The EASIEST DIY Air Filter of All Time || Build Your Own Air Filter || Woodworking Filtration System

[@GunnerAl9]

I needed this video about 5 years ago when I built my woodshop. Great video, no excessive talking, straight to the instruction and good pace of speech to action. Can't stand slow talking who drag out their videos to make them 15 minutes or longer.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks!

[@FREEFILMSALEX]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288how often you have to replace the filter?

[@leadpaint1969]

Built this bastard 5 months ago. Amazing creation. I have a full gym in the basement and can't believe how well this works. I've noticed dust upstairs has also decreased significantly. I keep it on most of the time and just burnt up the fan. Just ordered a new one. Definitely worth it. Thank you for the video! Brilliant design!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Glad to hear that it worked well but bummed to hear that the fan ended up burning out! I wouldn’t recommend keeping them on over a few hours at a time, hope the setup continues to work well 👍🏻

[@ilive4livemusic]

I love how politely you respond to all the redundant and/or obnoxious comments. Too bad no one has thought to suggest reversing the fan, or bothered to read your responses about why you chose not to.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for mentioning that!! I agree, there have been several comments - reversing the output/input would work, but that’s not what my goal of this setup is. I guess I should’ve explained my intentions better in the video. Anyway thanks for you input and for watching! Maybe the fan blade could be reversed, but I honestly don’t have much interest in trying to take it apart 👍🏻

[@synergyservices9471]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288I believe they said that filter was ONE WAY ONLY: "This filter is designed to flow from the inside-out. The Nanofiber layer is on the inside. These are not the same as typical outside-in industrial filters. (All industrial Nanofiber filters are directional and will fail if used in the reverse direction.)" Otherwise, a nice idea! ;)

[@PetroGuy-n8c]

Built one out of same components and measured throughput with an anemometer. The throughput of my build was 1200 cfm making the air swap on my 5700 cu ft shop volume once every 4.75 minutes or 12.6 swaps per hour. Perfect!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sweet, thanks for watching and the feedback!

[@MDNQ-ud1ty]

Not so fast. Most of these will recycle much of the air around it only so it's much less efficient. Likely only 10%. To make it much more efficient you have have the inlet on the other side of the room. To make this happen you can use some type of hosing that will let you redirect air over a larger distance. The further away the more effective it will be. Well, maybe about 1/2 to 3/4 of the room size between the inlet and outlet.

[@ChipLinck]

I thought about flipping the fan as others suggest. Thinking about it, I like it as shown for a couple of reasons. It doesn't pull dust off the floor, that's what vacuums and clean sweeps are for. The dust is inside, keeping it from falling on the floor when it gets knocked around, and is easier to clean out with compressed air. If I was going to flip the fan, I'd probably want to mount it up off the floor.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

You nailed it with this comment.. those reasons mentioned were a huge factor in why I set it up this way

[@ericmaedgen2352]

That only happens if you really bang it around. They are designed to trap the dust. Moving it aroudn will not dislodge the dust.

[@thompson4620]

Thanks! I have been looking through 3 different videos to locate your thoughts! I see the biggest pros are 1) dust is on the inside 2) easier to spray out with an air gun (if that makes sense for your filters)!

[@pbe6965]

Filters are supposed to have layers with bigger "holes" on the outside for bigger particules, and smaller and smaller to catch the remaining ones as you go deeper, to prevent clogging it too fast. Having the fan pull clean filtered air would help it live longer too. But this way is way more convenient and if you clean it frequently it won't clog anyway ... the fan's motor might fail a bit earlier but not a huge financial loss either ... Even with my beliefs going strongly against it😄I'd probably build it the same way if I had to.

[@Loverofprettythings]

Can you make a carbon one for Vocs?

[@renderproductions1032]

I must say, that shop is sick, and very, very clean-looking.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! I’m really happy with my setup 👍🏻

[@alexistaylor969]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 Pro Tip: a fitted bedsheet placed inside like a bag inside the cannister filter barely reduces air flow and makes cleaning it extra easy as well as prolonging the life of the filter. Even with the current commieland inflation you can get a twin fitted sheet for like $12 off amazon or you can get 2 pack of fitted hospital bed sheets for around $22. We came up with this idea after using old filters like this that we cleaned with an air compressor and 90% rubbing alcohol because they were still mostly good but regulations had maintenance throwing them out and we wanted the already old air filters to last longer. We noticed that even using a blower or air compressor it got progressively harder to get the dust out of the filter requiring a flathead screw driver run between the slats sometimes to break it loose. Just don't let it get too full or it can get annoying trying to work the bag back out (grandpa had his as also part of his dust collection since we had so many.).

[@Ch-vl8bg]

Turning my fan other way. Dog hair and dander are heck on motors. My grandfather used something like this in his wood shop in the 70s. When he remodeled their house every year he brought them in the room he was working on. My grand had OCD about dust. She deep cleaned 18 hours a day. You would never of known my grand had just moved the kitchen to the other side of the house. Now he even made /ceiling lights/fans that looked like car carburetors. Took box fan and put 4 filters in a box shape for dog hair in the basement walkout area. I really enjoyed this video. And I smiled at the blower. Again reminded me of my grandfather having to use one before bringing wood inside. I've never seen a wood shop as clean as his since. Lol

[@johnembry4989]

The great thing about the fan he uses in his is that it has a sealed motor. The debris won't get inside.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the input and feedback! 👍🏻

[@dougcox835]

If you turn the fan around the dust will accumulate outside the filter Isn't the whole idea to trap the dust?

