My mom has had a cough for 10 plus years. Spent all kinds of money, including multi trips to mayo to try to figure out what was wrong. Never could stop it. About a month ago I seen this filter showing up in your videos. I put one in my living room and my sinuses improved. Suggested my mom try one. She did and her cough is gone. Thanks!
Suggest you also use an activated carbon filter behind the dust filter to filter out the VOCs and other chemicals that are in the air and stop using any type of fragrance fragrances perfumes Etc check out stuff about multiple chemical sensitivity he activated carbon filter will help using combination it will also help it last longer when used together with the dust filter hope that it's helpful
A really easy way to attach the filter to the fan is to use vinyl siding "J Channel". A 1" thick filter fits perfectly in the channel. Remove the intake grill from the fan and using the same screw holes and screws attach the J Channel to the fan leaving one side of the J Channel open so you can slide the filter in.
Just some tips, filters with that high of a MERV rating are really overkill for what you're trying to filter. A MERV 13 would be marketed towards laboratory/institutional settings, heavy smokers, etc... You can catch all that fine sawdust with something around a MERV 7 / 8 without issue, and get the benefit of cheaper filters + better airflow. Higher MERV means finer particle screening (tighter mesh) at the detriment of reduced airflow. Better airflow means more suction (therefore dust catching capability) and less strain on the motor. Another GREAT tip is switching up to 2" (or higher) air filters. 2" vs. 1" means 2x the surface area for filtration so it can 'hold' more dust, and gives an additional boost to airflow due to 2x the air permeability. I've found my local Menards (which I know you have access to) to be the absolute best in terms of price / quality on these filters. Their house brands BestAir / True Blue have the 2" versions for VERY reasonable prices. Love the channel!
A MERV rating of 13 will capture the particles we can't see, which are the ones that kill us. Using less, as mentioned, is a waste of time. Quality systems capture 1 micron particles which is what the MERV 13 will do. You will see a ton of dust in a cheap filter but it will not catch small particulate.
Agreed...same color tape as the fan makes it look like it's supposed to be there too. However, I typically use the 3 or 4 in merv12s. They allow much more airflow
@@brentmelloni3826 From what I've seen, you want to make sure it's sealed, i.e. all the gaps between the filter and fan. Otherwise particulates will take the path of least resistance escaping through the sides. I think tape might work better than bungies? Have you tried this for yourself Brent and did it make any difference in the dust?
It's a really good thing you made these filter fans, because according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) sawdust is a group 1 carcinogen, regardless of wood species. Asbestos is also a group 1 carcinogen. Some people will never feel any affects from sawdust, while in others it can cause anything from minor allergies to respiratory infections, all the way up to and including cancer and death. The more extreme of those conditions are usually found in industrial settings, but even weekend warrior DIY types can be affected, depending on other health and lifestyle conditions. A good quality respirator is always a definite must, although for those of us who rock beards, the facial hair can decrease the effectiveness of the respirator.
They used to sell box fans that had brackets/rail already attached to them that would receive a filter. Don’t know why they stopped. This is simple enough to build vice spending $300/$500 on a filter box.
Nice simple solution. I would only question the choice of mounting with the filter at the bottom. When the fans are turned off, even small vibrations would cause some of the dust to rain down.
This is the best fan filter build I've seen here on You Tube. No fancy box build or using 3 to 4 different layers of filters. Yours is easy 1,2,3 its done. Great job.
I removed the plastic grill on the intake side and this increased the flow by eliminating the static pull. The filter shielded the fan blades and there was a noticeable sound difference. Give it a try.
You could also put a prefilter in front that would catch larger items and save the more expensive HEPA filters first. Grab a bag and put around the filter or use the bag the filter came in and start putting it on from the bottom while changing. Great video on the filters!!!!
Cool idea. It seems like you'd end up saving money buying or building a scrap shed. I'm not even a professional handyman and I have a problem throwing away good scrap. But unless you live in the boonies and have a bunch of old barns and sheds you have to draw the line on scrap somewhere.
I still use a Mask while working when I'm not in a rush or lazy but I use a blower motor out of an old furnace. Build a nice box to hold motor and slots for filter and mount to ceiling. Works great and keeps dust to a minimum, especially while staining or whatever. Another option, look into down draft sanding table. Some just ideas for you. Thanks for all the videos you post!
