where you collect the dust ? Where you put this dust cleaner ? If you use it in a workshop this need before the inlet flow a cyclon otherwise the filters will be filled in 2 hours with paricles.

[@mondoman1890]

That there is some fine ingenuity guys. Thanks a bunch.

[@guerradan1958]

I have been looking for a DIY to make. This is pretty cool. Found a design that you use 4ea 4” x 20” x 20”. They used duct tape to hold it together with a cardboard bottom. With the filters flow inward. The box fan air flow outward. Apparently it doesn’t bog the fan. Still like this build too.

[@ctsfiddler]

When it comes to woodworking, i can't even make a pot holder, nice work guys

[@helidude3502]

If you smoke it right away, you don’t have to “hold it for a friend “

[@trapcaviarstr8flexx305]

How can I buy one of those

[@pking39]

Awesome built and great idea

[@Bill1071]

Hey I have a question. My garage has kind of low ceilings and I don't want to walk around this thing. Would it be as effective if you mounted it laying flat? Like the fan is pulling the air straight up? I can't see an issue, but there's tons of box fan videos like this, and nobody has the thing laying flat. Just wondering if there's a reason?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

That's a great question. Most folks put a filter in a particular place for a particular reason. I hung mine on the ceiling in the center of my shop (over the table saw - I have low ceilings too) because I want to catch as much as I can before dust settles on workpieces, tools, etc. Some put them underneath where they sand. As long as you realize that where you place it will affect its job and its effectiveness, and have realistic expectations, you should be fine. I would suggest though, if your table saw has a permanent spot, that's a good place to hang it in spite of the low ceiling.

[@befmx31]

So the fan just draws the dust in from one side and blows it into the filters? Does a box fan really create enough draw? Being serious here. I don't know and this looks like a pretty cool solution. Thanks.

[@LowPriceEdition]

It works, however. Box fans are not meant to create static pressure which is needed to move air through filters. The box fans are also engineered to stay cool in normal operation, doing this restricts airflow and can cause the motor to overheat (I found this out by building one of these) .

[@Armorwoodworksbymike]

Does the fan blow towards the single filter?

[@smc4lcc]

Thanks for sharing, i've had an issue with air quality in my shop but don't have the funds to get an expensive air filter, this will be a great solution for the time being.

[@jeffhalbo96]

Absolutely epic video! Many thanks from Wales for your professional workmanship, patient tutorial for beginners like me and great video production.

[@s1Lash-s1Lash]

whats the best spot to put this thing?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

The best place for me was over my table saw. That places it right in the center of the shop, and it's also where it's totally out of the way. If I could rearrange my shop, I'd probably put it closer to my lathe, since that's where much of the sanding takes place.

[@backwoodsbushcrafter]

I'm about to create a box (saw another video somewhere with the same concept using a single filter), but wondering if the extra filters significantly slow the air down.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

The answer is basically yes. However, if you go with one good filter, you'll have to change it very often = big $$$. Multiple cheap filters = low $$$.

[@willyzook]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I’m really enjoying your videos, and appreciate you sharing your knowledge and skills with the rest of us. Take care!

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Thanks Bro! I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment. Just so you know, I also use original music in my videos, and either me or my son records the music. Here's the catch, if it's classical music, my son did it. Not to be creepy, but I usually look at other's channels before replying. It keeps me from stepping into a hornet's nest with trolls. I see that you are a believer? I am too, and used to play in my church's band. Wish I could still do that. Now I just play for my own enjoyment.

[@jeffreygledhill92]

which direction is the in-flow? Through the 1" filters or the HEPA? Thanks

[@jrothstein1]

I'm sure this works... but I wonder about the efficiency considering you are pulling air thru multiple filters, with what LOOKS like a leaky cabinet.... so air is being drawn in around the filters, not just thru them. Have you done anything to improve the air tightness?

[@scottsouder6450]

This will do the job to remove well over 90% of air debris. Sawdust is huge compared to say mold spores etc... If this was meant to be a flow hood for a lab or similar it would still work very well, but the turbulent air coming out along with the gaps you mentioned would rule it out for that sort of work. For a wood shop though, this will work amazingly well.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

No, but I have done many tests with smoke. The unit pulls the smoke into the filters towards the middle. It may be a little leaky, but still does the job.

[@davek7348]

is it possible that fan could overheat as it pushes out the air via filter? overheat-spark-fire?

[@scottroy6195]

Cautious why 4 filters? Different microns? Like the build.