[@MrMotor12]

The canister filter will not work if airflow is reversed per their website

[@sixtyfourVT]

this might be one of my favourite videos of all time. straight to the point, great idea, great execution, accessible, cheap and most importantly: the angry way you do the most regular tasks. made my day, will definitely build for my shop!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching! I absolutely love this filter so far and have actually gotten a second one 👍🏻

[@coffeeman9475]

You're wasting your time,the fan will blow whatever dust that's collected in the filter back into the air again.

[@davidcurtis5398]

@@coffeeman9475 Why don't you make a video and show us. I don't believe what I can not see...

[@coffeeman9475]

@@davidcurtis5398 it is only logical to pull air through the filter and not push air through the filter.Imagine when the filter is full of dust but the fan continues to blow air in the filter,isn't the fan going to churn the dust that was collected in the filter ,back into the surroundings again ?

[@cyrilnorrie8450]

This is the best idea for a shop filter that I've seen yet. It's simple, yet looks sleek and doesn't require construction of a frame. It looks like a commercial air cleaner. Thanks for sharing this idea!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Exactly what I was going for, thanks!

[@django02]

Cool idea. And thanks for including the shot of the readings on your Dylos particle detector to demonstrate that the setup is actually effective. That validates your idea for your viewers.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching and the feedback!

[@bobcade1002]

This is what I love about KZbin! What an awesome idea.! I just ordered the parts to make one of these. Excellent solution to fine dust extraction without all the time spent on building boxes and changing filters. Thanks for sharing your idea with the rest of us!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the feedback Bob, good luck with your setup 👍🏻

[@billdevore6618]

My lungs are worth the price!

[@mmgross144]

Suggestion: Reverse the airflow to collect dust by drawing it first into the outside of the filter (greater available surface area) then push the air into your filter to clean it. I like your ingenuity!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

That should work fine to circulate the entire room air. Im trying to avoid a blast of outward air from the fan in this setup 👍🏻

[@RandomAxeOfKindness]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 You're pulling dust into the fan itself, though, which will reduce the efficiency of the blades and make life harder for the motor. It'll also run at least a little hotter this way. You might consider other ways to avoid a big blast of air in an unwanted place. If you blow out your expensive fan in six months, you might be disappointed.

[@ian-ivey]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 6 months later -- have you noticed any negative impact on the fan's performance using it to pull debris through the fan?

[@leadpaint1969]

My fan lasted 5 months but it was running constantly. Definitely makes a difference.

[@GBBert]

This filter is designed to flow from the inside-out. The Nanofiber layer is on the inside. These are not the same as typical outside-in industrial filters. (All industrial Nanofiber filters are directional and will fail if used in the reverse direction.)@@RandomAxeOfKindness

[@rlkinser]

I could literally kiss you. I bought this fan months ago but have been putting off building the enclosure that everyone else has on KZbin because it looked like a whole project in itself. Your solution is so so very much cleaner. Thank you!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Haha, thanks! Glad it was helpful, good luck with it!

[@rlkinser]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 already done! Worked like a champ. I went a bit of a different route on the base / casters though. HD sells pre-cut round boards that were an exact fit for the bottom of the filter. I grabbed one of those, put 4 casters on the bottom and flush mounted 4 round magnets on the top. Boom, problem solved. Love it. Again, thank you so much.

[@patrickgleason2503]

I just ordered this set up. The cost of not having to replace furnace filters seems like a long term benefit. Also the merv 15 rating of the filter is beneficial to my lungs!! I also like how mobile and streamline the unit is. Thanks for the video and inspiration.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

I agree, those were my thoughts as well!

[@MOZOGuitars]

Would you not have to replace these filters as well? I could see the canister filters lasting longer than the furnace filters, but eventually they need replacement no? And could you blow off the furnace filters in the same way, or they're too thin to clean?

[@dkpianist]

In a word: Genius. Thank you so much.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! 👍🏻

[@dnalyen]

I’m new to this diy dust filter stuff but you conquered and destroyed with simplicity of design and elegance. This is the one I will copy. Thanks you struck gold with this idea!!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@davidcurtis5398]

I liked this a lot. People don't seem to realize that the dust will settle down and not up. Having the dust collector on the floor is so much better.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks David, exactly what I’m going for with this setup 👍🏻

[@percyfaith11]

The smallest particles, which are most dangerous for your lungs, will stay suspended in the air for a very long time.

[@davidcurtis5398]

@@percyfaith11 Have been working in wood for over 60 years and still don't have much in the way of dust masks... A lot of this crap is so overblown...

[@jackseve]

Looks efficient. I saved this video to make one myself.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice! Good luck with your setup 👍🏻

[@sawdustadikt979]

This looks perfect, I’m a self employed renovation/finish carpenter. This will be a great addition to keeping my customers home nearly dust free. I’ll still set up a cut room with zip poles and floor protection but having one or two of these going will really set their minds at ease. Thanks for sharing!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sounds like a perfect set up! Thanks for watching and for the feedback 👍🏻

[@coffeeman9475]

Don't waste your time,the fan will blow whatever dust that's collected in the filter back into the air again.

[@rogermccaslin5963]

@@coffeeman9475 How will it do that? The filter he is using is just short of a HEPA filter. I would think that it would capture almost all of the dust that hits it.

[@ejolite]

@@coffeeman9475 You just need to clean the filter regularily so the air flows through the filter.

[@shaukathameen2808]

The fan must reverse the direction of rotation in order to do that. You know it doesn't do it by itself. I'll be happy to waste my time on this project.