If I can see a a personal use for materials -- I'll keep them around for at least a year. I used to save materials with the thought of offsetting cost to customers -- not worth it at all. Doing so didn't save enough, or any in the long run. I wasted too much energy keeping everything organized and safe. I agree, let the big box stores be the stock room.
I thought it was cute when you were explaining about getting rid of stuff you haven’t used in six months and how you hate clutter. And there in the background of the video hanging on the wall of the shop was a toilet seat cover. Yeah. It was worth a chuckle. Carry on You’re my kind a guy.
I just tape the cord down. This works great! Your gonna have a fan on anyway. I've also given them(box fans)a wider footprint so it doesn't knock over so easy.
I have this in my house. All I did was taped the filter on all four sides so it wouldn't fall. The pressure from the airflow is enough to keep the filter air tight enough. It literally took me about a minutes to do everything.
Great channel; just found you about a 1/2 hour ago. FYI, would be a lot more safe if you weren't holding the metal in your hand when using a drill or drill press. I have several friends with bad scars on their hands from doing that... I almost lost 2 fingers doing the same. Just make a simple jig to hold them, use vise grips, or instead of a 2x4 in the vise, use a 1x4 that's lower than the top of the vise and drop them in there... if the metal can't spin out of your hands, then it can't slice you open. Also saw a few comments about installing the filter on the front... using the back is better. Your fan will last longer without that fine dust in the motor (just like your lungs).
I just use 2" painters tape and tape a 20x 20 filter (or two) onto a cheap fan for each job site I have. A better filter (with a cheaper one in front of it) will remove most of the airborne dust. I often leave it with the home owner to continue clearing the air. I use a version of this next to my lathe to blow clean-ish air toward me as I turn/sand. before I had a downdraft table I placed one on the end of my workbench while sanding. It is easier to remove dust while it is being made than to 'dust' an entire workshop or worksite. I still have one of these operating in my basement to help clean the air, It helps clean the air as my wife setup a craft area down there and has asthma. Pro-tip: get the best filter you can find, to remove as much airborne particles as possible & put a cheaper filter in front of it to help prolong the life of the expensive one. Also use the best shop vac bags, like the ones for drywall dust, it makes NO sense pumping dust back into the air.
Yeah. Still not sure why there’s all these other videos where guys are engineering these crazy boxes when your set up works just fine. This is on my to do list for my shop for sure. So simple
Look around on youtube and you'll see very nice DIY air filters for the workshop. They are made in the shop so it's right up your alley. I'll be building one this year. The manufactured filters are just too expensive.
HOME DEPOT sells LASKO box fans under $20. The spec on their site shows the fan produces up to 2500 cfm. Filters will reduce that, however with the number of fans such as you are running, you are exchanging a large amount of air throughout your shop in a short amount of time. Excellent video! Thanks
Nice work ! Don't forget the bearings on most box fans are designed to remain in a vertical position relative to the ground, NOT the horizontal and not much off vertical. If you are going to hang any fan significantly off the vertical, make sure its bearings (and the fan) are rated for non-vertical use! Unfortunately, fans that are designed to accommodate a variety of mounting locations are likely to be more expensive. For example, most Vornado fans and some Air King fans can be mounted horizontal to the ground.
You can get similar fans, the same size and shape for $17. I've had one in my room and its ran almost constantly for 3 years and is just now starting to vibrate.
I have something similar in my garage, but I use a washable filters that I got for around $20 each (I have 3 of them). The reason I went with washable filters is that I figured I would burn through MERV 8-10 filters fast enough to pay for the washable filters in no time. It did cost me a little more up front, but I think it has more than paid for itself at this point.
I'm cutting and routing a decent pile of MDF and I think I'll be building one of these tonite. My son will be disappointed. MDF dust makes the best boogers.
think you need to be careful with mdf dust due to the chemicals - I think formaldehyde is one of them but its been a while since I used and checked out. Was an article in a paper years ago about the health problems developing with kids due to the amount of gassing off of chemicals in Bedroom furniture which used certain mdf and similar boards with certain bonding chemicals. Ikea went over to safer stuff years ago and may be it has become the norm but I would check out especially when your son has his whole life ahead of him.
