Air Filter Kit - Model-A - Design and Assembly
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- The air filter kits are finally here! This video covers Model-A design and construction. It's taken months of work and countless prototypes to finalize these designs. I hope you like them! If you do or don't let me know why in the comments.
Both kits work with 2 drum fans that are linked below. Any brand filter should work (7 have been tested). This design uses 16x20x1in filters.
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The full kit for the Model-A is currently replaced by an upgraded Model-B. You can check it out here: www.etsy.com/l...
You can still build the Model-A with free plans.
Let me know if there are any issues anything.
the3dhandyman....
Build Video: • Don't Breathe DUST - H...
Buy Filter Kit Parts for your DIY build!
www.etsy.com/s...
Keep in mind this is a do-it-yourself style air filter kit. Correct assembly is required to filter the air passing through the device. Results with this device are dependent on the fan and filter of your choosing. The fundamentals of this design are based on a Corsi-Rosenthal air filter (sometimes called a “comparetto cube”). The quality of filtration achieved by these designs have not been independently tested or verified. Viruses and other extremely small particles may not be filtered out by the device. Use at your own risk.
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SHOPPING LIST
Buy literally anything on amazon at this link to help support the channel with this link!
amzn.to/3vdlIqj
FANs
Caterpillar FAN with enclosed motor (black): amzn.to/3TD9NM3
Maxx Air Fan (orange): amzn.to/3fXokQC
MERV 14 FILTERs (best small particle capture):
Nordic Pure 16x20x1 (12 PACK): amzn.to/3MqxJ1c
Nordic Pure 16x20x1 (6 PACK): amzn.to/3Oy9NLg
3M Filtrete 16x20x1 (2 PACK): amzn.to/3fsenNQ
MERV 13 FILTERs (almost the best small particle capture):
3M Filtrete 16x20x1 (4 PACK): amzn.to/3RjkH7B
AIRx 16x20x1 (9 PACK): amzn.to/3Lggyzb
MERV 12 FILTERs (good small particle capture):
3M Filtrete 16x20x1 (4 PACK): amzn.to/3y2vgW6
MERV 11 FILTERs (minimal small particle filtration):
K&N Washable everlasting filter 16x20x1 (1 PACK): amzn.to/3Vq7oWv
3M Filtrete 16x20x1 (4 PACK): amzn.to/3TFlnH8
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Rodney at Soulcraft of Ferguson, MO helped me create the prototypes for these. If you are in the St. Louis area and are interested in learning woodworking, check out his shop!
www.soulcraftm...
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The 3D Handyman is a production of 2 Point Media. Stay classy!
3rd Gen kits are out now!
Watch the video: ruclips.net/video/eYOvnqoW4H0/видео.html
Buy the Drum Fan kit here: www.etsy.com/listing/1687664040
The Model-B with 20x30in filters is just as powerful/efficient as the Model-A and costs less.
Just made my air filtration system based on your plans using 16x25x1 air filters and it’s like night and day now in my garage. The air is so fresh and clean when working in my workshop now… my dad, who helped me build it and is a master cabinetmaker with over 70 years of experience was a bit sceptical at first but is a convert now! Thanks again for sharing your plans with us!
That's awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing your experience. At 70 years of experience, your father sounds like quite the legend.
Going to the 16x25s is a great idea. This should help reduce the load on the fan even more. Nice work 👍
This kind of effect makes the difference for humanity.
Thank you. I didn't think about screen swivel latches to hold them in place until I saw this
Thanks for plugging this woodworking space, I'm in the STL area myself and have never heard of it before your last video.
It's an awesome little shop that just got started. They work with a lot of school groups and makers that aren't at the level of joining a maker space just yet. It's a great concept! Love the place.
This is great!! We have 6 dogs and a cat! A doggie door and a kitty flap. The house stays full of dust as they run in and out. Our eyes are always itchy. I’ll be ordering a B kit next week with my SSA!! Can’t wait!
Thanks for your support! I ran one of these in a friends house with 5 dogs and it worked great for them.
I really must compliment you on what I see as the quality of your design and the details that you have taken care of. As my wife often says to me, you have engineer’s disease and will keep striving to make this better. I really like the use of the fan stand as handles. In a pinch, you can still use the fan for other things easily. You might say you have no need for this but Murphy’s law has a way of forcing things on you!
"The Engineers Disease" is a great phrase. Hopefully the 3rd generation of kit is the last update to the design for a while! Haha
Good point about keeping the fan handles in place. I'll put that in my next video.
I'm getting this in the coming weeks, you put out far too much valuable information with this whole series for me to not pay it forward. Thank you!
I very much appreciate it! Hopefully by the time you buy one they will be shipping within days and not weeks. I'll be picking up the CNC parts tomorrow!
Out of curiosity, have you thought about tackling a VOC filter/destroyer next? That would be a total package!
Great design. A much simpler design would be to use that same fan on top of one or two Donaldson P181038 Air Filters. It fits over the top seal very well and minimal parts/assembly required.
Thanks! That style is easy but the 8" holes in the filters are much better for 8" fan, not a 14" fans like the one in this video. I will be testing one of the combos you mentioned in a future video to show why it's performance is half of what this unit can produce.