[@offgrid2010]

I took a much smaller round filter and attached it to a duct fan using duct tape and one slip tie. It's nice to know you can just blow out the dust to clean it and I never would have thought about using neodymium magnets to attach wheels for roll a bouts. .Great matter of fact presentation!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Cool idea, thanks for sharing your input!

[@littlepoolefam3]

This is one of my favorite air filtration videos I have seen. I love how simple it is, and I love how affective it appears to be. It would be great for my garage. Thanks for sharing.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching! 👍🏻

[@genemccarthy2847]

I just completed the purchase and assembly of the air filter and fan. The casters were mounted to the base using your suggestion. I used 80mm magnets I bought from Harbor Freight to attach them to the metal bottom. Works great! Thank you!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching and for the feedback!

[@ChrisHodges87]

This is a brilliant combination of simple and powerful ideas executed for the Everyman shop. Thank you.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Christopher!

[@jlester4892]

Thanks for sharing. It just makes a lot more sense to me to have a filter like that at table height or below instead of overhead anyway. Dust doesn't rise. Gravity is going to pull the particles DOWN. I have never understood having one on the ceiling.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the feedback. I’m if really kicking up dust, I’ve noticed it all the way up around my lights, so I see the rational of a filter on the ceiling. Trapping the dust at the source (what I’m trying to do with this video) makes more sense than to capture it after it’s airborne 👍🏻

[@bretthays2674]

Thank you so much for this video. This is EXACTLY why I love KZbin. I do a bit of hobbyist powder coating. I simply don't have the space in my garage to have a full time dedicated booth to spray in. I was think into researching folding type spray booths, etc. when it occurred to me that what I really needed was a localized dust collector type setup that I could just put next to where I have the part(s) hanging to spray powder on, then I could also move it around and use it when I am doing sanding, etc. About the same time I happened onto this video... genius! Fan and filter ordered!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback and good luck with your setup using it!

[@bretthays2674]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 eager to get it going. Guess I’m spoiled by Amazon prime. Ordered that Wynn filter on Wednesday and still haven’t gotten a shipping email.

[@nelsonx.8299]

I love it that your actually conscious of the hazard that dust creates. My family used to make fun of me on how tedious i was with air quality in the house. People dont realize how bad those litte dust particles are

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

It really is a health hazard. I feel like the higher rated canister filters should be a requirement for dust collectors. Thanks for watching and your input!

[@nickn-8970]

Best air cleaner I have seen. Easy to make and use. Mae my wife happy no more wood dust in the air of my shop. Thanks!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Nick!

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Great idea. I like the portability, and durability. It might seem a bit expensive at first, until I considered that the cylinder filter is reusable / cleanable. Reminds me of the extra up front cost of a K&N air filter. A cost that is recovered over time by not needing to replace disposable filters. Thanks for this great idea.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Jeff, exactly what I was going for. These filters are incredibly easy to clean out with a leaf blower/air compressor/etc

[@remain___]

These filters are really reusable? You don't have to replace these? I'm thinking about what to use in my basement to clear out possible mold.

[@MOZOGuitars]

@@remain___ I've got the same question. I don't know how much longer the canister filters last, compared to furnace style filters.

[@ultrapwn69]

Great idea, and AWESOME video! I like the narration, simple, straightforward step-by-step, step-by-step, and just getting right into things! Thanks for this!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Patrick! Glad the video was helpful! 👍🏻

[@HarmeekHans]

Thanks for posting this amazing idea. I made it using the Donaldson filter which is about 100 bucks cheaper than Wynn. This set up is so easy and it works great, thank you thank you!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice, glad it worked out for you! 👍🏻

[@Dailyrider94]

Hey Would you like share wich one you've found to fit? I can't seem to find one here in Europe. Thanks in advance

[@HarmeekHans]

@@Dailyrider94 donaldson p181038 air filter . Also i used a 12 inch fan and not a 14 inch fan which seemed to match better with the Donaldson filter opening.

[@Dailyrider94]

@@HarmeekHans Good job finding out. Will try this setup later on. thanks for your reply

[@tompatrick9070]

Nicely done dude. I have a similar set up for my dust collection. Just take the filter off once a month or so and blow it out with a blower. I love it. Dust in my shop may not be perfect, but visibly better than before and I can run it with the door closed.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sounds awesome! This setup works great in my experience, I’ve actually gotten a second one since this video 👍🏻

[@davidcurtisaustin]

I built it. Easy. Works great. I use my heater fan to push air around

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Cool idea! Glad it works well for you 👍🏻

[@seanb1081]

The best things are the simplest things. Your concept nails it on the head! And those the EGO leaf blowers the best!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Sean! The EGO leaf blower is 10/10 👍🏻

[@jasondoust4935]

Ha! A build so simple, it's almost a hack! Well done. We can all think of features to add, but that's clearly not the point. You've pared it back to the required parts, and that's a fundamental design element. Thank you.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the feedback, exactly what I was going for! 👍🏻

[@learnguitarat6043]

Great post! I'm going to make the same thing. One thought - if you use three rollers on the bottom in place of four, there would never be an issue with uneven surfaces. Cheers!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! That’s a great point, I was honestly trying to come up with something as fast as possible with the wheels, it definitely could be improved. Thanks for the input 👍🏻

[@ReZipped]

Thanks for the video. I implemented it for use in my conditioned crawl space. It will continuously scrub the fine dust out of the air.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice! Hope it works well for you!