Seems like an exhaust fan to the outside would good idea. Living in Atlanta I do all my cutting, sanding and spraying outside on my driveway even in the winter. But it's only about 10% of my work.
I need to figure that one out. Right now its winter and in the 30s and 40s most of the time. I close off the one car and open the over head door about a foot and put a fan on the floor when I'm spraying.
Maybe a commercial exhaust blower instead of exhaust fan. That should work even with outside doors closed. The fans and filters are a good idea for residual dust but I hope you figure out a better way to vent it to the outside instead of just catching some with your filter/fans. It would annoy me to clean those all the time.
Great idea!! Where is it best to place the filter? In front or behind the fan? I got a Lasko fan from Walmart for $ 20.00 and a good 3M filter for $ 16.00 I’ve taped the filter in front of fan and it’s working very well! I’ve noticed the dust in my bedroom has significantly decreased quite a bit! I’m just wondering if it’s better to place the filter behind the fan.
Oh geeze, I wished I'd seen this a few months ago. I did find a few poor tutorials on youtube about adding a filter to a box fan. But they were bad. I needed one for cutting down on the overspray when spray tanning. This is a constant conversation on the forum I belong to. I should share this as we're all looking for an affordable solution. I pad $65 for one from a spray tan company. I knew it could be done cheaper, but I wanted a professional looking unit and didn't have the time to work on it myself.
Wonder how difficult it would be to take apart that fan motor housing, remove the power socket from it, and hang it out the side of the motor, secured with zip ties so it wouldn't flop around and get in the blades? Then the power cord could plug into it inside the fan grill, and exit out a new hole in the side of the fan.
These work great for sure. All I would add is a 3m face mask with particle filters is much more efficient and comfortable than the ones you are using. You can change the filters to protect you when using chemical products ... CA glue, VOC finishes etc.
Are they furnace filters? I'll have to look them up. I have been taking these ones outside and blowing them off and seems to be holding up pretty good.
I believe it was an electrostatic furnace filter. I have mine set up on each wall (four of them), all blowing clockwise, so they circulate and filter the air pretty well. I don't have one that I move around like you do, but I also have a vacuum system setup, so it would probably be overkill. I got the filters for like $10 each, but that was at a Habitat for Humanity, so they're probably more than that normally.
Well, I will enlighten you my friend. I started out owing that way, but after the second time, I started mounting the filters. If you use the suction only, to hold the filter, you will end up with a huge mess! When you are done, the unmounted filter will fall off and create a larger mess. Especially if you are using the overhead, and more than one fan. If you think you.can just remove the filter before you turn the fan off, you’re wrong again. Big mess when you try it that way. Just tape it on if you’re that lazy, lol. The suction method is a much bigger headache, I assure you. Good luck either way mate.
If you're using it for woodworking dust collection a MERV rating of 3-4 is sufficient. Don't waste your money on the higher rated filters. Wood dust particles are rather large and will easily get caught in the filter. You'll also get better air flow and more suction without bogging down the fan.
Save money on filters. I take fan & filter outdoors and clean with a leaf blower, then give the filter a light spray of WD40, (helps trap the fine stuff). Mine is not a "production" shop, so I get years out of a filter.
after seeing your video - definitely going to clean out all the material I've saved for 30 + years 'just in case" hah-ha ! great idea with the fans and filters!
Not sure if it was mentioned, but I'd like to see you use that IR thermometer to measure the temp of the motor of one of those box fans running for an hour or two with a MERV 13 filter on it vs without
2:20 you have your bandsaw blade guard set way to high for those cuts. Also if you don't like the cord penetrating the filter, it should work just as well if you put the filter in the front of the fan.
Could you shop vac the dirty filter a few times in between the full take apart cleaning to save some time and effort ? I also use my small Makita 18v lxt blower to clean my other filters rather than high pressure air. I think it's safer for the air filters as HP air easily ruins the paper elements. Thanks for the video.
I just setup two fans in my shop last month. Easy to find used fans on craig's list for $5. They work awesome! How often do you replace your filters? Do you just continue to blow them out?
I haven't replaced them yet. I have been blowing them off outside. The Merv 13 filters are kinda pricey so I need to get as much use out of them as I can.
