HVAC Filters vs Smoke + Pollution + Fine Dust

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks for watching! I am working on a second obscenely detailed version of this video at the moment and it would be great to know if I left anything out of this video. How to the charts look, easily readable? etc.

[@paramtrx9558]

Very well done! Sure would be nice to have the tall prototype autographed and sent over! Looking forward to your next video, Thx! Just as a side note, it would be good to have one of the filter sides as a door on piano hinges so it can easily be opened and vacuumed clean inside.. Be sure to check out my channel as well

[@The3DHandyman]

@@paramtrx9558 I do like the slide in filter concept. Will have to work on that in the future. As they are they seem to be relatively user friendly. Will do a video on assembly soon. Nice CNC table! I would like to be running one of those one day.

[@paramtrx9558]

@@The3DHandyman Just a suggestion about the door.. Lets get you a CNC.. piece of cake my friend.

[@mechaflowmaniac]

How about providing cadr from particle reduction rather than IAQ reading decay charts? ACE-IT air cleaner efficacy investigation tool makes it easy. Try starting calc from 50% below the initial value to ensure air mixing has settled down.

[@The3DHandyman]

@@mechaflowmaniac Great find!!!!!!!! I was wanting to figure out the CADR but didn't want to buy the AHAM book on the subject and doubted that my testing space was that good of an Environmental chamber to start with. Thank you for this! (edited... ANSI replaced with AHAM)

[@franciscorubio72]

If you’ve never used an air filter these are great. kzbin.infoUgkx_dppjvjF8BYEmPSDTcgCUdRsgWYLXNHN I ended up with three after starting out with one. The noise level depends on the 1-3 settings with how hard you want the machine to work. You can also upgrade the filters and get one better for pet hair and smells which is a must have in my home. I noticed the air seemed lighter and easier to breathe when running the machine for the first time. Works great every time. Highly recommended!

[@The3DHandyman]

You can consider adding a fan shroud with a 15" open area in the center. It doesn't take the sound level down or improve the performance much but the tone of the fan is more pleasant. I'll do a video on this some time next month or so. Still probably want to shut it down for recording, tho 👍

[@mathiasramirez3975]

I'm always impressed by your focus on real world results and how one solution isn't the best for everyone. Love the content.

[@The3DHandyman]

Beautiful comment! Thank you. Model C giveaway entry received 👍

[@CorvetteAustin24]

Absolutely loved the details you included, I didn't expect such a large difference by brand! Going to have to go buy some 3Ms I guess.

[@The3DHandyman]

They do seem to be the best. It's mostly down to how much material is in the filter. One thing I should mention is that if you are using one of these (MERV 12 or higher) in your HVAC yet should be replaced at regular intervals to keep airflow as high as possible over time. This isn't a big deal for DIY systems but for your furnace, it can be. I'll talk about it more in an upcoming video.

[@adriand6477]

3M is been the standard i have used since building these air purifiers from all the reading i can see online and research its so good to see your seeing the same values that you are.. Glad i did not get the K&N.

[@FTGTapGod]

Leaving a comment for relevance, but also really looking forward to the next video. It'll help make my decision on filtration for my downtown loft. I just know I'm breathing in more than I think with how much dust we deal with.

[@The3DHandyman]

So true. I was really surprised at how much particulate matter was on the road when I went to test for it. There was probably only 50 cars at the intersection on a windy day. I have sat in downtown traffic with 10 times that many. I'm sure the pollution meter would be off the charts in such a scenario.

[@michaelwagner3952]

Thanks for sharing your findings! This was interesting to see as it can relate to my shop fan setup for woodworking. I spent years testing air flow and personal safety in an industrial setting and appreciate the data. I’m curious to see the next video and your results. Cheers!

[@The3DHandyman]

Thank you! I want to do a video about air circulation and filter positioning at some point. It is really important to the filtration process and I haven't seen any videos on it and it's not necessarily common knowledge. Any thoughts on the subject?

[@christopherhearin8703]

Thank you for all the detailed information and drilling into a very large body of information. I Have a young child that’s just beginning to venture into my shop and want to keep the environment as safe as possible. Thank you for all your hard work!

[@The3DHandyman]

Happy to help! I hope to do a video on VOCs in the next few months as well. They are something else to consider that plain old filters don't tackle very well.

[@emilygethke6911]

Your videos are incredible. I’ve fallen down the air quality DIY rabbit hole of yours 🤣 Looking for a way to improve the air in my barn for my horses. Your data has been so beneficial for this learning curve I’m on. The analysis and presentation of real world data.., bar none 👏🏻

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks! It's good to hear that there are a few others in the rabbit hole with me 😆

[@sandmanlol]

@@The3DHandyman I'm starting this week, I've got my baby's first single filter box fan going

[@The3DHandyman]

@@sandmanlol Awesome!

[@lordstrider45]

Great video I guess I'll have to tape 5 filters to my box fan now

[@The3DHandyman]

Thank you! It seems like you only need to tape 4 onto it if it sits on the floor. If you go with 5, then you want to put it up on some legs to get better airflow under the unit. kzbin.info/www/bejne/opO6mo2JqKqkhsk

[@ChaosCrayons]

this is a great information source, I have been going back and forth over what filters to be using in the shop and my house.

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks, a lot went into it! I have gotten a lot of good info about the use of these filters in in your furnace and I will put it in the long version of this video that will be out in a few weeks or so. The short of it is that you want to pay attention to your furnace if you are using high MERV filters. If your A/C filter is small it could clog quickly and should be replaced at least every 3 months. If you have a lot of pets or other dust going on, you may need to replace them sooner than that. I got a static pressure tester for the house and have a dirty filter to test. At this point the video is about to be 30 minutes long :) As for shop filters, go for the high MERV filters, they preform really well. Breath easy, my friend!

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

Hola!🖐 I'm loving this series of videos, I am learning so much from you. Thank you for creating and sharing this content. This is the third one I watch, now I'm moving on to the next one. Take care and have a good one, Adios! 👊

[@bttmlesspit25]

Thanks for these. Sounds like these might make economic sense for the wood shop my son and I hope to build soon.

[@The3DHandyman]

Awesome! Sound like a fun project. My father is the one that got me started in woodworking. We should have probably been more safety conscious, but hey, it was the 90's! :)

[@SS-lt7lk]

thanks for doing the Research; that's really the most important of all.

[@mesoed]

Caught your original video several months ago and plan to build something similar using a blower from our old furnace. Good to see the latest update! The blowers on a furnace are interesting as they usually increase their output with higher static pressure. This is probably why some people say a higher MERV filter in your furnace wouldn't degrade performance. The blower accounts for the increase. With that, it'd be interesting to see if a setup with fewer filters performs closer to performance of a Corsi-Rosenthal or your design with this.