[@nenadbakic3067]

Hi, Can you tell me name of the brand and model, or even better link, for ventilator (fan) and the hepa filter. I am asking you because I can't find that kind of stuff in my country, so I would like to order it from Amazon or eBay, or some other site like that.

[@ellenmcgrath8241]

I think I am going to make myself one of these filters.

[@robertboyce7919]

why do you use 3/4 ply. I would love to build it, but can I use 1/2 inch ply?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Certainly! I used 3/4 because I had that laying around in my shop.

[@bobbailey5072]

New subscriber. A delight to learn something from someone with common sense approach. Not that common anymore. Cheers!

[@gray41462]

Where is the most effective place to put this fan?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

That's a big question. I attached mine to the ceiling. It seems many commercial units are made to go on the ceiling, and that's why I put mine there. But there's two ways to think about it. Some folks out the low, even on the floor. That's where dust will end up, so you probably catch the most dust that way. But my line of thinking is that my nose is 6 feet above the floor, and my finishing takes place about 4 feet off the floor, so I want to get as much dust out of the air as possible while it's still floating up high. Either way, it's a debatable question.

[@gray41462]

FranklinWoodWorks Thanks for taking time to respond, I appreciate your insight there.

[@vanceossmen9349]

this i will defiantly will be build because i have a lot a of fine dust collecting every where from my sander even though it dose have dust collection on it . thank you for share this

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

Be sure and watch the follow up video. It may give you some flexibility.

[@jnf2211]

4 filters? Does that hinder air flow?

[@uncertainscientist]

My only suggestions are to place all the filters prior to the fan, so that the fan is pulling the air through the filters instead of pushing it through the filters. Also maybe a line of RTV silicone around the inside of the filter housing to seal a little better, ensuring that all air goes through the filter instead of around it. I don't know how much static pressure a household fan needs, but you could use just one of those cheap filters and use higher MERV filters to pick up all the dust. If you're just picking up sawdust it's probably fine though, those particles are larger.

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

My design has 3 filters before the fan, and one filter after. The low merv filters are so the motor isn't over stressed, and keeps the cost down.

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

@@FranklinWoodWorks2016 could you use a higher merv filter and just use one?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

@@DylansDIYWorkshop You certainly could. But I think you'll find, if you do a lot of sanding, is your filter will fill up really fast. It may be more expensive to operate that way. Also, if you have a dust collection system at the tool, you might get away with it.

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

@@FranklinWoodWorks2016 I want to build it to capture the mdf dust from the mitre saw. it already has amazing dust collection, it just lets a bit of fine dust go in the air. Im trying to save wearing a respirator all day cutting this stuff

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

@@DylansDIYWorkshop That MDF dust is nothing to fool around with. You could create a negative pressure box around the miter saw, it would pretty much solve your problem. If you watch my most recent shop tour, you can see what I built to give you an idea of what I mean.

[@joedance14]

Nice design and build. Do three filters in front really do any better than two? And why place an air filter behind the fan?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

I can't answer that with accuracy, but I'll tell you my thought process. I've got a relative weak fan in the design, so cheap filters with poor merv ratings go in the front to catch all of the big stuff without restrixting air flow too much. Then a higher quality filter on the back side to catch the really small particles. Ive found that I only have to replace that good filter about once every 6 months. The cheap filters get replaced one every 2 months, replacing the 1st filter and rotating the others foward. So the new filter is always placed in the 3rd position. It works great for me. 2 filters may work great too, but I can't say for sure.

[@joedance14]

FranklinWoodWorks Thanks, that makes sense.

[@raymondjackson6069]

Very, very good! I plan on using 2 fans and several filters front and back, but had no idea on how to start. I was going to use 3/4 aluminum angle, but the strips are a lot more practical. Thanks friend and keep up the good work! P.S., I also want to add soundproofing to tamp down the roar of the fans. 😀

[@DennisMathias]

You don't say what filter density you're using. I run MERV13s in my furnace..almost HEPA. So if you did that couldn't you get rid of most of the filters and just use one? Also, instead of building a box, would it be possible to use the frame of the fan and adapt the fan to the filter?

[@hectorvasquez690]

This is very sexy, I just tape the filter to the front of the box fan but man that is nice. I use that setup for mycology and I’m not the only one. Good job, it’s beautiful. It works very well especially since a flow hood costs about $800.00.

[@JK-jl1bf]

How well does it work?

[@samuelturner8054]

Which side are the 3 filters on, intake or output?

[@FranklinWoodWorks2016]

intake