I notice the grille that protects the filter is facing outward. There’s a different guy on TH-cam that built one for his home.He has the grille facing inward. Which method is best?
merv 8 should be sufficient for what you are doing. Would aslo improve air flow to the fans. 13 is thick enough to stop viruses, bacteria ect. 8 would be perfect for dust
I've had pretty good luck with a trash-picked over-range microwave fan, an extremely slapdash box, and furnace filters. On high, that sucker moves some air. If you go that route make sure you grab the run-capacitor too.
The Handyman If you put some activated carbon on the filter, it will scrub the fumes. You can also get furnace filters with the carbon in them already, but they're pricey. Regardless, I like your plan of having your fans distributed throughout. Seems to me the effect of any fan will be localized, so with any decent size shop quantity is probably a lot more important than quality. Love your vids! Keep up the good work!
I ordered these 20 x 20 x 2 inch merv 13 filters and they seem to work better than the 20x20x1 that I was using. @t More surface area? Anyone care to comment on 1 inch vs 2 inch effectiveness?
I turned my box fan on put the filter against the fan and its held there on tape or anything else. If I turned it off the filter might fall so will put a bit of duct tape bottom and top.I think this is one of those KISS moments
My mom has had a cough for 10 plus years. Spent all kinds of money, including multi trips to mayo to try to figure out what was wrong. Never could stop it. About a month ago I seen this filter showing up in your videos. I put one in my living room and my sinuses improved. Suggested my mom try one. She did and her cough is gone. Thanks!
On a sunny day, cover the window that has sun light coming thru then make a hole in the cover, you'll see how much stuff is floating around.
Suggest you also use an activated carbon filter behind the dust filter to filter out the VOCs and other chemicals that are in the air and stop using any type of fragrance fragrances perfumes Etc check out stuff about multiple chemical sensitivity he activated carbon filter will help using combination it will also help it last longer when used together with the dust filter hope that it's helpful
@@yonkromis7883 Awesome tip
You’re sexy in your workshop and saving money!
Wow thats great news for your mum.
A really easy way to attach the filter to the fan is to use vinyl siding "J Channel". A 1" thick filter fits perfectly in the channel. Remove the intake grill from the fan and using the same screw holes and screws attach the J Channel to the fan leaving one side of the J Channel open so you can slide the filter in.
Box fan on amazon amzn.to/2Egoscx Good Merv 13 filters on amazon amzn.to/2sb1ajC
My instagram instagram.com/the_hand_e_man/
Just some tips, filters with that high of a MERV rating are really overkill for what you're trying to filter. A MERV 13 would be marketed towards laboratory/institutional settings, heavy smokers, etc... You can catch all that fine sawdust with something around a MERV 7 / 8 without issue, and get the benefit of cheaper filters + better airflow. Higher MERV means finer particle screening (tighter mesh) at the detriment of reduced airflow. Better airflow means more suction (therefore dust catching capability) and less strain on the motor. Another GREAT tip is switching up to 2" (or higher) air filters. 2" vs. 1" means 2x the surface area for filtration so it can 'hold' more dust, and gives an additional boost to airflow due to 2x the air permeability.
I've found my local Menards (which I know you have access to) to be the absolute best in terms of price / quality on these filters. Their house brands BestAir / True Blue have the 2" versions for VERY reasonable prices.
Love the channel!
A MERV rating of 13 will capture the particles we can't see, which are the ones that kill us. Using less, as mentioned, is a waste of time. Quality systems capture 1 micron particles which is what the MERV 13 will do. You will see a ton of dust in a cheap filter but it will not catch small particulate.
Does anybody know what would be the best fan to buy if wanting to use a Merv13??
Just FYI Duct tape works just fine without the extra work for anyone that does not have all the tools. :)
yup
Agreed...same color tape as the fan makes it look like it's supposed to be there too. However, I typically use the 3 or 4 in merv12s. They allow much more airflow
Bungie cords 4 bucks on amazon and you can do ten fans if you want
And you dont have to rip the taoe off to replace filter
@@brentmelloni3826 From what I've seen, you want to make sure it's sealed, i.e. all the gaps between the filter and fan. Otherwise particulates will take the path of least resistance escaping through the sides. I think tape might work better than bungies? Have you tried this for yourself Brent and did it make any difference in the dust?