[@The3DHandyman]

That's a fine idea. Blower motors are great for these, especially if you can get them cheap. I will get into filter surface area in the next video. From the info I've seen its generally better to keep the static pressure as low as possible for the best results. The blower style fan does tend to work really better under higher static pressures than other types of fans tho. I found the static pressure charts on Grainger/Dayton blowers to be really enlightening. You might like to see the details too... www.grainger.com/product/DAYTON-OEM-Blower-Rectangular-1TDT2 Thanks for the comment!

[@paulioshak9438]

Thx very helpful. Especially for smoke. As I live in wildfire prone area

[@antoniocortada6639]

Great video! Wynn makes a nice cartridge filter for a DYI air filtration system. It is MERV 15, just couple that with a 8 inch duct fan and you also have a very efficient filter. I ran some tests to compare with my box fan with 4 3M 20x20 Merv 13 filters and the results are so much better. Thanks to Bill Pentz for the idea and the plethora of knowledge he provides at his website.

[@The3DHandyman]

Yes! I am going to do a test with this filter next month. I must see how it stacks up. How many CFM is the duct fan you are using?

[@PassionStudioMedia]

Thank you for all your research. This helps to clarify a lot of questions for me. I always forward to your videos to see your updated findings.

[@owenstark8097]

Thanks for the informative video, that must have taken AGES to plan, set-up, film, and edit! I really appreciate that these aren't just taped together and rickety/flimsy

[@The3DHandyman]

All together it took about 2 months and waaay to much money. lol. After 40 filter changes on the Model C kit is is still as sturdy as day 1. Very happy with them so far!

[@weiss27md]

Can't wait for these kits. I've been looking for something like this for years.

[@quantumsneak1773]

Thank you for going to all this effort for us. Hope this video gets lots of views.

[@The3DHandyman]

Any time! More testing on the way too...

[@theburgermane7641]

subbed in the first 20 seconds. thank you for all you do.

[@areebshakir1181]

Great work @The 3D Handyman. Im looking for garage filtering options but also bacteria and virus filteration for a bedroom of a person who's immune system is compromised.

[@The3DHandyman]

I would like to experiment with some DIY HEPA options some time soon. Bacteria tends to be a bit larger than viruses to catch but the 3M MERV 14s should preform well on the back of a box fan in this scenario, just not quite as good as HEPA options. There are some $100 options like the Levoit 300 out there that would work well in a small room. amzn.to/3ArjsxR

[@Glenstrom]

great video, I'm replacing filter in my C-R boxes, one built with four 25x20x1 and the other with five 20x20x1 filters. The one with 4 filters I put over a vessel of water so it also serves as a humidifier for the dry winter air here - although I am not sure how well that is working, I think if I had it wicking into a suspended towel or something it may work better. I was going to go with a cheaper brand but I think I will stick with the filtrete brand, a 6 pack of UFS made in Canada filters is quite a bit less than the 3M filters.

[@The3DHandyman]

The humidifier concept is pretty cool. I think you are right about the need to wick the water up into the filter media. I have seen this done with a small water pump and wax coated honeycomb cardboard in "swamp coolers". If you used some breathable fabric and pumped a little water over the top of the sheet (lots of holes in the pump line for even distribution) it might evaporate very quickly. As for filters you can always get a cheap filter and tape it to the top of the more expensive filters. This will increase static pressure but it will probably extend the life of the 3M MERV 13 or 14s. I also want to test some fabric pre-filters for the CR boxes soon.

[@Glenstrom]

@@The3DHandyman the simple evaporative humidifier I use here in winters just has a circular foam filter that has the bottom part sit in the water & it wicks up into it, with the fan sitting just above it so most of the air it pulls comes through it. It'll put about 2 gallons of water in the air in 24 hours. I may try one of these just sitting in a large stainless steel bowl & see how that works. While the air being pulled by the box fan would mostly bypass the filter, I imagine some of the water should evaporate just from the air movement inside the C-R box. I suppose if I really wanted to get fancy I could fashion some kind of funnel ducting out of chloroplast or something from the fan down to the top of the round foam filter. I don't want to get as complex as having a pump in it.

[@OnlyDadsOG]

i am a new subscriber and would love a filter - I came for your DIY butcher block, but as a 3d printing enthusiast your other videos look awesome!

[@The3DHandyman]

You have been entered into the drawing! 3D printing is the coolest. I use it, in some aspect, for just about all my projects. Thanks for subscribing 👍

[@OnlyDadsOG]

@@The3DHandyman I've been printing since just before the pandemic and over time, the tips and tricks and experiences I've gained is just incredible. Most recently, accepting the limitations of our hobbyist level machines and how we can incorporate with other traditional methods and materials. I've not watched part 2 of the printer table but I have it on my list to turn on after work today. Awesome stuff!

[@The3DHandyman]

@@OnlyDadsOG Awesome! I got into printing around 2018. One of my first prints was a camera attachment on the outside of a helicopter! Not sketchy at all! What I like doing most for the last few years is designing things that don't need any support structure. I want it done the moment it comes off the printer! One of my first big projects was the 3D printed table legs. It was a nightmare trying to print those legs solid! So many failed prints. But now, years later, I am sitting at that desk right now and it's as stable as ever 👍

[@thisperfectworld]

Great data; thank you! I'd love a complementary model A kit. My nasal allergies have worsened in recent years, and affordably improving my air quality is top priority! Your future plans for other filtration kit configurations look promising, as well! Keep up the great public service work!

[@The3DHandyman]

Thank you! The 3rd video in this series will include a Model A giveaway. As a sneak peak, I'll say its the best of the bunch.

[@LachandKi]

Great thorough testing and comparisons. If you're open to an Australian, I'd love to try out your unit. I live on the corner of a main road, and am in the middle of a large DIY home renovation. The air quality is always an issue with traffic fumes, mdf, wood, and plaster dust. My Festool vacuum and Winex air filtration can only handle so much.

[@The3DHandyman]

Sounds great! I think for international orders I will do a small pack of 3D printed parts, screws, threaded inserts, and the construction plans to go with it. I'll have to see how much a small package would run. If you get lucky and win the free one, I am requesting that non-continental winners pay the shipping cost. It may be a very large bill 😬 The Model A might work well for you if you can get a ~17" drum fan. Put some castors on the bottom and it is reasonably portable.... Those plans are free the3dhandyman.com/workshop-air-filter-drawings/

[@TheHalfDemon]

You can often just run the fan on your hvac for circulation. That is what I do year round, to try and keep temp equalized during summer and winter months between my 3 floors.