I do have a design that I'll be doing a video on that uses the canister filters to their greatest potential (at least that's the goal) in about a month or so. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that it when it goes live.
@@The3DHandyman Looking forward to it, thanks!
You ROCK....I just downloaded the plans. I was happy to build it...just having the time is a different story so it sits with my other projects in the queue....Your craftsmanship is awesome....Much appreciated!!
I know the feeling! I have a lot more videos on the way but the queue is just so long. Always a million things to do. Thanks for the comment!
I’ve been watching all the videos in this series and love the idea of just buying a kit! My main interest is to have something as mobile or compact as possible, to take to job sites. I was also trying to figure out how effective these systems would be with drywall dust. I sand by hand and regardless of how ventilated the room is, there is dust everywhere during the sanding and cleanup process. Thanks for all your hard work on the subject!
Also what are the final dimensions of this kit once assembled? Thanks again
@@andyh1227 Good questions!
The unit is 21"x22"x50". Thanks for that reminder that I need to add that to the product page!
As for jobsite use I think that it should preform well in a closed room where there is good air circulation. In a large open spaces like stairwells it may not preform so well that you wont still need to vacuum the local area.
I I have been doing a lot of sanding lately and have a new idea for your sort of application. I will test it out tonight and see if it has any merit. It's a cheap approach and it would be highly portable.
@@The3DHandyman Thanks for the reply! I like where your head is at and I look forward to hearing the update. We sub out large drywall jobs, but I’ve been finding myself doing all the sanding on smaller projects. A mask works well but when I’m not physically sanding the mask comes off and I know the air isn’t scrubbed or settled to a safe point yet. So a low profile and portable, yet effective solution is what I’ve been researching for. You seem to have the best ideas I’ve seen yet, so I’ll stay tuned. Thanks again
@@andyh1227 Happy to help!
I see the use case you are describing and I do think the Model A would work well in that application.
One thing you can try first is hooking up a dust collector bag to the Caterpillar fan in the video. I tested it out with sanding dust for a while and if it put it under my work table it will suck up the dust that falls. It seems like this would be perfect to put at the base of a wall while you are sanding.
The big benefit is that it's just a fan and very mobile.
Parts for this idea
Fan: amzn.to/3TD9NM3
Filter Bag: amzn.to/3XEr8pW
Straps for holding the filter around the fan (like a belt): amzn.to/3XzaO9P
That idea will probably not capture most light airborne dust tho and it only filters to 5 microns so it may only be part of the picture. After the filter gets clogged, the performance may drop quite a bit too. The bas is washable tho and will hopefully last a long time.
If that doesn't cut the dust down to an acceptable level, you can try the Model-A. It uses the same fan.
If you try it out either let me know how it works for that application!
@@The3DHandyman Thanks again! I definitely think my best bet is to use the caterpillar fan, and suck the dust down through the fan into some sort of filter or filter system. I saw someone else strap that exact fan on top of a merv 15 Wynn environmental 35C222NANO filter. The catch with that filter (aside from price and undetermined lifespan), or a filter bag, is that emptying or cleaning them introduces another situation with lots of dust in the air near you. But just like with anything else, I’ll have to make an educated decision and then fine tune the process to my direct situation.
He would clean the filter by propping it upside down atop some saw horses and then running around it with a handheld blower to free the debris and let it fall out of the filter. He was outside during the process which made the impact of the dust less aggressive to his health. Perhaps a work around for that would be to build a station emulating the original intended purpose of the filter (dust collector system), so you can catch the debris in a clear bag below the filter. You can let the dust settle before removing the filter from the top or tying off the bag. Maybe your next product offering could be a filter cleaning station for that type of filter..
I do like the idea of using filters that catch and hold the debris for easy disposal. I may still go with your kit-a as suggested, but I do appreciate all your help and support. It has been very helpful to my brainstorming and solution procurement.
Very nice kit. I really like people like you that share as you do, offering different choices.
More choices are on the way. Thanks for the comment!
I just made one. Thank you.
wow love all of the testing and research put into all of your videos on this subject. i currently use the box fan/4 filter method....but end up with dust all over anyways. I will be upgrading to your DIY build kit on Etsy soon. thanks for putting that together!
Any time! Happy to hear you enjoy the build. If you have any questions, let me know on here or on Etsy.
I just stumbled across this, what an awesome build.
I'd be curious to see real world performance on (2) 5 filter box fan versions. Make , 1 suck and one blow.
Put on opposite ends of the shop and have the one blowing in the direction of the sucking one
Thanks and good question! I have tested this with the 8 filter design, actually. It works well, but I did not use any particle meters or anything while testing, so I cant say exactly how well it works.
In general I don't like to use a box fan in the "blow" configuration because the motor is not enclosed and dust can get inside of it.
Maybe you can consider stamping an arrow sign on the inside showing the orientation, and maybe cut a piece of rubber saying facing down and stamp it on the lower side of the flat pieces
I just bought stamps to do just this. Thanks for the idea!