Thank you for the info Hugh Jackman!
It's a really good thing you made these filter fans, because according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) sawdust is a group 1 carcinogen, regardless of wood species. Asbestos is also a group 1 carcinogen. Some people will never feel any affects from sawdust, while in others it can cause anything from minor allergies to respiratory infections, all the way up to and including cancer and death. The more extreme of those conditions are usually found in industrial settings, but even weekend warrior DIY types can be affected, depending on other health and lifestyle conditions. A good quality respirator is always a definite must, although for those of us who rock beards, the facial hair can decrease the effectiveness of the respirator.
They used to sell box fans that had brackets/rail already attached to them that would receive a filter. Don’t know why they stopped. This is simple enough to build vice spending $300/$500 on a filter box.
Use the furnace cheap filters to protect the MERV 13 ones, on top of them.
Yes. I'd suggest merv 8 on top of merv 13
LOVE THE WAY YOU THINK! Good to hear from brains like yours
Nice simple solution. I would only question the choice of mounting with the filter at the bottom. When the fans are turned off, even small vibrations would cause some of the dust to rain down.
Simple, cheap, workable even for beginners like, me....genius!!!!!
This is the best fan filter build I've seen here on You Tube. No fancy box build or using 3 to 4 different layers of filters. Yours is easy 1,2,3 its done. Great job.
I love the simplicity of this design. Most of the designs I’ve been looking at are needlessly complicated.
I removed the plastic grill on the intake side and this increased the flow by eliminating the static pull. The filter shielded the fan blades and there was a noticeable sound difference. Give it a try.
Will do I have ours in the bedroom so it could be quiter
You could also put a prefilter in front that would catch larger items and save the more expensive HEPA filters first. Grab a bag and put around the filter or use the bag the filter came in and start putting it on from the bottom while changing. Great video on the filters!!!!
Cool idea. It seems like you'd end up saving money buying or building a scrap shed. I'm not even a professional handyman and I have a problem throwing away good scrap. But unless you live in the boonies and have a bunch of old barns and sheds you have to draw the line on scrap somewhere.
I still use a Mask while working when I'm not in a rush or lazy but I use a blower motor out of an old furnace. Build a nice box to hold motor and slots for filter and mount to ceiling. Works great and keeps dust to a minimum, especially while staining or whatever. Another option, look into down draft sanding table. Some just ideas for you. Thanks for all the videos you post!
If I can see a a personal use for materials -- I'll keep them around for at least a year. I used to save materials with the thought of offsetting cost to customers -- not worth it at all. Doing so didn't save enough, or any in the long run. I wasted too much energy keeping everything organized and safe. I agree, let the big box stores be the stock room.
I'm going to make a rolling storage rack to keep some supplies on hand.
I thought it was cute when you were explaining about getting rid of stuff you haven’t used in six months and how you hate clutter. And there in the background of the video hanging on the wall of the shop was a toilet seat cover. Yeah. It was worth a chuckle. Carry on You’re my kind a guy.
Introduction to HVAC!!!! That’s awesome sir. The only difference is the heating and cooling but that’s the basics of how it’s done.
Couldn't you just zip tie the cord to the grill so it comes off the side of the fan? Just an idea!
I just tape the cord down. This works great! Your gonna have a fan on anyway. I've also given them(box fans)a wider footprint so it doesn't knock over so easy.
Thank you Logan for the helpful tips. You are my favorite X-Men!
A good project. Thank you for sharing.
rockin those socks with the flip flops lol I love it!
how would velcro patches work instead of the metal tabs?
I have this in my house. All I did was taped the filter on all four sides so it wouldn't fall. The pressure from the airflow is enough to keep the filter air tight enough. It literally took me about a minutes to do everything.
Self tapping screws would be faster than pop rivets
If you have these filters in your home HVAC, make sure you're checking/ changing them every 1 to 3 months. Great video!
Great channel; just found you about a 1/2 hour ago.
FYI, would be a lot more safe if you weren't holding the metal in your hand when using a drill or drill press. I have several friends with bad scars on their hands from doing that... I almost lost 2 fingers doing the same. Just make a simple jig to hold them, use vise grips, or instead of a 2x4 in the vise, use a 1x4 that's lower than the top of the vise and drop them in there... if the metal can't spin out of your hands, then it can't slice you open.