[@The3DHandyman]

That is a very effective method with a lot of benefits and it is quiet as well. The only downside that I can see is that it will cost a lot when it comes to energy consumption. If I run my furnace blower non-stop, it works out to about $400 a year in additional electric costs.

[@axeavier]

excellent review

[@ibsphones]

Good point to convince me to next time buy higher merv

[@Suicaedere666]

This is awesome work man, thank-you🙌🤘🙌

[@randykiddy855]

I know that older HVAC systems will not hold up to Merv 11 - 14, the systems were not designed for the heavier loads put on the units. But on the other hand if you have a unit that old you might want to update your whole system.

[@The3DHandyman]

I think it's worth mentioning that these high MERV filters can cause issues for some people. My plan is to do an update for this video with more tests and a correction to that recommendation. It's really better to do the fine particle filtering outside of the HVAC system. Thanks for the comment!

[@Mark_Agamotto1313_Smith]

If you do a follow up video, would it be possible to include tests for MIRV 16, and/or HEPA filters?

[@The3DHandyman]

I've done some single filter MERV 16 tests that I'll cover in an upcoming video. Using this filter on the back of an Air King box fan will preform better than a $300 HEPA filter amzn.to/43jJoGY Performance with that filter on the back of a Lasko box fan is about 10% worse than a $300 HEPA filter (Air Doctor 3000/Blue Air 211) I have not tested these filters in a 4 filter configuration. They would no doubt perform well, but at a very high expense.

[@Mark_Agamotto1313_Smith]

@@The3DHandyman Thanks.

[@naturalhealing9970]

Great Video. Why did you not use or test Merv 16?

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks! I can not realistically test all filters because I don't have unlimited resources. No doubt the MERV 16s would probably work even better than the MERV 14s. So, if you want the best performance and price is not an issue, go for the 16s!

[@juhoukkola2306]

Really good content and well presented charts! I have been trying to decide between commercially available air filter and DIY filter. Seems like DIY is better option for me.

[@The3DHandyman]

Awesome. Glad I could help you make a decision!

[@kettch42]

This guy speaks to my heart. Thanks for being logical, thorough, and reasonable.

[@RichardBorges-oh3ek]

Excellent Video - I would be happy to purchase your kit. Would a 20x20x2 MERV 13 be more efficient by providing more surface area and slightly better airflow.

[@The3DHandyman]

Awesome! things are a little delayed due to the holiday but they should be available in a few weeks. As far as the 20x20x2 MERV 13 filters go, the Filter Buy and Nordic Pure options both preformed well but not quite as good as the 3M 20x20x1 MERV 13 filter but they do have a bit cheaper starting price.

[@CM-lo8iu]

Thank you for making this so clear and concise. Knowing the cost vs benefit to certain filters is so valuable 🙏

[@buckynine9]

I love how detailed you get with your tests. Your format reminds me of the Project Farm channel. I've built 5x filter model using pvc and it's worked well. I've recommended your videos to family and friends living near fires. My brothers first question was if i was going to build one with quick replace filters haha I would be interested in a kit if still available.

[@The3DHandyman]

That's quite a complement! I have watched project farm videos for years. Happy the 5 filter design is working well for you! Other than the giveaway for this video, I will launch the kits in about 2 weeks. It takes about 3 minutes to replace the filters, hopefully that's quick enough :) All the parts are in for these and I just need to shoot a video on how to put them together. The cost of shipping and wood/cutting is pretty high so I am going to do preorders for them to hopefully bring the price down in larger quantities.

[@buckynine9]

​@The3DHandyman I bet you are a super busy cat, just wanted to know if the giveaway was still a thing. Anyhow, the product looks great!

[@The3DHandyman]

@@buckynine9 Hah, you aint kidding! The giveaway is still a thing. The magic number of comments is almost there... as it is I am about 40% of the comments and I don't want to win the prototype :) I'll announce the winner for this in about 2 weeks.

[@salvatorelivreri]

For CR Box designs, or even with a furnace filter taped to a box fan, would adding a carbon filter help with VOCs or would it be too much drag on the motor?

[@The3DHandyman]

Good question! I'll have a video out about VOC filtration later this month. I would not recommend adding large carbon filters to a CR box. Axial fans, like box fans, just cannot maintain airflow with a lot of static pressure. Inline fans and centrifugal fans are better for this sort of thing. There are air filters with sprayed on carbon but they cant absorb very much in the way of VOCs, but they will work for a little while.

[@david5476]

Curious if an inline duct fan could be used to pull behind a box fan with a single filter attached. I have a 4” dryer vent going out in my small shop but low ceilings and very small space

[@The3DHandyman]

The answer is yes! A 4" inline fan does about 200CFM and that would be perfect for a 20x20" filter without creating much of any static pressure. A wooden box that creates a gap between the intake for the fan and the back of the filter would help draw air more evenly over the entire surface of the filter.

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

This is awesome

[@DUNLAPMICHAEL]

Thank you for the video. I built a 5 filter version with a lasko fan to help improve the air quality in my basement. I have a wood burning stove in the basement and some ash and smoke get into the air. Your testing helped me with my design and purchase of the materials. I used the 2 inch 20x20x2 merv 12 air filters. I am hoping the quality of the filters is good. I just purchased the 3m merv 11 20x20x2 filters for when i need a filter replacement and will compare. I am very interested in your model C prototype unit as well as your other units.

[@The3DHandyman]

Awesome. Thanks for the real world feedback! I would think the MERV 12s should work pretty well for you from any brand. The 3M MERV 11s should also be solid. I will be testing some 4" versions of those for the next video. The video on the Model B should be out in a few weeks. At the moment I am swamped with orders for the kits and don't have much spare time to work on content.

[@scorcoranable]

Thanks for doing this. I recently moved in with my brother. Now that the weather has grown colder he smokes at the basement door. Needless to say the smoke flows behind him into the finished basement and up through the floorboards and carpet into the main living area. I'm trying to find a good cost effective solution. This video was so helpful.

[@The3DHandyman]

Happy to help! I had a roommate that smoked for a long time and the smoke would always end up blowing into the house. A box fan and a single 3M MERV 14 filter might be all you need.

[@michealnelsonauthor]

@@The3DHandyman especially if the fan is propped right behind his head as he smokes, blowing over him, lol.

[@The3DHandyman]

@@michealnelsonauthor That might be the best option!

[@AndrewHelgeCox]

Any chance you could put the IKEA air purifiers like the FÖRNUFTIG up against your home made creations? That one can be had for £65 and it's all pretty. A video with IKEA in the title might have the potential to blow up too and pull in new viewers to your channel.

