I Built an Air Cleaner for $7

Keeping my lungs healthy during woodworking projects is very important to me. Dust collectors do a great job of getting the bulk, but can't always capture fine airborne dust. That is the job of an air cleaner. So I built a DIY air cleaner out of an old box fan. All you need is an old fan, some scrap wood and a few air filters.

[@uniworkhorse]

Finally, a box filter build that doesn't look like a last minute school project - it looks amazing!

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you 🙏

[@tevtastic]

Built a air filter for school and personal use 😭😭

[@tevtastic]

It was still bad

[@GregLohr]

Not knocking this, but it's a little misleading when YT vids say "I built x for x$," and then you find out they already had plywood, a box fan, other parts. The build doesn't cost that. A more honest approach would be including the actual cost for someone else to build it in the title.

[@EverydayBuilds]

That’s what it cost me.

[@Lolaproduction101]

Do you get comments like this often? Do you have to deduct residual depreciation on every tools you use? 1st world problem! Keep up the posting😎@@EverydayBuilds

[@EverydayBuilds]

@@Lolaproduction101 All the time, lol. Next time I will make an itemized list of everything you need to buy in order to build this and add my hourly rate to get a more accurate cost. Lmao 🤣

[@jimjones6960]

Agreed. I mean hell, if you're just saying your cost from "what I had laying around the house" then why not just say "I built an air cleaner for free!". I saw the smartass reply about counting his hourly rate next time, those of us looking for useful information on home filtration could care less about the butt sore replies on a clickbait title.

[@restitutocariaso9820]

@@EverydayBuildsso you’re just conveniently not counting the cost of the plywood. Just because you didn’t buy it specifically for this build, was it free?

[@billybike57]

Ok…..just me say this about that….i have over 30 videos saved on KZbin building an air filtration system. I deleted them all and I’m going with yours. Awesome, simple and pleasing to look at for my shop. Great job and I subscribed instantly. Looking forward to more projects from your shop to mine. Thanks 👍🏼

[@ggad1899]

Your trick using biscuits to pivot in and out for closure, plus using a panel there, just totally changed my Corsi-Rosenthal box design. You've saved me tons of finagling constructing slots to slide new filters into, in my original design. THANK YOU.

[@EverydayBuilds]

You’re welcome! Glad it helps 😁

[@petenelson8136]

Nicely done. I can see putting something like this in my new shop.

[@Luvurenemy]

You’re a true craftsman. The closest I get to being a craftsman is buying Craftsman Tools at garage sales. You have a gift from God.

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you for the kind words 🙏

[@cackleberryfarm4598]

Really simple, straight-forward plan. I LOVED IT!!! Also, loved seeing some FastCap products being used in the video. Paul and his crew at FastCap are wonderful people and it is a GREAT company. (And no I don't work for them 🙂) Great video 👍

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thanks! FastCap makes some great products 👍

[@davidperez5489]

Nice job and thanks. Gonna do this myself

[@EverydayBuilds]

You’re welcome! Let me know how it goes 👍

[@johnparker2636]

Some great tips here- drawing circles, novel use of biscuits. Good build. Re insta Loving the switch, could you have liberated the original switch housing from the frame? I’ve done that a couple of times. Some part of it is bound to be flat so you can attach it to your new frame.

[@robertkerby2581]

Well done!

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you!

[@PaganWizard]

The cheap furnace filters are really not going to catch most of the fine saw dust particles. Get some MERV-13 air filters, Amazon has them for the lowest price I have been able to find. A MERV-13 filter is far superior to the filters you used here. I use three of these in my shop, and the air gets cleaned up really fast. I like your enclosure, but I just duct tape my filters onto the fans at the corners.

[@SmedleyButler1]

One box fan with 4 or (5 if suspended) Merv 13s made into a box filter is another way

[@PaganWizard]

@@SmedleyButler1 I have seen that done as well, it's a good alternative.

[@michaelzacharias6462]

Looks great bro super smart idea 💡 👌

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you 🙏

[@thegoods2240]

Nice job, but you coulda just taped the filter to the back of the fan. Better to use a thicker filter too.

[@King_Adam_M]

Nice job great idea

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thanks Adam!

[@DTKRDMNK]

Need something like this in my lab.

[@jfred1924]

Been watching a lot of videos on these type of air filter system. Going to make one very soon. Nice job

[@EverydayBuilds]

Gotta protect those lungs 👍

[@gregmize01]

Refreshing😁

[@EverydayBuilds]

This build was a real breath of fresh air. 😏

[@timh7156]

Nice design

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you!

[@hansdegroot8549]

Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing. What kind of fans are suitable for such air cleaners? I have some smaller ones (from electric heaters of which the heating elements are broken). Maybe I can try them out. It should be better than nothing, I guess.