[@timkarcher6724]

Nice design. But dust collection guru Bill Pentz…..made a similar design but found that pulling air through the filters and putting an 90 degree elbow on top blowing the exhaust away from the filter made it much more effective. It keeps the air in room stirred up instead of re-cleaning the same air next to the fan over and over again. He used an in duct type fan and put a duct elbow on top of it.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

That’s a great idea.. I was actually trying to avoid stirring up air and keep it localized, I definitely see that perspective though 👍🏻

[@cayenne7792]

high surface area of filter = lower velocity airflow = greater filter efficiency, use a cheap energy efficient fan on low speed for long duration to get maximum filtration. All of these YT filter videos are trying to use filters for purposes that are best suited for exhaust fans. VOCs are not particulate they are gases!

[@michics100]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 You will need to use a filter designed for pulling air through vs pushing .

[@Th3_Gael]

I'd also add a sock to the outside of the filter, makes the filters last much longer

[@johndoe6032]

Filters are typically made for air to travel one direction. I would assume the direction set up in this video is the best use. There are filters made for air to flow the other direction for the setup you’re proposing. Mitch Alm did one a while back.

[@apowell389]

I needed this video. Never thought about using a fan while blowing out my dust.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching! 👍🏻

[@rodneyjones1539]

Absolutely brilliant! I've built a few of the inexpensive multi filter boxes (just taped together without any frame) with Lasko fans which worked well to keep household dust down. I keep one on each floor and run them for a few hours when out of the house. Unfortunately, the trades guys who recently renovated my house loved the idea as well, using them to manage the construction & drywall sanding dust. Since it's time to rebuild them, I think I'll give your design a try. I like the idea of filtering the air to MRV15 vs the typical MRV8-11 I've been using.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Rodney! You'll get quite a bit better filtration with a MERV 15 opposed to the 11. Best of luck incorporating this into your setup!

[@bradwhitmore-q1e]

Love the wheel/magnet idea, it works great and creative.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! It was a quick and simple solution 👍🏻

[@mt6144]

Great Idea! Simple, effective, not time consuming to construct. Perfect for me and my shop! Thanks!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching! 👍🏻

[@gdad0683]

I think I would blow the fan up so the dust accumulates on the outside (easier to clean) and you don’t kill the motor with dust. Great idea, so easy.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the input! The filters are designed for inward to outward flow, otherwise that would be a great idea 👍🏻

[@thudthedestroyer515]

Great Job! The only change I would make is to put the filter on the INPUT side of the fan. That way you push filtered air through the fan to prevent dirt and dust particles from exposing the fan motor with micro debris.

[@clownrock9558]

Down side to that is the dust builds up on the outside of the filter, and gets knocked off every time it gets bumped. also keep in mind, if this fan was just being used as a fan in the shop it would be exposed to the same particulate.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! This fan has an enclosed motor, so my understanding is that dust shouldn't be too much of a concern (hopefully!).

[@Ferrous_Bueller]

The motor is enclosed, which is why it's the preferred motor for this build.

[@casterman2]

This is perfect. I have a big sanding station. Exactly what I’m looking for. I think I might add a second filter. Just stack another filter on there. Thank u

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful 👍🏻

[@khanfalia]

You are literally a life saver. Thank you for sharing this DIY

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bmacaulay18]

Super idea. I like this far more than the 4 filter and box fan rig I put together. Only thing I would have done different is just self tap screw the wheels to the bottom of the filter and maybe a dab of silicone on the inside.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sounds like some solid modification ideas 👍🏻

[@Grillinandgluin]

Mike farrington did a very similar build not long ago. Definitely a genius idea and more effective way to go.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

I’ll have to check that video out!

[@MOZOGuitars]

More expensive than the box design but soooo easy to set up! Could be a wonderful option, thanks for the vid.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@timothywhite6532]

Brilliant, simple, effective solution!! Thank you for sharing!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching!

[@drmgillan]

Love the design! cleanest design ive seen so far, shame these filters or fan isn't easily available across the border in Canada.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! Bummer you’re not able to get them up north!

[@Bibliotics]

My only concern is the surface area of the filter versus the CFM of the fan. You didn’t comment on this in your video, but if the surface of the filter is too small for the amount of air being pushed through it you can prematurely destroy the filter, and/or burn out the motor in the fan itself. I have a Wynn Filter, I plan on reaching out to them to discuss this and see what they think. Otherwise I think it might be prudent to select one of their filters that is open on the bottom and add some way of cleaning the dust out of the box. Otherwise you’ve definitely inspired me to look further into this.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Hey Troy, good point. From what I understand, there’s a ratio (air-to-cloth) of the cfm to surface area of the filters. I haven’t yet found any reliable information on what an acceptable ratio is. I’m going to do a follow up video answering some other questions as well, but I’m going to calculate the true CFM and find out what the air-to-cloth ratio with this setup is. I’m guessing that 4000cfm is drastically overrated. Thus far, at least, I’ve had no issues/problems at all with the fan. I had the fan running for ~2-3hrs continuously earlier this week while doing some heavy router planing and the fan ran fine the entire time. If you did speak with Wynn, it would be great to hear if they were able to prove you any useful information

[@mkuhnactual]

Probably not too big a worry as the fan doesn't actually push 4000 CFM. The 3D Handyman tested fans for a dust collection system and discovered manufactures exaggerate their CFM by quite a bit. The real world CFM he found for that fan was 1440.