[@The3DHandyman]

I will make a note of it. I would like to test more pro models soon. I would suspect that the IKEA version may not do a whole lot with a CADR of 70, but it would be nice to know for sure!

[@pratiknaikedu]

What an amazing video! Just what I was looking for!

[@The3DHandyman]

Thank you! Keep in mind that if you are using one of the MERV 12+ filters in you HVAC that you may want to replace it every 3 months if the dust levels in your home are high.

[@CommuneRecords]

Great video, answered a lot of questions! We are thinking of using 4" 3M Merv 13 filters to make the Corsi-Rosenthal box but we noticed that the only 4" filter you tested was Filter Buy? Would a 4" 3M Merv 13 filter produce better results than the 1" version?

[@CommuneRecords]

Now that I look, not sure there *is* a 4" 3M Merv 13! ?

[@The3DHandyman]

@@CommuneRecords Thanks! That's right, I think 3M 4" filters stop at MERV 12. As for cost vs performance, it seems like the 4" filters are not the best. Where they do likely preform a bit better is their longevity. They can take up a lot of dust without clogging as quickly as the 1" filters... but considering that they cost a lot more you can replace 1" filters 2 or more times for the same price as a 4" filter so it may not really give you much of a boost in the long run. The 2" Filter Buy and the 2" Nordic Pure outperformed the 4" filter, so I think those would be a better bet if you want to go with the thicker filters. Otherwise the 1" 3Ms (MERV 11/13/14) are the best performers. There seems to be a point of diminishing return when it comes to filter surface area. It may be that the 4" filters can handle a lot more air than the box fan is capable of processing and as a result you don't see that much of a gain. I'll talk about this more in an upcoming video.

[@CommuneRecords]

@@The3DHandyman Built the device to your specs using the 1" 3M Filtrete filters (MERV 13). Looks great and I'm sure it's going to work well. One question though: It seems the filters have a smell to them. (Seems like everything does these days...) Wondering if you've noticed this, and if it goes away in time or with use. I just put it outside to air out, see if it's better in a day or two. Thank you!

[@CommuneRecords]

@@The3DHandyman Actually, update - the smell seems to be going away. I guess it was just "new filter smell"

[@The3DHandyman]

@@CommuneRecords Sorry I missed your comment! I have noticed that as well with some of the filters that I tested and a few new HEPA filters that I will be testing. It must just be the particular material they are made from? Or maybe the glue that holds it together? I'm not quite sure but you are right, the smell does go away after a while.

[@capcom4eva]

Was the results with the air king set on low, medium or high? Thanks!

[@The3DHandyman]

All things are tested on HIGH only. If you want the LOW and MED performance, take the manufactures CFM specs and increase the filtration time by that amount. So if the fan's low CFM is 1/2 of the high CFM, double the expected filtration time.

[@MDvkAir]

Very useful. I have a large open living space that I'm trying to keep clean. Do I comment here to get added to the list to potentially receive one of these units?

[@The3DHandyman]

Happy to hear that! You have been added to the giveaway list. The next 2 videos will also have giveaways for the Model A and Model B

[@IanOberhotlzer]

Nate its been years! Love these videos, going to have to make some of your designs for my workshop and home :-). Hope you are well.

[@The3DHandyman]

What up dude! Happy to hear you are enjoying the content :) I'm doing alright, hope the same is true for you 👍

[@mr.shellcracker9161]

I’m adding another single filter box fan to my workshop. What do you think would be better a 20x20x4 hdx merv 23 Or a 20x20x1 3m merv 13? I enjoyed this series

[@The3DHandyman]

I'd go for the 4" thick filter. It will probably be able to handle a higher dust load than the 3M 1" filter. It may also have a similar if not better initial performance. Thanks for watching!

[@mr.shellcracker9161]

@@The3DHandyman thanks!

[@mpxz999]

I really love your methodic presentation, walking us through your methods and explaining the results. You put a massive amount of time, effort and care into this. I sincerely appreciate it! My one criticism though, is that I wish you would've used a different format for your 'Performance + Cost of Operation' chart. Different shades of green or blue bars, side by side, with different bar thicknesses, and 2 Y-axis typed vertically in opposite directions on both sides of the chart... Not my favourite results to look at. But nitpicks aside, thank you once again for your hard work!

[@The3DHandyman]

That's good feedback. I do need to work on the charts for the next video. There is a lot more testing data coming soon and it all needs to be cleaned up to be understandable. I'm starting to put together comparison charts on my site so people can just look at them as long as they need the3dhandyman.com/what-is-the-best-air-filter/ Thanks for the comment!

[@dianeperez4107]

You are amazing!!! Thank you SO very much! My son has severe MCAS and we have a neighbor that burns green wood every weekend. You rock!! So truly the shortest amount of time that it would clean the smoke is 38 minutes with the 3M MERV 14 using the 4 filters. Do you see any benefit to getting the charcoal filters? Or are standard filters enough to get rid of the smoke? I would love if you did a video on how to read and understand the Air Quality Monitor! Thank you! Do you have a chart comparing the different models A,B and C to show how much air they can filter?

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks, that means a lot! So far the 3M MERV 14 is the best I've tested out of all filters including MERV 13+ Charcoal filters when it comes to smoke. I haven't done the video for that filter test yet but but the results are clear. I'll be testing some MERV 16+Charcoal filters on a box fan some time soon to see if they preform any better. They are cost prohibitive tho, so I'll only be using one for the test. In a home with many rooms, sometimes single filters on the back of a fan can be more advantageous because you can put one in every room rather than rely on one large filter in a single space. I have some of the data from all the tests I've run hon my website. I need more charts tho. These only tell part of the picture. I hope to have interactive charts with even more data and results from 25 pending tests in a few weeks. Here is the link the3dhandyman.com/what-is-the-best-air-filter/ I will make a note to do a video on air quality monitors! Thanks for the idea. Hope all that helps and sorry for the late reply!

[@lukaszporosa]

@The 3D Handyman You can prove out the efficiency of your set up using CFD. A predictive 3D CFD analysis is required for any indoor environment before purchasing an air purifier (AP) and placing it into that place. CFD analyses show that a wrong placement of AP could be inefficient and even counterproductive in some locations. I can connect you to an expert who modelled my dental clinic and the results were surprising and unexpected.