I think it’s amazing what you’ve put out here. I was a teacher up until lockdowns started and I wish kits like this would’ve been available to get in some classrooms.
Secondly I have actually built this version myself a couple months ago. Right now using tape for the filters. Any chance you will put the upgraded filter clips on your thingaverse? Currently looks like the original design is still there.
Indeed, I thought about it at the time but it took so long to make them, I figured the price would be too high for people. Shipping is also really expensive. The CR boxes filled a nice gap there during the pandemic.
Good point on the filter clip STLs! I will put it on my to do list. Not sure when I will get to it tho, things are pretty hectic at the moment. Check my thingiverse in a month? :)
they look nice indeed
Thanks, Epic
Great videos, designs and testing. I'm thinking about making my own. I have a few ideas that I'm fleshing out.
1 - Woodworking filters, like recommended by MMCC_Woodshop seem interesting. The filters seem to have a pretty good lifespan and good MERV rating, and can basically complete an air filter just by attaching it to the fan you already use on yours. It's a pricier up-front cost, but I'm curious how the performance compares. Looks like this video is in the works already from other comments.
2 - Inline fans, these fans are definitely more pricey than a $20 box fan, but they come with a lot of advantages. They can be almost silent, they're much more energy efficient, they are much smaller and often come with a lot of fancy controls, such as scheduling, sensoring, just remote control in general, etc. The compact design opens up a lot of design opportunities, as these fans are as small as 4". Further, these are meant to be used with ducting and HVAC applications, so the rated CFMs from the manufacturer's are far more reliable because they have to be in order to be competitive. Nobody is going to return a box fan because it doesnt meet its rated CFM, but that happens all the time for duct fans. They are also designed to perform better under static pressure, especially mixed flow fans. I think you could get a quieter, smaller, more efficient air purifier this way. I think there are some savings to be had by using less filters, but ultimately it'll probably cost a bit more to use these fans, as well as potentially complicate the build process. The AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S6 with >400 CFM and 32db operating volume for $120 is a contender for me, but there are cheaper options if you sacrifice the silence.
3 - Carbon filtration. personally I need more TVOC filtration bc of my proximity to hwy/airport, so getting carbon into the air purifier's filtering process is a must for me. Currently my temporary plan is to double layer a merv 12 filter on top of a merv 14 carbon filter, to try and protect the secondary filter for longer. I think there's probably a much cheaper way to just add carbon filtration to a solo high merv filter, but I havent landed on a plan yet. Using sheets of activated carbon and just taping to the filter is potentially viable, but i dont know how effective or restrictive that would be.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
1) I have the parts to test his design out. I suspect that the performance of the fan is severely affected by the WYNN canister. It may be ok to start with but performance may drop significantly when it get a little dirty. That's what I suspect, at least. The tests will say one way or another. Hopefully this data will make it to my next video.
2) My updated Model-B/C kits have a 12in inline fan option for these reasons. I have experimented a lot with several sizes of inline fan for the last 6 months and they all work great. Ducting and diffusing the output air helps to reduce turbulence flows in the space as well. A lot of dust collection is about not blasting the dust all over the place to begin with. I'll have 3 more inline fan kits coming out in the next few months.
3) I don't think the filters with carbon sprayed on the back can really accomplish much in a high VOC area. I think a lot of the smell reduction comes from the high MERV filter itself. If you really want superb VOC reduction a big canister is the thing for the task. Since the inline fans connect to a duct, attaching one of these is easy.
They aren't cheap charcoal filters though amzn.to/3p2RTII or amzn.to/3N2oSEQ
Here are my updated kits. Note the Model-B with the inline fan... www.etsy.com/listing/1373712349/model-bc-air-filter-kits
Let me know if you want even more info on anything
@@The3DHandyman Thanks for the reply! looking forward to the analysis of the woodworking filters, there's really no thorough testing on it for these purposes yet afaik.
I am starting to realize you're right about the carbon filtering, but I'm wondering how the LENNOX does, as it takes the carbon part much more seriously. I know its relatively easy to make a carbon canister filter yourself, but I haven't found a method I like yet. Something about drilling holes in a 5 gallon bucket doesn't feel like an elegant solution.
Nice to see the inline fans! I didn't notice before. This whole journey has been a bit of a rabbit hole and somehow I ended up ordering bulk case fans... We'll see how that goes lol.
@@Lightja_ Bulk case fans sounds like a deep rabbit hole alright!
I did get a Lennox MERV 16 filter to test in a single filter application. I imagine that it will preform well, but we will see.
I have seen the 5 gallon bucket air filter approach, and yeah, it's not very elegant.
love your videos!v Also loved your work on The Sandlot!
Everyone's got to start somewhere! lol
Since you’re already using CNC. Why no give each part a number?
Thank you for sharing the design, since I’m in Brazil I’ll have to made it myself.
That's a great idea! I don't know if the guy I'm working with has the right tools for that, but I will look into it.
Ordered kit. Thank you!
Awesome. Thanks for your support! I'll update you as soon as the parts are in from the CNC shop.