[@Bibliotics]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 I suspect if you contact Wynn Environmental that they’d help you with it. I mean you’re helping to promote their products, and they’re generally pretty knowledge and helpful guys there at Wynn. The other thing that would be nice is a discussion about noise levels. I know shops are noisy in general. But frankly I generally feel like something like an air filter could be made more quiet and doesn’t need to add a lot to that noise. I suspect a simple box lined with acoustical batt material and then you could put a two stage air filter on the intake in to filter out the bulk of the material. Maybe use a washable filter at the very front kind of thing.

[@jimgramstad3604]

Great video, great concept. I like it a lot

[@kent5979]

How efficient and simple your design is! Thanks so much for coming up with it and making this video and thanks for leaving out the typical annoying music. Have you determined the maximum fan speed that can be used? And best speed to have it running to clean the air while you’re working around the shop? I just ordered everything to make this and decided to go one step easier by using 15mm round magnets from Findmag. They come with a countersunk screw hole so I’ll just drill a shallow hole in the caster block instead of chiseling and gluing. The Wynn MERV 15 filter ended up being about $300 after shipping and I tried looking at cheaper filters. After some research to see what a MERV rating even is (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) , it seems that a minimum of MERV 13 should be more than adequate for shop dust since that rating is good for hospitals. After looking for a cheaper MERV 13 that would fit the fan I decided to quit dicking around and just get the Wynn you used. You had it figured it out, it works with the fan, and they sell it for woodworking dust collection plus they say that it’s good for 100’s of cleaning cycles! Several people commenting seem to think this will work better if the fan is sucking air through the filter instead of blowing into it as in your design. I will point out that Folks who want to do that will need to use a different filter. In Wynn’s description of the 35C222NANO Cartridge Kit is printed: “This filter is designed to flow from the inside-out. The Nanofiber layer is on the inside. These are not the same as typical outside-in industrial filters. (All industrial Nanofiber filters are directional and will fail if used in the reverse direction.)” Looking forward to breathing cleaner air!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the comment Kent, I’m not 100% sure on specifics - I just turn it on either speed 3 or 4 for maybe 10-15 minutes while I’m cutting in the area. These filters are meant for dust collections which will see a ton more dust than this orientation, unless it’s heavily heavily heavily used, I doubt it would ever need replaced (it’ll need cleaned for sure). And I agree 100% on the orientation, although I can see why others would try it reversed. Personally this is the way I would want it for what I was trying to achieve.

[@gmfan09]

Thanks so much for making this video. I kept seeing all of this complicated builds and dreading having to make some contraption with a bunch of leaks. This is way work the money for the filter. I have the same filter on my Harbor freight dust collector so it looks like I will be buying another.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

You’re welcome and thanks for the feedback!

[@offgrid2010]

Oh I wanted to add a third very cool idea. What you did with basically a hose clamp. I never had seen those before.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Yep, the hose clamps and the glue that holds this setup together! 👍🏻

[@randallsmith7885]

Very cool design and I am also searching for a better solution than the over-priced, under-performing shop air cleaners. Did you consider a pre-filter to keep the dust out of the fan motor and to reduce the cleaning intervals on your final filter?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Randall! I didn’t do anything with a pre filter.. the housing on the motor is closed on this fan, so I wasn’t too worried about that aspect. The canister filter is very easy to clean with a leaf blower, so no concerns there either, at least in my opinion

[@joshuastephens894]

This setup works extremely well especially if you put it in the ideal location. Thanks! Making a filter...making a filter making a filter. (Classic 90's movie Biodome reference as the least famous Baldwin brother is stacking thousands of cigarette filters in a cool and sad attempt to make a filter.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! Exactly what I was going for with this build 👍🏻

[@XxMalabooo]

I did the same thing here, but instead ceiling mounted it and put it in a air pull configuration. I definitely can see the catapiller fan struggling to pull air "through the filter" so you may need to have something more powerful.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice! I’ve definitely considered making a few more and mounting them up in the ceiling/walls

[@davidstark6507]

Wow that really collected the dust I seen when you blew it out all that dust come out nice design

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

It seemed to work pretty well for the setup I was using 👍🏻

[@greatlakeswoodworks5122]

easy design, moves a ton of air, price point right there. i like how you made it mobile. great video. Definitely using this design. Earned my sub...

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Exactly what I was going for with the design! Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@HealthyHomeGuide]

Awesome design! A minor correction: with respect to the Dylos DC1100 Pro, that number on the left is actually particles greater than .5 microns. (The number on the right is particles greater than 2.5 microns. There is some overlap between the left and right measurement particle sizes, yes).

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for pointing that out, I appreciate the correction! 👍🏻

[@greghamilton4023]

BRILLIANT! Thanks for this video aside been wanting to do the same but I was going to do the plywood box method. This looks WAY better!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Greg! The plywood style box is exactly what I was trying to avoid.. very happy with the performance of this setup so far 👍🏻

[@megafatshady]

Watched a bunch of these today, this one was pretty cool, very simple indeed.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

That was the goal with it 👍🏻

[@stanwayne7224]

This is great. I set it up and it seems to get a lot more air flow pulling the air through the filter. I'm also thinking of adding a pre-filter to the outside to catch bigger particles and extend the life of the expensive filter. This is how the jet air cleaner works.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Stan! I’m really happy with it so far, a pre filter may definitely help!

[@1QKGLH]

I like this idea too. I was thinking maybe have it pulling debris through the filter to save the motor bearings from all the dust. The only issue is the dust that's captured is now on the outside of the filter. Hmmm. Not sure. I do like the ability to blow the dust out of the filter from the outside. Both designs have their plusses and minuses.

[@chrise1004]

@@1QKGLH The motor in the caterpillar fan is sealed, that is why it is the preferred fan for this kind of setup

[@1QKGLH]

@@chrise1004 Ok, that is perfect. Thanks for the info!