[@The3DHandyman]

I plan to do a video about this and I did look into CFD a year ago. I cant recall the name of the program I settled on but the resolution of the resulting model was very low. Like, there was no detail in the objects in the room, just large boxes in place of more complex fixtures. I'm not sure if voxel based fluid simulations would accurately predict air movements for something like this. The outputs would look nice and the detail of the room model would be pretty high. After my house flooded last year, this video got derailed and I cant say when I might be able to get back to it. So, what I am going to do is work this concept into my next video that covers some new air filter concepts and kits. Thanks for the opportunity to talk with an expert! The workload here is 100+ hours a weeks and I cant imagine adding anything else to the schedule for quite some time. But I hope I can have time for that one day. Would you mind messaging me on facebook or instagram or etsy with your info? Thanks for your very thoughtful comment!

[@XxMalabooo]

Just curious if I’m in an enclosed 2 car garage with the cat 4000 cfm running through 4 filters ~ do I need to have a vent open somewhere to reduce pressure? What happens if I don’t vent while the fan is running and scrubbing the garage air? My use case is wood working; and just want to remove dust from the air without having to open the garage since its very cold outside.

[@The3DHandyman]

Good question! I would think that the inflow and outflow pressure would cancel each other out, so in theory no venting should be required unless your filters are blowing out of the building.

[@fireguy_81]

Thanks for the very informative video, sir. I’ve learned something new with the MERV classifications that other videos don’t mention. I’ve very recently stumbled on a duct tape version video that I will most likely use to get rid of pet dander as I rescue cats and currently have 11. I would attempt to make one like yours but my carpenter skills aren’t good nor do I have a 3D printer. Do you happen to sell it?

[@The3DHandyman]

Thank you! I do sell the 4 filter versions but they are sold out until next month some time. I will also have a 1 filter design as well. There is a lot going on that the moment, so it will just take some time to get them out there. Until then, taping a filter to the back of a box fan actually works pretty good for in-home use. Let me know if you have any questions.

[@esixx17]

Was the 200 comment level reached? Nwver cared about the air quality until i would blow my nose amd find ot full of sawdust from black walnut biards. I built a 1 inch box fan filter and couldn't even tell if it was moving ait until hours later when sawdust started collecting on the filter. Then I spent hundreds on a Jet air filter system. Looking at your B/C designs now and will compare costs and filter ratings with the Jet.

[@The3DHandyman]

Sorry for the late reply. I have been focusing on getting the kits into the mail the last few days and fell behind on comments. In this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaDFoJqHgsuSjsU I compared the high end Jet systems to the CR boxes and the Model-A. I only tested for CFM in that video tho. I don't know how the Jet systems would compare when trying to filter smoke. The best Jet does about 1200cfm (wood magazine article). The Model-A does out preform the AFS-2000 in terms of air flow. The next best option is the Model-B with 3M MERV 13s. I haven't gotten this video put together yet, but I have the data. This combo will do 1198CFM. A 2" MERV 13 filter from Filter Buy will do 1222CFM but it does not handle smoke as well. The same smoke test in this video yielded these results with an Air King fan on a Model-B: 3M MERV 13: 42min Filter Buy 2" MERV 13: 54min As for the 200 comments, it's not there quite yet but it will be soon. I am not counting my comments as entries. Let me know if you have any more questions!

[@rriccopena]

Wow. this was cool. Thanks. I was always wondering on Amazon how to compare the function of all those filters for actual smoke. I guess 3m is the right brand from this application. Can we really get a prototype for a comment? If not, I would pay for one, just send me a link.

[@The3DHandyman]

It really does look like 3M is the best brand for smoke filtration. Few others competed at their level. If you aren't filtering a huge amount of particles then most of the filters in the test would preform fairly well. All comments get an entry into a giveaway that is coming up in the next few weeks. You will be in the running. If you don't get the free one or you want one sooner, you can buy one here www.etsy.com/listing/1373712349 Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@CueBall909]

Another informative video. Have you considered any configurations other than the "box" style? I would think that style would work great with all four sides of the unit accessible, but for small garage shops that may not be practical. So would it be just as beneficial to have four filters all on a single side as long as the airflow can remain the same? Sort of a wall of filters, instead of a box of filters?

[@The3DHandyman]

I have given some though to wall filters but haven't tested anything out yet. I'm working on some canister filter designs with duct work that will be out soon. Those concepts can be easily adapted to a "filter wall"

[@stevegee4166]

Whatever happened with the model c prototype giveaway? I was looking forward to it. My elderly father cannot be removed out of his workshop since he retired despite what my mother and his doctor say. He complaints about a irritated throat feeling that constantly has him clearing his throat. Doctor said it's a result from the fine dust particles in the air he's breathing in from the shop. He would really benefit from something like this! Hence what started my rabbit hole journey of finding something diy that can possibly be made cheaply with left over materials since funds are tight right now. Appreciate and thank you for all your time and research on the matter. it's been a huge help!

[@The3DHandyman]

Well, that's a long story. Generally things have been in complete chaos since launch and the giveaway hasn't happened yet because I was focusing on things that people purchased first. I will be making a new video soon where I announce the winner and send out the free unit. If you don't happen to win the unit (I'll be using a random number generator) I am going to offer a cheap kit of 3D printed parts/screws/plans so you can make your own with available scraps. I've printed a lot of parts for the upcoming launch, so I should be able to get them in the mail pretty much immediately. There will also be another budget air filter available in the same launch. Money is tight here as well so I get where you are coming from. I really need this to be a mind blowingly successful launch because the home I am living in for the second time in 2 years is being sold and I will find myself without a place to live or work within a few months. All of the spare parts for the model B and C were screwed to the walls of my family's bedrooms for bulletproofing. Things here have gotten really bad really quickly. One thing your father should consider is an N95 mask. They aren't fun to wear, especially for hours and hours on end (the skin on my face can vouch) but they work and they are cheap. I hope to have this video out in a few weeks. Sorry for the wait on the free unit. I really should have done that 2 months ago.

[@blakes8901]

If you keep this up and find your niche, I can genuinely see you becoming a handyman's version of GamersNexus one day. Since you are a game design major, I'm sure you know who they are.

[@The3DHandyman]

One day, I hope! Thanks for the kind words

[@TheGoodContent37]

Why you chose the AEROSTAR MERV 11 instead of the AEROSTAR MERV 13? Would the Aerostar perform similarly to the 3m ones at MERV 13?

[@husker2109]

Wow very through data collection I am impressed. I mix a lot of cement and mortar which’s creates a lot of fine dust. Which do you think would work better if the fan was pulling the dust into the filter box at the top? Or if the fan was drawing the dust through the filters first?