Also saw a few comments about installing the filter on the front... using the back is better. Your fan will last longer without that fine dust in the motor (just like your lungs).
I have some scars too. I usually put a welding glove on If I'm going to hold on to it. Thanks for the comment.
I just use 2" painters tape and tape a 20x 20 filter (or two) onto a cheap fan for each job site I have. A better filter (with a cheaper one in front of it) will remove most of the airborne dust. I often leave it with the home owner to continue clearing the air. I use a version of this next to my lathe to blow clean-ish air toward me as I turn/sand. before I had a downdraft table I placed one on the end of my workbench while sanding. It is easier to remove dust while it is being made than to 'dust' an entire workshop or worksite. I still have one of these operating in my basement to help clean the air, It helps clean the air as my wife setup a craft area down there and has asthma. Pro-tip: get the best filter you can find, to remove as much airborne particles as possible & put a cheaper filter in front of it to help prolong the life of the expensive one. Also use the best shop vac bags, like the ones for drywall dust, it makes NO sense pumping dust back into the air.
Yeah. Still not sure why there’s all these other videos where guys are engineering these crazy boxes when your set up works just fine. This is on my to do list for my shop for sure. So simple
Look around on youtube and you'll see very nice DIY air filters for the workshop. They are made in the shop so it's right up your alley. I'll be building one this year. The manufactured filters are just too expensive.
Zip tie the cord over going out the side. Whet the filters are full, take them outside and blow them out to reuse.
HOME DEPOT sells LASKO box fans under $20. The spec on their site shows the fan produces up to 2500 cfm. Filters will reduce that, however with the number of fans such as you are running, you are exchanging a large amount of air throughout your shop in a short amount of time. Excellent video! Thanks
Double the filters up - cheap one on the outside to save the more expensive one a little longer
sounds good, what about a possible charcoal layer (is that a more expensive filter option [hepa filter])
Nice work ! Don't forget the bearings on most box fans are designed to remain in a vertical position relative to the ground, NOT the horizontal and not much off vertical. If you are going to hang any fan significantly off the vertical, make sure its bearings (and the fan) are rated for non-vertical use! Unfortunately, fans that are designed to accommodate a variety of mounting locations are likely to be more expensive. For example, most Vornado fans and some Air King fans can be mounted horizontal to the ground.
I built one. Works great. Sure beats expensive air purifiers and their filters.
The Legend again....."The Need is the mother of all inventions"
Yes those home made filters are awesome. Been using them for many years. Biggest draw back is that they are not pretty.
You can get similar fans, the same size and shape for $17. I've had one in my room and its ran almost constantly for 3 years and is just now starting to vibrate.
Chris, vibration is often caused by dust buildup on the blades. Give it a good cleaning and you may have years more to go.
I have something similar in my garage, but I use a washable filters that I got for around $20 each (I have 3 of them). The reason I went with washable filters is that I figured I would burn through MERV 8-10 filters fast enough to pay for the washable filters in no time. It did cost me a little more up front, but I think it has more than paid for itself at this point.
I'm cutting and routing a decent pile of MDF and I think I'll be building one of these tonite. My son will be disappointed. MDF dust makes the best boogers.
think you need to be careful with mdf dust due to the chemicals - I think formaldehyde is one of them but its been a while since I used and checked out. Was an article in a paper years ago about the health problems developing with kids due to the amount of gassing off of chemicals in Bedroom furniture which used certain mdf and similar boards with certain bonding chemicals. Ikea went over to safer stuff years ago and may be it has become the norm but I would check out especially when your son has his whole life ahead of him.
Seems like an exhaust fan to the outside would good idea. Living in Atlanta I do all my cutting, sanding and spraying outside on my driveway even in the winter. But it's only about 10% of my work.
I need to figure that one out. Right now its winter and in the 30s and 40s most of the time. I close off the one car and open the over head door about a foot and put a fan on the floor when I'm spraying.
Maybe a commercial exhaust blower instead of exhaust fan. That should work even with outside doors closed. The fans and filters are a good idea for residual dust but I hope you figure out a better way to vent it to the outside instead of just catching some with your filter/fans. It would annoy me to clean those all the time.