[@thomaspayne130]

This is FANTASTIC, LOL BUT EXCELLENT IVE BEEN USING A 1950 SEARS HOMART AIR COOLER, B-4 A/C IN HOMES IT MOVE 200 CFM, I PUT MERV 12 HVAC FILTERS,2 IN A V SHAPE, IN A CARD BORD BOD & USE A LOT, ALOT OF TAPE 0YOU MUST HAVE IT TOTALLY SEALED ITS GREAT FOR ALL TRADES THAT CREATE DUST DURING RENOVATION S I CUSTOMERS HOMES ITS UNBELIEVABLE BELIEVEABLE JUST HOW GREAT IT WORKS TOHE MOTOR IS A 1/4 HP & ONLY DRAWS 4 AMPS BUT DOES TAKE UP A LOT OF ROOM SO I'LL BE BUILDING 2 OF YOURS GREAT VIEDO, GREAT IDEA PERIOD!!, THOMAS PAYNE, MASTERBUILDERS, THANK YOU!!

[@B.A.Bassangler]

Finally a simpler mousetrap! 1 fan, 1 filter, and easily serviced. Question: I plan on hanging mine overhead/horizontal...should I double up on the hose-clamps? There will also be a simple belt/hammock support at the filter's end. Thanks!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

I’d say you’ll be fine with just 4, however doubling it up certainly wouldn’t hurt anything 👍🏻

[@BootSequence]

Oh , my god. I thought the title said DIY Air Fryer. I instaclicked 😂😂😂😂

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

😂😂 If I ever come up with a DIY air fryer I’ll definitely make a video on it!

[@FREEFILMSALEX]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 it's only for cleaning the shop air?

[@jorgeandrade20]

Technically the same principle, so if you were to add a beefy electrical heater inside of this filter you'd have your air fryer!

[@paulgreene9997]

I like the simplicity of your design.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Paul!

[@shaunsafety4175]

You should take the switch off the back of the fan and turn around the fan so it sucks the air from the outside of the filter to it's inside. The logic is the surface area outside the filter is a larger dust input than the surface area of the fan. You will gain 360° dust collection as well.

[@garydrawson7709]

I understand the desire to suck the air through the filter but these filters are designed for a dust collector and they blow the air through the filter trapping dirt on the inside so I think he has it right. Think of the air flow arrows on a furnace filter, the direction the air travels can matter. and as he showed it keeps the dirt inside so it can be cleaned, not sure how that would work if the dirt was on the outside of the cannister. just a thought.

[@shaunsafety4175]

@@garydrawson7709 You really don't want abrasive dirt coming at your fan motor which is another important consideration for reversing the fan direction. It would keep the fan and it's motor cleaner and operating longer although it is easier to clean the filter like you mentioned. If going for a room air purifier I would reverse the fan and the other benefit is negative pressure would help keep the fan and filter together for less chances of a leak between fan & filter.

[@gwagenadventure727]

Pretty sure this is a sealed fan motor. I’ve seen it used on other dust filter videos and I believe they said they chose it because it is sealed.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Interesting points here from everyone! So the fan motor is a sealed motor on the back side, so the dust shouldn’t reach the internal components (the way I understand it anyway). I’m not certain, but I believe the canister filter is meant to have the air flow from the inside to the outside, not in reverse, so I’m not sure if it would work with the fan reversed - HVAC filter panels would likely be more appropriate in this situation. Also, I mainly made this for ‘spot’ filtering near where I’m working at the time. My shop is a moderate size with a high ceiling, and technically I don’t think the fan will pull air from ~20 ft away, even at 4000 cfm. So far, my experience with using this the way it is near where I’m working has been excellent. I’m sure there are plenty of variations that this could be set up but I’m very happy with the performance of it so far.

[@cayenne7792]

air flow is determined by reinforcements, the more a filter loads up with particulate the more air pressure it must resist. It is cheaper and easier to reinforce for only one direction of air flow, almost all air filters are designed for one way airflow...

[@SmedleyButler1]

Great job! Next would be to add a "General, Dyer, or Amazon Chinese "u-tube" water column pressure drop monitor to tell when to change the filter. Not the diy one bc simplicity is key and those dry out.... great for home furnace viewers too as theirs hardly any concise videos on them and NONE with qnd accurate PM1 METER!! Kudos for getting quality and such a simple and efficient build!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Smedley, great suggestion 👍🏻

[@SARARocketMan]

I liked the design so I copied it; the only difference is that I made a round base with magnets, and I bought the mustard yellow Caterpillar fan. I noticed that there is a bit of blowback out the top of a fan, regardless of the speed setting. To all of those talking about reversing the fan direction, the filter is reinforced on the outside, so he has the fan direction correct. By blowing into the filter, the reinforcing keeps the filter from blowing out.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Good points and thanks for the input Joel! I didn’t notice the blowback until others mentioned it, but I do agree that it’s there. I’m not certain, but I would imagine any blowback would recirculate (like a loop) right back into the ‘inward’ suction. With the set up as is, I would imagine the suspended dust would gravitate toward the ‘pull/in’ stream of air and bypass the blowback. Regardless the setup still appears to draw in a lot of air - I wish there was a way to see the actual air currents!

[@mj8495]

I also get blowback with this exact same design. Too much back pressure from the Merv15 filter? Overall this is a very effective and simple design.

[@pomeroseguitars]

Maybe adding another filter to the chain will solve the issue. I’ve found that each filter move 1550 CFM, for a 4000 CFM fan maybe 3 or 4 filters in chain will be the optimum.