[@The3DHandyman]

Good question! The answer relied on how your workspace is set up. Personally I like to work right next to the filter with the drum fan pushing into the filter box. The dust is reliably sucked right in without being airborne for more than a few seconds. This help keep most of the ultra fine cement from getting all over everything. I use my Model A this filter because it can capture ultra fine dust at 5-6ft away (without significant air disturbances). A single filter on a box fan (filter on the back side of the fan) only has a capture radius of about 2 feet. I use that config for some things but the it's not quite powerful enough to avoid blowing some of the dust into the rest of the shop space during a more energetic process. This video has some more info about how I filter cement dust specifically. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJ7Kf4Srad93r5I I think I have also figured out a way to insert a dust bag into the filter box so that the big dust does not clog the filters as quickly. I'll make a video about that in December. The parts are in the mail.

[@joebobjoesayshi]

What model number of the 3M 13 MERV filter? The Amazon link in the description is broken.

[@The3DHandyman]

Here is a new link amzn.to/3DCrHIy The old set of filters came with free tape but that is not longer available. Thanks for the heads up on that!

[@robertbryant173]

Awesome video. Can you please test the Castle Filters. It claims to good for 1 entire year! No one else has tested this filter from what I have been able to find.

[@The3DHandyman]

I will see what I can do!

[@combee3D]

This is a solid video. Thank you for compiling the information. I have relatives that live near areas of Florida that have been struck with costal Red Tide algae outbreaks. Their allergies have been horrible for over a year now. Using your results, going to build a DIY system with the 3M filters.

[@The3DHandyman]

Awesome. I'm happy to help!

[@ranger178]

what about how long till filter is clogged or how much back pressure is there on the different filters at different amounts of time?

[@The3DHandyman]

I have done this test with a few select filters. Just need to find the time to make the video. There is a lot going on at the moment. Hopefully before the end of the year I'll have that out

[@xBLACKxOPSxSECRETSx2]

Im building 4x 5x merv 11 filter boxes. I guess thats sufficient for allergies. What would you suggest to use as a pre filter to keep them from clogging as fast as well as try to keep dust from falling back out if i turn them off for a bit?

[@The3DHandyman]

That sort of filter should be great for allergies. MERV 11 is just good enough for most allergens. I have been testing materials and techniques for pre-filters and I'll do a video on it next month with my findings. Still have a bit more data to collect.

[@xBLACKxOPSxSECRETSx2]

@@The3DHandyman nice I built 4 I got 2 on each floor of my house.

[@The3DHandyman]

@@xBLACKxOPSxSECRETSx2 nice

[@joebobjoesayshi]

Why did the 4" Filter Buy take longer than the 2" Filter Buy at 3:57?

[@The3DHandyman]

There was something weird with the Filter Buy 2" filter. It looked more like a Nordic Pure color scheme with a filter buy logo stamped on it. It did not resemble the other Filter Buy products' color schemes. So, it the material in it was a little different than the others and it preformed a little better than the 4". This is the down side of off-brand stuff. They can change anything they want about the product at any time and sell you it as the same product. 3M is always the same year after year.

[@joebobjoesayshi]

@@The3DHandyman Thank you for the reply. I wonder what Filter Buy would say.

[@The3DHandyman]

@@joebobjoesayshi That's a good question. I haven't asked. But this is common with off-band products. Nordic pure materials have also changed over the years and I am sure others have as well. Maybe they are better now than they were before but it's impossible to say without continuously testing all filters which is cost prohibitive.

[@chugstep33]

I am curious how these tests would do with cigar smoke.

[@The3DHandyman]

Cigar smoke and incense smoke should be effectively the same size particles. As for complete smell removal, carbon filtration is the most effective. I will do a video on this concept in the next month or two.

[@RobertGoodsense]

Instead of incense sticks, please add a smoke grenade to mimic capacity of lungs. See if any air purifiers capture all air pollutants. As we are discussing SARS2, the emissions come from 3-6 ft up. A floor mounted air purifier would need to draw smoke down sharply to prevent respiratory infection between teacher and class, and even more aggressively student to student. Smoke is super large compared to SARS2, but if it can't drag smoke....

[@The3DHandyman]

Would the smoke grenade be much different that incense smoke? Is the particle size much different? I'll keep it in mind but it's not something I want to unleash inside my house very much, haha :)

[@RobertGoodsense]

@@The3DHandyman Qty is the issue. I imagine human lungs expel more particulates than 3 incense sticks. Rate of expulsion is another issue. Incense sticks burn pretty slow compared to what human lungs would produce. I've seen some people use a fogger machine. However, foggers displace dense particulates that instantly settle. Aerosol from lungs is warm, and will stratify upward, or hang 3-6 feet up. Many things to consider, and perhaps not pertinent to removal of shop generated particulate matter. However, many people are championing the Corsi-Rosenthal Box for SARS2 infection prevention, and so the above seem relevant.

[@236vic]

love to try one of these box filter types out. Where can i get these parts in HCMC Vietnam?

[@The3DHandyman]

A fine question! I hear that it can be difficult to find Box Fans and high efficiency filters outside of the US. A good place to start is with what fans and filters are available in your area. The easiest construction method is to tape a cube of filters together and tape a square fan to it. If the only fan you can find is a round fan you could use a thick piece of cardboard to make a square to circle interface for the filter cube. I cover a similar concept in this video, it's just a bit easier with a square fan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/opO6mo2JqKqkhsk Cant speak to the cost of one of these in Vietnam. They are low cost here but HEPA filters may actually be cheaper there. It will take some research. If you figure something out, it would be great to know what worked best.

[@toddbumgarden6094]

Thanks for this info. i need to change the way i have my air filter setup do you sell the plans or sell the kit still.

[@The3DHandyman]

Sure thing! I plan on selling the plans at some point but I am way behind on content production for that launch at the moment. Cant say when that will be ready to go. I am selling the full kits though. If you were to buy one today, it should ship in about 2 weeks Here's the listing www.etsy.com/listing/1373712349 Let me know if you have any questions

[@theclaxton]

Thanks for putting this together! I switched to 3m about a year ago and they have such low pressure drop given the Merv rating. I'd be curious for you to add dB levels to this evaluation as well as that's important even in my shop and I've thought about using a commercial air cleaner just because of their low noise levels Thanks!

[@The3DHandyman]

Any time! The air flow is high but the noise levels can be to. Here are all the fan's I've tested from highest speed to lowest speed: Background sound 40db Lasko @1 ft - 63, 60, 55 Air King @1ft - 68, 66, 61 Air doctor @1ft - 64, 58, 52, 45 Maxx air @1ft - 71, 67, 57 Caterpillar @1ft - 71, 67, 63, 57

[@theclaxton]

@@The3DHandyman thanks for this!

[@thepropolys]

Have you used the K&N MERV13 filters?