You mention that pointing the fan into the box, you can collect dust in the air from about 5'. If you reverse the direction, how far is the box picking up dust from the air? I get that blowing the air into the box would slowly clog up the fan. Whereas pointing the fan out would keep the fan clean. I'm just having a problem with how much dust would be removed from the air with it point out. By pointing it out, are you relying more on that airflow to circulate the dust around to the air filters? Further explanation would be appreciated.
Yes the fan will stay far more clean if you point the fan up. The fan does not clog in the down direction though. I will occasionally blow it off with compressed air and that's been fine for years fine.
Pointing the fan up makes for better circulation in an area without large ceiling obstructions. If this is the case, the dust pickup will be the whole space.
This a complex issue, really. Both options are best in different scenarios. It can be good to test what is best for your space.
The other issue is where you want the dust to collect. If the dust is inside the box, it wont be disturbed as easily as when it is on the outside.
I will do a whole video on this in a month or two.
This is gorgeous, I thought it was Cad prices, when I got to checkout it was over 5 bills haha, I think I'll make my own from your plans instead, but this is amazing, and you rock man thank-you for sharing🙌🤘🙌
Yeah, they are big and really expensive to ship as a small business. Maybe if I ship enough, I can get the prices lower in the future. Until then, the package of plastic parts will be much cheaper to ship to Canada. Let me know which one you were looking at in your other comment. I hope the post office doesn't charge a fortune for the small packages like they do for larger international orders.
@@The3DHandyman Hey man! Thank-you for the reply, yeah I purchased fan through link, and I would like to get a bag of the plastic assorted parts kit sent out🙌
@@Suicaedere666 Awesome! I will try to have this listing updated for international orders later this evening.
@@Suicaedere666 shipping to Canada has been added! Did you buy the Maxx Air fan or the Caterpillar fan? I have a new design for the CAT clamps that hold it in both directions but they are not needed for the Maxx Air. Either way, I should have these in the mail later this week.
Thanks for the awesome design. I’m going to build one of these for my shop pronto. A couple questions (I apologize if these questions have been asked. I did look before posting, so hopefully not):
• I know there’s been quite a bit of research done on where to place a more traditional ceiling mounted filter (with the intake and exhaust flowing in the same direction) in order to have the air circulate and filter properly. For example, my shop is rectangular so the filet is currently placed along the longest wall about 2/3 of the way down the wall and blowing toward the wall running perpendicular to it so it circulates the air in a circular motion around the room. Where in the room should a filter like your design be placed? In the center?
• I plan to use the pull method with the fan blowing out. I have the luxury of space in my shop, so wondering if I shuld have it on the floor blowing up toward the ceiling or mount it on the ceiling blowing down toward the floor? Seems like the latter would make more sense in that it wouldn’t allow the dust to settle as easily (blowing it off of surfaces) and therefore be filtered out of the air. Thoughts?
Thank you so much in advance for your guidance!
Good questions!
- If you are going to place the unit on the floor, you can put it in the center of the room or at one end. If your dust producing tools are all over the place then center is probably best.
- if you are going to ceiling mount the fan, I would probably put the filter at one end and blow are towards the opposite end. This should create the best circulation throughout the space. People have suggested blowing air down toward the floor and that may also work well, but I have not tested it.
Let me know if any more questions come to mind!
@@The3DHandyman thank you very much for the quick response. I think I’ll try mounting it in the center of the ceiling blowing down knowing that I can always reorient it blowing to one end if that doesn’t work out well. Thanks again!!!
How long do the filters last in your shop? And if you would please include your best guess at how much use they get daily, that would be great. I’m a disabled veteran on a budget and I’m trying to determine my cost for your awesome unit based on filter use and replacement. Thank you for all your effort.
In my experience the filters can take about 1lb of dust before they need replacement. It took me about 1 year to collect this much out of the air with several times a week use. I will have a video out on adding cheap and easy to vacuum pre-filters to the disposable filters so that they last even longer. They do need to be cleaned regularly though, so there is a trade off, time vs money. As is usually the case.
@@The3DHandyman
Pre filter media is another excellent idea. Thank you for the timely response.
@@mojorizn72Any time
I think you mentioned this but I'd love to see a vid comparing the pros and cons of this setup (of using disposable filters) vs canister filters (which you could reuse and get higher MERV rating). Love the vids and the info you share!
Thank you! I am working on that right now. I should have a video out in a few weeks 👍
@@The3DHandyman super excited for this future video!
I see you have the 3D printed STLs for free and drawn pics, but would you consider offering your CNC files as well? Either for free or sell? I have a 48x48" CNC router and a 3D printer and would love to build one of these, especially since you are out of stock and I have all the materials to build one now. 🙂
I will have those for sale when I finish the latest design round. That should be a few weeks out at this point. Lots of work to do until that date. Sorry for the wait!
I would like something I can mount to my ceiling and maybe exuast into the attic? Would this be a good design if I wanted to Mont on one of its sides and loose one side of filters? If that makes sense.
Yes, it is possible. A lot of people have done this in various ways. You can use a Inline fan to move the air. It will easily accept a flexible duct for running into your attic or wherever. The inline fan is a bit less powerful so only having 6 filters wont be an issue.