[@EverydayBuilds]

I’d say, give them a try 👍

[@herus6672]

Very good and cheap but i would flip the box fan so i blows air out and also cover the box fan corners so the air wont escape.

[@EverydayBuilds]

I literally did both of those things 😂

[@herus6672]

@@EverydayBuilds haha😁👍

[@UMBRILA]

👍

[@petergracia1]

Well you do have plenty of tools nice job

[@EverydayBuilds]

Yes I do, lol 😁

[@RonLeblanc]

4:55 - radius tip = most valuable part of this video. :)

[@postalcanary]

All u need r 2 pieces of scotch tap. Attatch filters to back of fan. I piece of tape at the top of the fan attaching to the filter. The back side. doesn’t have to be this complicated.

[@EverydayBuilds]

You are absolutely correct. I just wanted it to look a little more finished is all 😁

[@CliffKarrow]

Build a shroud out of the box the fan came in and slap a 20" filter on it. Or just duct tape ..

[@WaterMalone42]

7$!? All i need now is power tools, a crazy table saw, glue, nails, a box fan, filters, plenty of wood and a large work shop.... life will be so much better after i have my very own 7$ dollar air cleaner!

[@EverydayBuilds]

Fine. “I built a $7,000 air cleaner”

[@magnustveten492]

If you need all that, you might not need a air cleaner

[@frown]

I'm also boxing in my window mounted box fan, but I'm doing it to add a hose/air duct to carry fresh air to the intake fans on my pc. The problem is, I can't find any information or projects about doing this, I don't know if it will even work, any ideas???🤷‍♂️

[@frown]

Update: I finished the setup and upon testing found that no air was carried at all through the hose💁‍♂️

[@brucejackson1055]

@@frown - I am not sure I understand you correctly. Was the window fan bringing air into the room and you were trying to duct it to the PC? With what kind/size hose? Where was the fan on the PC?

[@houseoffire72]

I do alot of work with mdf and man do I hate the super fine dust from it..! Been converting our garage into a dedicated wood shop over the last yr. I seen alot of these diy builds and they all say they work great but in all reality do they work as great as they say..? How has yours performed?

[@EverydayBuilds]

It works great and does what it’s designed to do. The one thing that I don’t like is it is either running non stop or not at all. I don’t want it running all the time, because it is constantly disturbing any dust that has come to rest. I’d prefer it to only run for 3-5 minutes after a tool is used. Just enough time to grab any airborne dust and then shutoff. That would be a huge improvement 👍

[@kryptik0]

This is a nice and a very useful shop instrument. I do however think that your build was over-engineered. It could be simplified so there is not so much waste of plywood. Also, if you have permanently hooked up the fan to the lamp, you could have just skipped installing that switch on the outside. Keep the videos coming.

[@hrodwulf172]

9 months late but still good to be able to turn the fan off without turning the lights off if anything needs to be replaced.

[@Ken-ey6ce]

You mentioned using a motion sensor to automagically turn on your lighting and air cleaner. Can you share a link or other info so I find a motion sensor switch for my shop? THANKS

[@EverydayBuilds]

This is the one I used amzn.to/3QsFvMq

[@dougprentice1363]

The biscuit latch is a good idea.

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you 🙏

[@europana7]

Have u thought of a 4” or 5” thick fine filter? The pre filter is a great idea and necessary.

[@EverydayBuilds]

I did, but those filters are more expensive and did know if the fan had enough power for that big of a filter.

[@europana7]

@@EverydayBuilds if comparing identical Merv values, then thicker filters actually causes less resistance due to larger surface area. Similar to blowing thru a thin straw vs a thick straw.

[@EverydayBuilds]

@@europana7 awesome! Thank you for the info, that is great to know 😁

[@koolkid1234ism]

Amazing video, I was gonna make one with a 4” Merv 14 filter followed by a 1” Merv 8 to catch the big stuff like you. I’ve read that if you stack filters if can restrict airflow, do you have any advice?

[@EverydayBuilds]

Sounds like a great idea! Stacking air filters can definitely restrict airflow, but I’m not sure to what extent. I tested mine by turning on the fan and holding a piece of paper about an inch away from the filters. If it sucks the piece of paper up against the filters, you should be good. The goal is to catch fine airborne dust, which it will if the paper test works. 👍

[@tsaltyginger]

When do you take the nails out of the plywood? You mentioned putting in nails temporarily so I wasn't sure when you take those out?

[@EverydayBuilds]

The nails remain in the plywood. What I meant is that the nails hold the pieces together, so that I can then add screws without having to try and keep everything aligned.

[@dennisyoung4631]

Question: what are the most common sizes of filters? 20 x 20 and 20 x 30 seem to be, but I’ve never shopped for them.