[@kettch42]

It would be interesting to see how the Kirkland Costco filters to vs the 3M ones.

[@The3DHandyman]

I will see if I can pick up some of those 👍

[@MOZOGuitars]

Thank you for the very informative video! Might have to pick up one of those air quality monitors...

[@smokelesschimney8849]

I think you have it. Very similar to my understanding and the data is similar to what I see.

[@The3DHandyman]

Happy to hear it!

[@RobertGoodsense]

Ok.. You're making a few errors. HVAC techs don't care what brand of filter you get. They measure static pressures. Static pressures give an idea of air velocity. If your furnace heat exchange does not get a sufficient flow of air over it, the metal overheats and can crack. A cracked heat exchange is dangerous because that allows carbon monoxide to enter your home. This will kill you. So HVAC techs check for good air flow. Too much resistance means low air flow and a serious problem. Similarly too much resistance from a filter will slow the air down in cooling mode. Not enough warm air flowing over the cold coil means your coil will freeze the water condensate on the coil, and pretty soon you have a new filter that stops EVERYTHING from flowing through it.... because it's a block of ice. Proper air flow is CRITICAL in HVAC performance. Techs test static pressures with a manometer like the Fieldpiece SDMN6 Pressure Switch Tester. Retails on Amazon for about $303. Techs test air velocities in furnaces with a hotwire anemometer like the Fieldpiece STA2 in Duct Hot Wire Anemometer. Retails on Amazon for 381.65 Upshot is the brand of filter doesn't matter. What matters is 1) it lets air flow at the right rate. 2) it stops dust and crud from getting to the wet coil (matting issues) or the blazing hot heat exchange (fire issues).

[@The3DHandyman]

Good stuff. I will put this info in the next video. I just got a super cheap manometer to test a 4 month old 3M filter in a friends house. Will see that it reads new vs old!

[@RobertGoodsense]

@@The3DHandyman Here's another KZbin. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6fanoNniZeFm6s

[@The3DHandyman]

@@RobertGoodsense Thanks for the link!

[@ryanspencer9404]

Great video with amazing details. I'm very interested pursuing the DIY filter systems and this has been a great, consolidated educational experience. Thnx!

[@The3DHandyman]

Happy to hear that! I will be covering DIY filters construction in even more detail in the next deep-dive video on the subject. I hope to have that out by the end of the month.

[@GM-pn2bi]

Hey. Thanks for the info. It's good to know how to get the best bang for your buck. I'm curious how high thread count cloth would perform. I was reading a study a while back that looked at filtering ability for cloth masks and they made a mask out of 600 thread count sheets and it performed at over n95 levels I think. That would be really cool to see some testing on. Cloth filter would be quite easy to acquire and put together and would last basically forever I would think. Too bad that air meter is 180 bucks here in Canada

[@The3DHandyman]

That is quite a bit more expensive than down here! Maybe there are others available? I will see if I can fit in a cloth test for the next video or make that a separate video at some point. I want to try cloth as a prefilter as well.

[@GM-pn2bi]

@@The3DHandyman awesome. Thanks man. This may be the third time I posted this comment, but I think the other two got eaten by auto mod because I included the link to the study I was looking at. But that study used wamsutta sheets. I believe Costco and Wayfair also have reasonable priced 600 count sheets. Though y'all have more options down there so there might be something I don't even know about lol. The study also actually found that much lower thread count cotton with batting in between actually worked really well as well. So did natural silk. As well as the high count cotton combined with a layer of chiffon. Thanks again for all the testing man. It's been really cool.

[@The3DHandyman]

@@GM-pn2bi Great info! I will check into those options for sure. Thanks for putting in the effort to get your comment through!

[@bipborpthedipdorp7028]

@6:00 I could watch that for hours

[@The3DHandyman]

No joke. I did do that for an hour to get the lighting just right for that shot. No regrets.

[@bipborpthedipdorp7028]

@@The3DHandyman release it as a video idk XD

[@The3DHandyman]

@@bipborpthedipdorp7028 I'll set it to some music and just let it play. lol

[@bipborpthedipdorp7028]

@@The3DHandyman asmr incense burning and filtering 10 hrs lol

[@nathangold9775]

This is great. I may have to make myself a filter for my shop. Maybe this was covered in one of your previous videos (I'll go watch them again) but what is the CFM differences between the 2 box fans and the barrel fan? Just curious how that might affect how quickly the best filters clean the smoke out of the air.

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks! I haven't gotten to the next video in the series which covers all the details on all 3 versions. The short of it is that the drum fan is better because it has a round housing rather than a square one so this limits air being pulled in around the corners of the fan and hurting performance/air quality. The overall fan power goes like this Lasko

[@littleB916]

Always informative videos in a digestible way. Have you done a bigger comparison on filter thickness? Just had a new hvac installed and we went for the 20x20x5” but the cost and availability for the 5” thickness makes me think it’s not worth any real benefits. Please try the a,b and c models with 4 or 5” thickness filters even if joust one sample run of a known brand like 3M since they scaled well.

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks! I have not done that much with the thicker filters. The 4in Filter Buy does not preform better than the 2in filters, by surprise. In the next video I will talk more about airflow and static pressure and though the 4" filter has more surface area than the others, it does not outperform them. Considering that 1" 3M MERV 11 almost outperformed the 4" Filter Buy in the single filter box fan test, I figure the 4" 3M MERV 11(or 12) filters would preform significantly better than the Off brand MERV 13s. So maybe there is an adapter (or DIY option) that can just fill up that extra inch? I will try to fit in a single filter test with a 4" filter from 3M in the next video.

[@csimet]

Very thorough test and much appreciated. When I replaced by home HVAC in 2019, I opt'd for an integrated MERV 13 system with a 4" pleated furnace filter (AprilAire 413)... a nice balance of ability to remove most household pollutants and cost to replace the filters. Those above MERV 13 can be very expensive. As per industry standards, it does 90% or better at particles at and above 1 micron and ~75% at those below. I don't have breathing issues, but those that do may want to look at higher rated systems. I must say it amazes me how dirty the filter becomes after about 6 months when compared to my old 4" system dated back to the mid-90s (probably no more than a MERV 8). I change it every spring and fall with the heat & cold seasonal use cycles. BTW... if your HVAC supports it, run the fan (air cycle) feature when your system is not heating or cooling. Mine runs the fan on low for 15 minutes each hour to cycle the house air. It vastly helps keep the air cleaned.

[@The3DHandyman]

That's pretty much exactly what I run in my home furnace as well. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@zjames1324]

Great content as always! Thanks for doing this work. Hope the ad rev covers the filter costs 10x!