[@Devin82m]

Thanks for the idea and sharing. I've been back and forth on the box with multiple HVAC filters or buying a brand name shop filter, but I didn't want to design and make a box, and the brand names don't filter as well as a MERV 15 filter will. I've give this a try, this will be my first shop air filter anyway. I'm also going to add an inline blower to my shop window to turn on and blow dust out into the woods on days I don't care about AC.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice, sounds like a cool idea, thanks for watching!

[@SAWimp1]

these are great shop filters, but the filters designed pull air through rather than push air through perform a little better

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Good point, didn’t think of that!

[@csimet]

Agree on the direction, but the nice thing about this design is the dust stays inside and it is easy to move the unit outside and blow off vs. it caking on the outside where it can easily fall off on the floor when moved. You could cut the bottom out and mount a simple shop pail to collect stuff (knocked off between uses). I really like its simplicity.

[@SAWimp1]

@@csimet its a lot easier to clean the outside of the filter than the inside

[@brahtrumpwonbigly7309]

@@SAWimp1 it's a lot easier to get it everywhere when it isn't contained, too. What you are discussing is a relatively small difference in filtering efficiency.

[@timothywhite6532]

Are they? It's the same filter used on his dust collector where air is pushed through from the inside out.

[@daddyg5654]

Perfect for drywall work during sanding.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Seems like it would work for that! 👍🏻

[@homesteadingdiy4100]

Don't you want to fan pull the air through the filter rather it pushing it in ? Save the fan from the dust.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

That would definitely work, honestly I was being lazy and didn’t want to build a filter housing and thought that this would be simpler. I don’t think small dust particular should have any effect on the fan

[@chrissetter]

I think the Catepillar fan has a sealed motor. And those pleated filters for dust collectors are meant for the air to go from inside-out.

[@mickeymallette2663]

But to his point it can be flipped the opposite way. The way @MMCC_Woodshop put it together it works well for collection near the location of the fan. Flipped around to blow upwards and pull air through is better for dust collection in the shop for general air cleaning. However, it will blow some dust around in that process. Just my opinion

[@rogermccaslin5963]

You might be able to use the squirrel cage fan from an A/C. They blow a lot of air and are super quite compared to most regular fans. If you know an A/C contractor, they run across these all the time when replacing systems. It wouldn't be a snap together project like this video shows but it wouldn't be hard to put something together that could save you some money. Those blower fans are also great for moving air in the shop, essential on a hot day.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sounds like a really cool idea 👍🏻

[@leonlowenstadter9223]

Smart idea! Thanks!

[@stevewagner5558]

Love this design. I built a frame version. Thought of the cannister filter but you have to go through a lot of MErv14 filters to break even on a $270 cannister filter. How long do you expect it to last?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! I’m not sure if the filter will ever wear out.. you can take the fan off and clean the filter out with a leaf blower so it should last several years, hopefully anyway

[@codykastler4709]

Cam at Blacktail Studio called, he wants his voice back 😂 Seriously tho, this is the absolute best solution. Great job 🙏🙌

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

😂😂 thanks!

[@jeboccuzzi10]

Nice simple design. Thanks.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks John! 👍🏻

[@richarddpetersen169]

Im thinking I would try "reversing the airflow" on that collector. The dust would be on the outside of the filter and the fan motor would be much cleaner.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

The filters are designed for inward to outward flow 👍🏻

[@kkm314]

I love the simplicity of this and I love how efficient your video is! Thanks for sharing it. What speed do you tend to run the fan? Full blast?

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

I’ll usually keep it on 3 or 4 for 20-30mins or so in the area I’m working 👍🏻

[@kkm314]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 Thank you!

[@StevenAllen-z6b]

If you pull the air through the filter instead of pushing you will see a drastic increase in efficiency. Also you can find a round filter and in-line fan specifically built for each other from any grow room supply.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sounds cool, thanks for sharing your input 👍🏻

[@cnctroubleshooting9052]

Well isn’t that just the bees knees…I picked up an air cleaner a while ago on sale at the large online retail giant. It’s one of the kind they use after fires/renovations/asbestos abatement/floods in a house to clean the air and remove mold, etc. It moves a crazy amount of air and cleans the air to some crazy pure level, but it’s heavy, cumbersome, and the filters are expensive. I got some merv filter material and made my own, BUT YOURS is WAY more practical, especially for a wood shop. I didn’t read all the comments, but I’m sure many have weighed in with “expert” opinions. Dust protection is a multi-layer process starting with collection at the machine, then “free” air in the shop to keep the shop and machines clean, and then (for me anyway) still culminating with a respirator to keep my lungs clean. Only criticism is that at 4:23 in the vid you have your hand holding the block for the wheel down range from your chisel. DAMHIKT, but that can lead to the emergency room… Nice air cleaner though

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for watching and for the reminder with the chisel!

[@WorkLoops]

Thanks for this brilliant idea Matt! I went one step simpler; I left the stand on the fan and pointed the fan straight up. The canister sits on top. Total "build" time was maybe 5 min and I was in business.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Nice! The simpler the better, thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@elmerkilred159]

I don't know too much about the actual fan, but it is shaped like a tube-axial fan, so you should get a long lifespan put of the fan as opposed to a common box fan. I like that the fan seems to be a simple build, and this is great for those who don't do wood working every day. The bad part might be the possibility of a fire caused from fine wood particles and the induction motor being positioned in the center of the fan shroud, whereas most fan motors for filtration are usually best placed in their own container, or outside of the building with a belt drive to operate the fan.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks for the input! My understanding is that the motor is enclosed so the dust being pulled into the area shouldn’t a concern.