12in inline fan
amzn.to/3T6wXg8
Awesome looking kit! The use of gaskets to seal each filter seems like a really nice upgrade. If someone were to make the original based on your plans, but incorporating this new design element, would you recommend cutting the rabbets a bit deeper (maybe 1/16 or 3/32?) to account for the thickness of the gasket?
Thanks! If you cut the rabbets 1/16" deeper and use 1/16" foam strips, it should work just fine. You may want to double check the thickness of the filters you intend on using before making the cuts, especially if you are using the Filter Clips to secure the filters. If you are, the filters need to be in line (or better, slightly protruding) with the outer edge of the wood for them to function properly. Otherwise you could use a different thickness of foam to make up the difference.
nice !!
Great video and was looking forward to seeing it… glad it came out today. I am building mine this weekend based on your Plan and can’t wait to be using it.
My question is the following… I was looking to have the Caterpillar air blower blow inward… if I keep it running in my garage for an hour or so, will it eventually filter the ambience air in the same manner if the blower was position outward? I wasn’t looking to have to flip the air filters or air blower every time.
Thanks!
Good question! The answer is yes it will still filter the air in the garage in the "push into filter box" config, it will just do it less effectively at a distance. So 15-20 feet away the filtration performance will drop by about 30%-50% vs "pull out of filter box" method (I have the data somewhere but I am short on time at the moment). I'll be doing a video about this concept in the new year. Thanks for the comment!
@@The3DHandyman i know you said in another video that you preferred to have the fan push air into the filter box and exit the box through the filters. Based on this answer, which configuration is most effective for general air cleaning on a wood shop? In the pull the air out of the filter box configuration, does the fan blowing directly into the shop help or hurt the effectiveness of filtration. Initially, I thought it would keep more particles stirred up in the air for longer, but if moving particles around ultimately gets a higher percentage of dust into the filters, then I get that too.
@@mickeymallette2663 To filter the ambient air in the shop I highly recommend pointing the fan UP and out of the filter box. It does stir up air to keep airborne particles suspended for longer and it also moves more air through the shop than blowing air into the top of the filter box. The reverse option is really only effective from a short distance away from the source of dust.
Hope that helps!
@@The3DHandyman it definitely is. I have about 600 sq. ft. And just want general air filtration
Tried to find the kit for model but the website it took me to was Etsy and it wasn’t there
I am selling an updated Model-B + Drum Fan now. It has the same performance as the Model-A with a lower cost. You can still build the Model-A kit if you have the tools.
would a turbofan be better to move out dust faster?
Will this remove cigarette and pot smoke/smells coming in from adjoining apartment? Or does a charcoal filter need to be added? Thanks
Do you need an european retailer ? I'm located in France, and think your project deserved to be available everywhere on the continent
Thanks for the offer! I love the idea but one of the key issues seems to be that this type of HVAC filter is hard to find/expensive outside the US and Canada. We might have to become a filter importer at the same time. That makes it quite a bit more challenging to pull off. What are the easiest filter for you to find locally?
I'll come back at you with a survey if that's ok, what other issue I may have at the moment, is european products are standardized in metric, if we get to be filter importer, it will of course don't matter, as the product are compatible by design. I also don't know about the regulation and the norm about HEPA filter, that might be different from the north american one, thus explaining a price tag difference. Nevertheless, I'll work on it as I firmly believe in this projet @@The3DHandyman
Can I get MODEL A design measurements using 20x20x1 filters? 16x20x1 isn't available in my country.
You can pretty much just add or subtract as much as you need to have it fit a different sized filter. The upright legs wont need to change at all, just the top/bottom/horizontal pieces. Don't have time at the moment to make plans. Maybe later this year
Great video, how would this work if I wanted to ceiling mount it instead of it rolling on the floor? Do I need to adjust the design at all?
Great question! I think the operation would go something like this:
1) Take the legs off of the fan, they are not needed and will add weight.
2) Use the supplied hard mounts to securely attach the fan.
3) Mount it to the ceiling or wall using the open flat areas of the legs. Try not to obstruct the filter or drill into the filters. Preferably you would stand the unit off of the ceiling/wall so that all 8 filters are still in play. If you close off 2 of them for a 6 filter unit, the performance will be reduced. The filter surface area to air flow rate is still within an acceptable range with 6 filters if you must mount it in that way due to ceiling height limitations. The filters should just be replaced 25% sooner.
Otherwise no adjustments should be necessary!
@@The3DHandyman If I am ceiling mounting, which direction should the Fan be? (Btw I have the CAT one)
I would probably go with the fan blowing air out of the box. It created better circulation through the room for overall more efficient air cleaning.
Make 2-3mm holes for screws!
If you are talking about the fan mounting screw holes, I didn't add them on purpose. Depending on what type of mount and what fan the owner chooses, all the holes are in different locations. So if they choose option 1 of 4, there will be 10 unwanted holes in the top of the unit. I can also not say for sure that all fans are exactly the same coming out of the factory, so to be sure things fit right, I leave it up to the buyer.
Would yo agree/disagree?