[@EverydayBuilds]

Im no expert, but 20x20 seem to be the ones I see most.

[@dennisyoung4631]

@@EverydayBuilds thanks. I might need to order them.

[@jacobpicard25]

Nice video. Are you still using the 2 filter method?

[@EverydayBuilds]

Yep! Captures a lot of dust 👍

[@RonLeblanc]

7:55 - Second most valuable take away.

[@roman2011]

Nice

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thanks!

[@gustavogalindo4543]

I am little confused. Where did you put the filters on the front or on the back of the fan?

[@EverydayBuilds]

Back, so it pulls the air through the filters

[@SteveHuffMedia]

At $7, your filters will not adequately remove the fine dust particles.

[@EverydayBuilds]

Anything helps 👍

[@jswagg1826]

👍🙏

[@celestegov966]

Cool video. It’s awesome you were able to build it for 7 bucks cuz you had stuff laying around but the title is a little misleading. Those materials and tools are not cheap and not everyone has access to them.

[@EverydayBuilds]

I apologize if you felt mislead 🙏

[@kpsher367]

If you add up your labor time, machines and location rent where yo built that Air purifier, I bet its not going to come down to $7.

[@EverydayBuilds]

You’re probably right 👍

[@GAMRMNTS2]

Go away

[@UltraRik]

hey where did u get that 20x20in under $7

[@EverydayBuilds]

It was an old one I already had laying around.

[@UltraRik]

@@EverydayBuilds oh

[@kevinr1704]

Man, i can't believe all of the negative comments on this video. Yes, it could've been built many different ways, and all materials if purchased together to build would definitely be over the $7 price. He already had materials laying around and he built it to what he wanted. If you can do a better job, then by all means build one and post your video for all the haters to criticize your stuff like you're doing here. I think you done a great job building it, and keep up the good work!

[@EverydayBuilds]

Thank you 🙏 Some people just want to complain, lol

[@pteddie6965]

You are absolutely correct, kevinr1704. I'm guessing that none of these knuckleheads who made negative comments have ever or will ever build a box fan air purifier. Amazon has several fans listing for 30 to 50 bucks and you may have to purchase the plywood, but I'm guessing that a half sheet of cheap 1/2 inch ply will do the trick. This ply runs about 25 to 45 at my local HD. Overall, still not too bad a price to save your lungs.

[@regibson23]

Nice clickbait title. Here's your comment for the algorithm.

[@EverydayBuilds]

Lol, thanks 🤙

[@MrMiaunel]

So that new plank is scrap wood, a? 7$ you say? Bullshido!

[@EverydayBuilds]

Left over from a previous project.

[@su-mu]

9:44

[@gladlisa1]

air cleaner for $7 ? its easy to say whe you have tools to cut the box wich you said in the introduction you already had ...

[@EverydayBuilds]

It definitely helps, lol

[@toyuryuz]

yaeh right cost you $7 with $5000 tools and experience,,which everybody has that

[@EverydayBuilds]

You got me, lol

[@bqoutdoors2334]

Not really cleaning the air you should have put a filter in front and one in back

[@EverydayBuilds]

I thought about it, but I’m not sure the fan would be powerful enough for that.

[@glennryzebol4472]

I built one that uses 4 merv 13 filters and it works great. Yours is not a 7 dollar build even though it looks great. Those other materials and the fan are things now dedicated to this new purpose. Unless the plywood and fan were gifted to you, they are not free and need to be added to the cost of the build. But the titles looks better with a lower dollar amount so off you went after those clicks.

[@Mark-kw5tg]

That's a lot of cheap wood

[@EverydayBuilds]

Do I sense some sarcasm here? 🤔 Lol

[@wizrom3046]

For low cost and low effort, you could have just stuck the filter onto the original fan frame with some duct tape... job done. Just saying.

[@EverydayBuilds]

Lol, I thought about doing that. But I’m a bit of a perfectionist and it probably would have bothered me. Definitely a much quicker solution though 👍

[@skydyverjym]

I really like this build. That being said, this did not cost $7. It cost only $7 MORE than you already paid for the other materials. I abhor this kind of deception that have absolutely become the norm. It is good information inherently and should not rest on the shoulders of fraudulent clickbait

[@EverydayBuilds]

I absolutely agree and apologize. I also dislike clickbait. The main message was that most people have these same items laying around their house not being used. So it could cost some people as little as $7 to build this like I did. But I understand your frustration 🤙

[@skydyverjym]

@@EverydayBuilds kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWPbeY2GfZqGpMk

[@skydyverjym]

Using some leftover wood I converted my box fan into a filter for only

[@hswing11]

$ 7 dollar fan for what you have to move a lot of air in a short amount of time like two air exchanges pre minute

[@EverydayBuilds]

Better than nothing I guess.