[@robg4843]

I ran the same type of setup but i suck the air from the center of the filter canister so the dust collects to the outside of the filter and the fan stays clean as its bathed in clean air and not dust (fan lasts longer also prevents fire from buildup). Also use a dust sock on the outside of the filter so it makes the filter last longer. just clean off the sock every so often as needed.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Cool, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work, thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@keith_hudson]

This actually seems like a REALLY nice filter.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

It is! The MERV 15 is a great choice 👍🏻

[@tubafireguyy]

Amazing how often the simplest solutions are the best solutions

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

My thoughts exactly! 👍🏻

[@chriscoomber1462]

Nice and easy,for people who have not got the money

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Chris! 👍🏻

[@adventurespirit]

I can keep the heat in my workshop using this setup now..... Thanks! I'm going to make this too.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Sweet! Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@kylekelly1167]

This would have been awesome to have during the smoke storms here in New York.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

I’d definitely be interested to know if it would have helped!

[@kevinshea4353]

Much better than the filter I rubber band to my box fan. LOL I think I am due for an upgrade and will look to get one of these in my shop. Thanks!!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Haha nice! Thanks for watching and good luck with the upgrade!

[@weozol4065]

Love it, I would double the filter, like a big mac, it if I had the money

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Can’t go wrong with a Big Mac!

[@jimsjacob]

Very impressive video and so simple to execute. Cost puts you into some of those you showed in the beginning, but the options you demo’d make it a better option IMO. Thx!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Jim! I’m happy with it so far!

[@WilfBlum]

I love the video and recently bought the CAT fans after watching another guy's cool tower collector. Since I already have an Oneida mini gorilla working for some of my tools, I thought your solution was the perfect complement to my newly purchased fans. Princes Auto in Canada sent them to me from an online purchase. They are cool because they are Yellow. :) Your cleaning methods of the shop etc. align with my style spot on. Great video. Great inspiration.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Awesome, sounds like you’ve got a nice setup! Thanks for watching!

[@Chris-ut6eq]

I like the simplicity!

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! Simple was the idea!

[@chevyvega6622]

i just happened upon your vid, i must say it made my morning. I absolutely love your idea and simplistic design build....ITS FANTASTIC!!! Great channel!! I saw a grizz planer and jointer, how do they perform for you?? I live about an hour from a grizzly warehouse so its easy to get big tools if needed, but sometimes i hear that folks dont like the grizzly equipment, so im searching info and opinions....thank you for the insight

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! The grizzly planer has been excellent. The jointer could be better but I decided on one of the cheaper models at the time. It’s still much better than not having a jointer 👍🏻

[@chevyvega6622]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 something is better than nothing type of thoughts

[@mcjok88]

Simple, efficient, elegant.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks, exactly what I was going for!

[@DavidBarron-e6b]

Very cool video. I was about to build one of those boxes with 8 furnace filters but a kind stranger directed me towards this design and I love the look and simplicity. I already have the Cat fan and the furnace filters are still returnable, so time to get on it! Do you feel like the cost of your filter will be less than the disposable ones over time? Thanks for the great video.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks! It depends on how often the furnace filters would need changed. Simply being able to detach the canister vs tear apart the furnace filter device is worth the cost IMO

[@charlesdpetrone941]

Looks good! You might want to try reversing the flow of the fan so that it draws the air through the filter first then exits through the fan as clean air. It will keep the fan motor clean. The down side is the dust will accumulate on the outside of the filter.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks Charles 👍🏻👍🏻

[@GM-gv8kc]

Can that fan's blade rotation be reversed?

[@silverbackag9790]

@@GM-gv8kc yeah, flip it the other direction lol.

[@GM-gv8kc]

Can the switch and cord be moved to the other side? Otherwise, how would you access the switch?

[@davidcochran934]

Brilliant. Simply Brilliant.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Thanks David!

[@Hazanko83]

From my understanding those circular fans like that don't have great static pressure, and won't push much air if there is much resistance in front on them; this is why most(all?) of the commercial designs use squirrel cage blowers, as the static pressure is higher and the CFM itself isn't the important number in a setup like this. I built a laminar flow hood years ago, and while I might have actually went overkill on my squirrel fan, it still moves more air through a hepa filter at 25% power than any of my household circulars fans which are MUCH bigger. That tiny little fan has sucked doors shut in a smaller sized room if it's not leaky elsewhere lol. It looks like your design works pretty good especially given the ease/cost, but I think you'd be ''blown away'' by the difference of a fan better equipped for this sort of application.

[@mmcc_woodshop6288]

Interesting points, thanks for your input 👍🏻 I was just trying to make something as quick/easy as possible, I’m not sure you could attach a squirrel blower without some sort of mounting apparatus.

[@Hazanko83]

@@mmcc_woodshop6288 Not really sure to be honest, maybe even just a sheet of plywood with a square hole cut into it? The flow hood I made, the blower is resting on top of the box and pressure-fit into a hole in the top. Just plywood on top of what you already have might not look as pretty though lol. I'm also not sure if the "commercial" designs pull the air directly through the blower, in through a filter first then the blower, or something else altogether. My guess is that you'd be cleaning out the inside of the blower allot due to low pressure areas accumulating sawdust/ etc in nooks and crannies, and may even be a fire risk without using a filter. ... The squirrel blower would be a fair bit of money though, so certainly straying sway from your initial goal I think lol