@@The3DHandyman I am about other parts to hold filters for example. Like in IKEA, make multiple holse. I think you know how hard to screw something without predefined mini holes
@@iosyabrams1094 True. It is not ideal to drive in the screw without a hole
I am having a problem with the free model A plans webpage, on different browsers and computers. Shows just a blank gray page. I would love to build this with the plans. Thank you for the great vids
Sorry for the late reply! I'm not sure if you are the one that messaged me through Etsy, but I did get it working again. Thanks for the heads up!
Love your videos and the efforts you put behind them. I built a tall fan box, put it on legs with a Lasko fan but I need to upgrade to one of your taller units with the stronger fan. I was wondering if drawing air through filters first into the center and pushing out/up or drawing air through the fan into the center then pushing out through the filters is preferred? I am remodeling our basement and managing dust is a MAJOR consideration to keep dust at bay upstairs. If I push up/out it would seem to disperse dust already in the air but if I push down/out through the filters it would seem to blow dust from the floor into the air. Would love your thoughts.
Thank you! Sorry for the late reply. Are you describing filters on both sides of the fan? If so, I think that may end up significantly reducing the overall air flow. This will also decrease the amount of air that the fan pushes through the room and the overall amount of dust collected my be less.
If I didn't understand quite right, let me know!
@@The3DHandyman Good Morning, Thanks so much for the response. My fan resembles one of the tall ones in your video. If I remember correctly the Merv 13 filter size is 20x16 on 4 sides with a 20x20 filter on the bottom, fan on top. "Dirty" air is drawn in through filters and "clean" air pushed out the top. My question is for best filtering. Is this set up best or should I reverse everything and draw Dirty air in through the top and push it down and out through the filters. The first way seems to create a bunch of turbulence with air exiting through the fan vs second way which would seem to diffuse the air through all the filters upon exit. Example: I move the filter unit over near my table saw and make cuts. All the dust is created 36" off the floor but this is about the height the air is blowing out the top of the fan. I hope this very wordy explanation helps. It would seem air flow direction would change based on what the goal is. General filtering for living areas vs filtering for work shop areas. But what do I know, right? ;-) BTW, your video on the cat litter box is an excellent idea I hope gets some continued refining as to fan selection, cfm, speed control, etc.
Have a great day!
@@MrRustyjackson Oh, I got you! I actually need to a do a video on that topic. That question get asked frequently. You are right about the turbulence, it really can kick dust all over the place. I most often use the "push" config that blows air into the filter box for this reason. If you are using a fan that does not have an enclosed motor (like the Caterpillar fan in this video) be sure to keep the motor as clean as possible with compressed air. If flammable dust gets in there it could potentially cause a fire.
I will be making a video on inline fans soon that attempts to improve on this overall concept and keep the fan clean in the process.
Let me know if you have any more questions. Have a good one!
I didn't see your Etsy page to buy the kit. Can you post a link?
Thank you so much for you great videos! I planning to build such a air cleaner for my woodworking workshop, but sadly i cannot get a hand on the Caterpillar fan here in Germany. I am looking forward to your next videos which might show other option of great fans?!?!
Er hat auch andere Lüfter in seinen Videos verwendet, auch diese rechteckigen, die werden dann mit Klettband aufgeklebt und fixieren den Lüfter auf der Oberfläche. Die Größe sollte nur passen.
Same here, in Argentina. But will go for an industrial fan. Not as fancy but equally effective
If you can drop a link to a fan you think might work, I can reference it in one of my next videos on designing filters from scratch for your own needs. I'll also cover a wide range of them as well. Something has got to work!
@@The3DHandyman i tried now several times to post the links to the fans I found at Amazon, but somehow this comments seemed to be removed. Thanks anyway for your support!
@@andreasflinspach6934 Sorry about that! RUclips does that automatically. If you could message them to me on Instagram of Facebook that would for sure get through. Sorry for the trouble!
When will you kit A be back in stock
Just sent you a lengthy reply on Etsy. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the great videos. How often do these Merv 13/14 filters (3M, Nordic Pure, etc) need to be replaced? Have a nice day!
I am going to retest my current set after 1 year of use, some time soon. I did a test after 6 months of shop use and the Model-A with Nordic Pure MERV 14 filters went from filtering smoke out of the garage in 50 minutes to about 1hr 45 minutes.
So If you want peak performance, replacing heavily soiled filters after 6 months would be wise. If you are running a unit like this in your home for general air filtration, the filters would likely last a few years.
Hope that helps. Maybe I can do a video on this subject some time soon!
@@The3DHandyman that would be useful for us “long distance followers “ as the filters cost us >$200 each time to buy and ship!
@@PeterWoolstonMusic I hear yah. It $90 to ship one to Los Angeles. That's one reason I am moving toward an updated Model-B design and well as some others. By cutting large items out of shipments, things get a lot more affordable.
I'll also have some general pointers for assembling your own canister-based filters without any parts from me at all.
Sorry for the wait on this, I know you have been ready for this video for several months at this point!
@@The3DHandyman so I guess my central question is whether your findings are 1. canister only (no paper filters) or 2. canister also needs paper filters? Thx!