Great idea!! Where is it best to place the filter? In front or behind the fan? I got a Lasko fan from Walmart for $ 20.00 and a good 3M filter for $ 16.00 I’ve taped the filter in front of fan and it’s working very well! I’ve noticed the dust in my bedroom has significantly decreased quite a bit! I’m just wondering if it’s better to place the filter behind the fan.
I’ve made these, I place the filter behind...it helps keep the dust out of the motor👍
Oh geeze, I wished I'd seen this a few months ago. I did find a few poor tutorials on youtube about adding a filter to a box fan. But they were bad. I needed one for cutting down on the overspray when spray tanning. This is a constant conversation on the forum I belong to. I should share this as we're all looking for an affordable solution. I pad $65 for one from a spray tan company. I knew it could be done cheaper, but I wanted a professional looking unit and didn't have the time to work on it myself.
Never though of the spray tan use. Yes share this video with the spray tan community. Thanks for watching
Be prepared for some new subs!
Send the tan ladies my way. lol.
Wonder how difficult it would be to take apart that fan motor housing, remove the power socket from it, and hang it out the side of the motor, secured with zip ties so it wouldn't flop around and get in the blades? Then the power cord could plug into it inside the fan grill, and exit out a new hole in the side of the fan.
These work great for sure. All I would add is a 3m face mask with particle filters is much more efficient and comfortable than the ones you are using. You can change the filters to protect you when using chemical products ... CA glue, VOC finishes etc.
Looks like a simple solution to improve your air, thanks for the post.
The higher the merv the smaller the particle it catches. I hardly think you need 13 for sawdust. Maybe 5 or 6
I'm making a box fan filter. This video gave me some great ideas. Thanks and you got another sub!
The whistling before your audience... Liberty and freedom
Someone help please what's the correct way to have the filter on the back of the fan when air is pushing forward?
Thank you for posting. Great solution!
I do pretty much the same thing myself, though I have a set of washable filters.
Are they furnace filters? I'll have to look them up. I have been taking these ones outside and blowing them off and seems to be holding up pretty good.
I believe it was an electrostatic furnace filter. I have mine set up on each wall (four of them), all blowing clockwise, so they circulate and filter the air pretty well. I don't have one that I move around like you do, but I also have a vacuum system setup, so it would probably be overkill.
I got the filters for like $10 each, but that was at a Habitat for Humanity, so they're probably more than that normally.
thank you! that's a game changer for me and my guitar finishing has become a lot cleaner = TIME & $$$.$$
I don't know why anyone would waste time "mounting" the filter. Turn on the fan, put the filter on the back side of the fan. DONE.
D Hyde if you put the filter on the front it keeps the fan clean
Great minds think alike!!!
Sorry, I meant to put that on root valley z comment.. duh
Well, I will enlighten you my friend. I started out owing that way, but after the second time, I started mounting the filters. If you use the suction only, to hold the filter, you will end up with a huge mess! When you are done, the unmounted filter will fall off and create a larger mess. Especially if you are using the overhead, and more than one fan. If you think you.can just remove the filter before you turn the fan off, you’re wrong again. Big mess when you try it that way.
Just tape it on if you’re that lazy, lol. The suction method is a much bigger headache, I assure you. Good luck either way mate.
J channel for vinyl siding is a good mounting device.
If you're using it for woodworking dust collection a MERV rating of 3-4 is sufficient. Don't waste your money on the higher rated filters. Wood dust particles are rather large and will easily get caught in the filter. You'll also get better air flow and more suction without bogging down the fan.
Does the exhaust from the fans stir up a lot of dust and spread it around the shop?
Save money on filters. I take fan & filter outdoors and clean with a leaf blower, then give the filter a light spray of WD40, (helps trap the fine stuff). Mine is not a "production" shop, so I get years out of a filter.
When you refer to one of your own videos you should put a link in the description. ;-)
after seeing your video - definitely going to clean out all the material I've saved for 30 + years 'just in case" hah-ha ! great idea with the fans and filters!
thanks for your video will help allot of people
Not sure if it was mentioned, but I'd like to see you use that IR thermometer to measure the temp of the motor of one of those box fans running for an hour or two with a MERV 13 filter on it vs without
awesomeness. I`ll be adding one or two of these to my humble shop. thanks for the vid bro!