[@JSATI]

My furnace runs a 14x25x1 filter. I tried running a basic very low merv filtrate pleated filter and it was too restrictive for the system and kept tripping. So the furnace runs basic 3m fiberglass filters. I then made two Corsi Rosenthal style boxes running basic 20" lasko fans with 3m filtrete 2200 20"x30" filters. I catch them on sale and the price is usually the same as the 20x20 however I am getting a little more surface area. My wife has asthma and the diy filters have greatly helped. Along with reading data that air quality can affect the risk of heart attack. We live in a 2,600sq ft two story home and have one filter placed on each level. I have never measured with a particle meter. Fantastic content!

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks for real world feedback! I think you are right, it may just not be worth it to run anything fancy in the HVAC unit, there is just too much risk involved. I would have to imagine that with 2 CR boxes running on each floor the air should be very clean. Even on low if they are running all the time they will do a great job. The 3M 2200 20x30s are pretty much the best option out there. Excellent choice! How often do you need to replace them? Is it filter color that determines your replacement time or an amount of time elapsed?

[@bent7131]

This was super helpful as I was convinced I needed 2"+ thickness filters to achieve decent results. Once again, you have me rethinking my options. These filter systems are proven to be efficient and effective, but the filters are a consumable and replacement costs add up . My new question is, can I cycle my spent MERV 14 furnace filters in the C&R cube in my workshop? The shop has different needs, mostly sawdust and dirt. Hoping to get 2 cycles of use out of the filters. Am I wrong to think this is a good idea? Can't wait to see the results from the different build variants you have been teasing.

[@The3DHandyman]

I was also surprised by the fact the the thicker filters only preformed marginally next to the 3Ms. As far as reusing them in your shop, they wont preform like they did out of the box but they will still pull large stuff out of the air. I'll do a video on used filter performance some time soon but until then I can say that the 6 month old extremely dirty Nordic Pure MERV14 filters lose half of their ability to capture smoke (2 hours vs 1 hour to completely the air). Smoke is of course very tiny stuff, so if you are working with larger particles generally, the performance should be better than that...But the only way to truly know is to get a particle/pollution meter.

[@prestoncoleman718]

I WANT AND NEED ALL DEM PROTOTYPES 😂😂 Great job man I’m extremely appreciative of the amount of work you put into this for us!

[@The3DHandyman]

Thanks! You are have been entered in the drawing :)

[@talflex25]

Hi is there a cheaper Air Quality Pollution Monitor that is still good and can monitor voc and mp2.5 and mp1 that you know of?

[@The3DHandyman]

You may be able to buy a sensor(s) and hook it up to a computer for cheaper than the one in the video description. Other than that, the cheapest ones are a little over $100

[@talflex25]

@@The3DHandyman are the specific brands you recommend?

[@The3DHandyman]

@@talflex25 I have only tried one air quality monitor at this point. Maybe one day I can test others but that day is a long way off. Here's the one I picked up. It's works fine but will sometimes turn off after hours of operation. Not to much of an issues, but an issue none the less. --AIR QUALITY SENSOR-- Find out the air quality in your space amzn.to/3V4RZtt

[@mechaflowmaniac]

Great video. We came to similar conclusions regarding performance of 3m from testing by LIFTec in Spain. Why they are specified for UK versions of the corsi Rosenthal design. Eager to see your frame kits become available.

[@The3DHandyman]

Thank you! I'm always happy to hear that my tests came to the same conclusions as others. I will be shooting assembly videos for the kits this week and hope to launch them in the beginning of December.

[@frijolebeans7275]

Awesome content. Important information for health and safety in the shop.

[@thetruemorg]

I'm glad your data confirms what I've done inside of my house. Every time I've done one of the 3m products it seemed to have been a lot better for the house. We had wildfires the last couple of years and a couple of those times in my apartment the only ones I could get are cheaper knockoff brands.

[@thetruemorg]

I kept going after the Merv 13 because of a noticeable difference in the smell of the air but that's cool to know that my 14 is a little bit better. I really appreciate this whole series and I look forward to building one of the little boxes versus just one fan and one filter

[@The3DHandyman]

It is always great to have a separate test come to the same conclusions. My girlfriend has a few dogs and when I installed a 3M MERV 12 in the furnace the air got a lot more fresh. In the next video I do in this series the filters get tested for airflow and the MERV 14s are a bit more restrictive than the 13s. It would be great if an HVAC tech could way in on how much of an issue that really could be for the fan motor. Testing that might take a decade!

[@brandonlaw2010]

I'd love to test one at the shop i work at. Lots of grinding, welding and painting. Indoor air quality is pretty poor.

[@The3DHandyman]

I can imagine! Someone that works at a similar shop runs 3 of the drum fan versions of this filter and they say the do a good job

[@brandonlaw2010]

@@The3DHandyman I was going to make my own version pretty close to yours. But use aluminum c channel to slide the filters into from the top.

[@The3DHandyman]

@@brandonlaw2010 Sounds like a fine idea👍

[@What_Other_Hobbies]

Glad you are back. Can't wait for the next stages.

[@XxMalabooo]

This is god’s work - also interested in free model C :)

[@pnroy645]

Air quality is not always top of mind when in my home, even though I live with allergies for most of my life. It hasn't been since I saw my daughter begin to struggle with similar allergies to dust and dander where I consider looking into cleaning the area around me. Cleaning is a daily thing in our home, but we live off a gravel road and the kids run in and out as kids should, but this adds to the never ending battle with dust. Thank you for running the test on the many different filters. I will have to building on of the model c configurations to help keep the dust at bay.

[@The3DHandyman]

I hope it helps a lot! I have been running one of these at my girlfriends house to help cut down on pet dander and it has made a significant improvement in her congestion after a month or so of operation. From what I have heard from HVAC specialists, it seems like a better idea to just run a separate filter rather than putting a high MERV rated filter in your furnace. I'll get into that more in the next video.

[@bRoss8989]

In your conclusion chart what is better higher or lower?

[@The3DHandyman]

The green bars show the highest performers (higher better). The blue bars show the cost of filter replacements (lower better). The chart is organized from cheapest to most expensive. My charts need work :)

[@robertaguirre8973]

Thanks for your eye opening series on dust collection and DIY air filters! good info. Clean and concise charts. I prefer the animated and color coded charts. they are easier to read as you are giving the pertinent info. thanks again for the monster effort. Cant wait for "a" and "b".👍

[@The3DHandyman]

Awesome! Happy to hear that the charts come through well

[@sc2h5creations5]

Just binged your last few videos...thanks for making me rethink all my previous plans 🤦😆

[@The3DHandyman]

The more data to work with, the better! :)