@@PeterWoolstonMusic I will have this info in my next video, for sure. The extra filters over the canister mainly help to keep the canister clean of all large dust particles. I've been testing a few of these systems and, so far I'm really happy with the results.
Great video, thank you. How would ceiling mounting this in a horizontal configuration impact performance? I don’t want to give up the floor space in my small shop if I can help it.
Thanks! This design can be ceiling mounted. Performance should not be effected if you use the same number of filters and back it off the ceiling by 8" or so.
If you flush mount it to the ceiling with only 6 filters, performance will be reduces by about 25% and you will need to replace the filters more frequently.
If you have the space, you can flush mount the unit and make it 1 stack longer to accommodate 9 filters and it will preform marginally better than the 8 filter unit.
Feel free to experiment with a modified version that works best for your space. As long as you keep the filter count high, it will work well.
I found the Etsy link but didn't see a way to buy the kit that has the eight 16x20 filters.
Hi Tom! I am not making the full 8 filter kit any more. The Model-B 20x30" kit for a drum fan performs just as well and costs less to buy and the filters are 30% cheaper. All around, it's a better kit. If you want, you can still build the Model-A out of wood if you have the tools. You can also upgrade it with the plastic parts kit if you like.
Model-B
www.etsy.com/listing/1373712349
Model-A (plastic parts only)
www.etsy.com/listing/1309978884
Let me know if you have any questions.
If you had to choose one configuration for a garage, would it be fan pointing up or fan pointing down?
Good question. Up all the way if you are filtering the ambient air. Down if you want to suck dust off a work surface.
You sort of have to pick one, so go with the method that best suits your scenario.
You said in your video this could be mounted to the ceiling How is that accomplished?
I would use 8in or 12in steel angle brackets and leave a few inch gap on the wall/ceiling side to allow air to get to all the filters. You could also potentially use some stand offs for mounting as well.
The open flat sides of the legs are the best mounting locations. Just be sure not to pierce the filters area with any screws or bolts. Also, you will have to sink the mounting screws deep into the studs/joists, for sure.
The kit would have to be glued together after assembly if you are ceiling mounting it.
It's not a great option for low ceilings. You will loose about 20in of headspace.
The pull option is the only was to go for a ceiling mount.
That's all I can think of at the moment. If you have any more questions, let me know!
Have you tested that fan with a wynn type canister filter? I feel sure it would lower cfm but curious how much
I plan to test my new Wynn filter next week. That video should be out in about a month. It will produce less air flow but seemingly with the higher MERV level, that wont matter? We will see.
The Model-A can also accept a canister filter inside of it for multi-layer filtration. The new video will cover that as well.
I was thinking about ordering your design! Great work!
Were you able to determine a difference in air filtration from push vs. pull? Any AQI values?
/EDIT/
Just read another comment where you answered this. So push (out of the box) is more effective at a distance and keeps particles airborne longer?
Will either orientation keep the overall dust or AQI about the same in the end? It sounds like the push might allow dust to settle if not taken care of quickly?
Also, do you think a push setup at one end of the room and another setup in pull at the opposite could maximize AQI and removal of particulate?
/EDIT/
I have some atrocious synthetic carpet at my home that leaves micronized dust everywhere and feel that the push (into the box) would be best.
What are your thoughts? Thanks for the work on this!
Good questions! I feel like the best option in that scenario might be the "pull" ( air blowing out of the top of the box) method may be best. The "push" option is better if you have a single point source of particulate (like a saw or sander, etc). I'll do a video on this concept soon with all the details but the short of it is that at a distance beyond 5ft (I tested at 15ft away), the pull method outperforms the push method by 2x in the AQI test.
So, in short, for a large room full of particle producing carpet, the best option is to blow air out the top. The model/A, B and C would all work in this type of filtration.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions!
your model a. would you be able to update the schematics to use a 20 x 25 x 4 set of filters? Also, do you not sell the wood kits any more?
Hi. I am going to do some updated drawings for these kits but they will only be compatible with 1" filters. If you buy 3M MEVR 13/14 filters they have as much filter material as the average 4" filter and they preform better in a smoke test as well.
I am not selling the wood kits because they required hours of hand sanding and cost the average buyer about $400. The new Model-B kit with a drum fan has the same performance with a 30% lower cost and 30% lower filter prices so operating it is also cheaper.
That’s a quality build! Do you plan on making any more kits for sale?
I might at some point. My schedule is really demanding at the moment and I am trying to develop a kit that works just as well but doesn't take as much time to make or put together (on your end) and also costs less. I hope I can get this video out in a month or so.
Sorry for the wait, I hadn't planned on selling out but I am pushing 100hrs a week right now and I have to cut back on something.
@@The3DHandyman No apologies needed. Being worn out won’t do you any good, and is likely to make matters worse. Make sure to get rest!
I’ve seen the numbers online comparing the decibel levels between the CAT and the Air King. Based on your use, which would you consider to be the loudest at their max speed setting? Not sure what their frequency response graphs look like when measured.
I find that the CAT fan makes more of a pleasant sound although it is technically 2-3dB louder than the Air King.