2:20 you have your bandsaw blade guard set way to high for those cuts. Also if you don't like the cord penetrating the filter, it should work just as well if you put the filter in the front of the fan.
Could you shop vac the dirty filter a few times in between the full take apart cleaning to save some time and effort ? I also use my small Makita 18v lxt blower to clean my other filters rather than high pressure air. I think it's safer for the air filters as HP air easily ruins the paper elements. Thanks for the video.
Love the high tech "steel brake" =D Nice vid; air cleaner is something I desperately need, and the inexpensive way is the way for me!
I just setup two fans in my shop last month. Easy to find used fans on craig's list for $5. They work awesome! How often do you replace your filters? Do you just continue to blow them out?
I haven't replaced them yet. I have been blowing them off outside. The Merv 13 filters are kinda pricey so I need to get as much use out of them as I can.
I notice the grille that protects the filter is facing outward. There’s a different guy on TH-cam that built one for his home.He has the grille facing inward. Which method is best?
Like below said, cable tie the cable out of the way. Does this firm ship to the uk.
Not sure.
Great vid very innovative
Hi, how do you replace filters once you riveted
How many hours do you work per week? Great channel!
Hi Handyman. What was that little punch tool you were using to poke the metal?
amzn.to/2GWHof6 automatic center punch
Thanks I need to include this in my jerry rig work shop/area! Hip to run into at home Depot one day to say hi.
Wow seems to work great very cheap solution.
I really like the band saw you have. Please tell me about it Handyman. Thanks
this is GREAT! I'm gonna try it.
You can use j channels for siding by zip tieing them to the fan and the filters slide right in and out.
merv 8 should be sufficient for what you are doing. Would aslo improve air flow to the fans. 13 is thick enough to stop viruses, bacteria ect. 8 would be perfect for dust
Really want to setup some Hepa.
For myself that is* Realized how I typed that lol.
I've had pretty good luck with a trash-picked over-range microwave fan, an extremely slapdash box, and furnace filters. On high, that sucker moves some air.
If you go that route make sure you grab the run-capacitor too.
That's a good idea. I'm always taking those out of houses. that also might be good to set up in my welding area to suck the fumes out.
The Handyman If you put some activated carbon on the filter, it will scrub the fumes. You can also get furnace filters with the carbon in them already, but they're pricey.
Regardless, I like your plan of having your fans distributed throughout. Seems to me the effect of any fan will be localized, so with any decent size shop quantity is probably a lot more important than quality.
Love your vids! Keep up the good work!
Nice little shop there buddy !
I ordered these 20 x 20 x 2 inch merv 13 filters and they seem to work better than the 20x20x1 that I was using. @t
More surface area? Anyone care to comment on 1 inch vs 2 inch effectiveness?
So just run a dust buster over it before removing the filters... Or do it outside. Still a great idea.
Hey can you show more on the distressing tool and how it works/ is built? Great vids by the way thank you!
Take the metal box off and reframe the fan with wood with a slot for the filter then sell them for 60$. A nice stain on the wood.
since when has the wolverine done woodworking lol,nice idea tho
I use a 2 in filter on mine and painters tape around the edges.
just zip tie cord down to bottom so you don't have to worry about feeding cord through.
Great Idea. I will be doing this
I turned my box fan on put the filter against the fan and its held there on tape or anything else. If I turned it off the filter might fall so will put a bit of duct tape bottom and top.I think this is one of those KISS moments
Duct taped mines, was enough to remove any gap between the filter and fan case. Will try front mounting later.
Did you ever front mount? And did it work better than mounting in the back?
My policy: if I haven't used it in 6 years... then it's gotta go.
What type/brand is the awl/punch you used?
amzn.to/2GWHof6 automatic center punch
Good idea, but beware, those motors aren't designed to hold the load from those filters, you may end up burning your shop down.
I'm an electrical engineer and I call BS on that comment.
I’ve made these...never burned anything down, but I have toasted the motor on one of the fans.
i never think to rivet things but i would just zip tie the cord to the inside of the grill and run it through the side
Thank you for your videos and the link save time