@@The3DHandyman excellent! This is the exact response I was looking for. I thought this may have also been the case with the CAT. Going with that one. 🙌
Can you close the motor with tape to make dust not get in?
Good question! I would not recommend that. If a motor is open it is designed like that so that it cools itself properly. If it overheats it could shorten the life of the motor or at worst cause a fire. It's generally a good rule not to modify motors.
@@The3DHandyman so just try to clean it from dust sometimes?
@@dargunsh7156 If it's regular household dust, you shouldn't really need to clean it. If it's shop dust, you should occasionally blow the dust out with compressed air to keep it clean.
Great design! Do you have links to where I can print the 3D wrench and the fan thumb holders? Also, would you sell the CNC plans for this design? I used Aspire for my CNC and wonder if you use a similar program. Or just the vector files of the cut pieces would be fine. Thanks
Thanks! I can upload the updated parts to the Thingiverse later this week or early next week. I'm not sure about the CNC files, maybe after I recoup some costs from prototyping all these things... it was a very expensive process :)
@@The3DHandyman Thanks for the quick reply. Appreciate you updating the 3D files and totally understand about the CNC files. Again, I'm not asking for a free set as I'm willing to pay for them. They can even be the vector files before any cut paths are assigned to the parts themselves. Thanks again.
@@ryanloft4534 I'm back from vacation and will hopefully get the 3D printed parts uploaded tomorrow. You will have to wait on the CNC files, sorry :)
2 questions?
would it be more beneficial to place a pre-filter before the fan with a lower merv rating (just to capture larger particles) then use a higher merv after the air leaves the fan?
is the black fan better than the orange one?
I do like the idea of a pre-filter but putting a single filter on the front of the fan significantly reduces airflow in my experience. I have some ideas tho. Hopefully I can get a video out on that subject in the next month or two. I'll be testing a pre-filter for each configuration, push and pull to see if it reduces the performance significantly.
As for the black fan vs the orange one, I like the black one. The performance is only 3% less than the orange one and the motor is enclosed so dust cant get in the mechanism. The Caterpillar is also slightly less expensive than the Maxx Air (at least where I'm at).
@@The3DHandymanis it ok to close the fan motor openings or will I just have to clean the motor from dust regularly?
@@dargunsh7156 You should not close the motor openings. If something like wood dust gets into the fan motor you should blow it out with compressed air sometimes to make sure it stays clean.
MiragC?
little confused about the fans, so is the maxxair 16in and cat 14in the exact same size? are they just measuring from different places? which one do u think is build better if their the same? i even see the switch for speed is the same, could it be that their just build from the same parts? just one has a cap for the motor?
Sorry for the late reply! The fan are virtually identical. The 16/14" numbers are all marketing jargon. Neither fan had anything on them that is 16 or 14" inches.
Personally I like the Caterpillar fan because the motor is enclosed. It's also nice having 4 speed settings. The Maxx Air fan may move about 5% more air but for me that's not worth the extra $25 for the fan.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
@@The3DHandyman , the fan blades are 14 inches on the Cat fan. If they wanted to use marketing-BS like number, they would have used the outer diameter of the drum.
@@michaels3003 All the more reason to like that fan!
Excellent work. Hope the kits sell big. You put a lot of effort in. What are you thoughts about floor vs ceiling mounting. I what something like B or C but ceiling mounted and air out side so with 3 filter. Lack of floor space and not keen on air blowing up. Fyi. A lot of us have CNCs so you could sell them too.
Thank you! Sales are pretty good so far. I don't see any issues with mounting this unit to a ceiling or wall. If possible, I would put some standoffs (or use large brackets) to back the unit away from the wall surface so that it can still run 8 filters. You could also make the unit taller and do a flush mount with 9 filters (3 stacks).
If you cut the total filters down to 6 total (one side obstructed), then you will reduce the output of the unit by a few hundred cfm.
Also, like you suggested, for the ceiling/wall mount I would not blow air into the filter box. Blowing air out of the box (pull config) is by far the best preforming configuration when it is used in this way.
I'll think about uploading the CNC files at some point but a lot of $$$$ went into this process and I'll need to recoup some of it before that day comes.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
@@The3DHandyman Thanks for the reply. The form factor would be something like this -> ruclips.net/video/OUz2o--8B8o/видео.html that just popped up on my home page.
Different is I would have a 3rd filter at the end opposite the fan with unit at least 2 feet from the wall, the fan pointed to the wall and air sucking into the filters. (Should I push air instead?) So 24 x 24 box with 3 x filters. The Lasko fan would be separately mounted to the filter box so I can change the fan in the future by just changing the mount. Changing the fan is simple when it sits on top of the filter box.
Thoughts for use in 2 car garage shop with it above the worst offenders?
My original question was are ceiling mounted unit a lot less effective vs. floor versions as dust wants to fall?
@@randynoble3726 Hey! Sorry for the late reply. Things have been crazy.
I think the ceiling mounted filter is a fine idea, it will capture a lot of particles. It does not need to be on the floor.
the 24" box sounds like it would work alright but might eat into your headroom a bit. You could make a thinner box that uses a used blower motor from an old furnace. This might be able to keep the whole unit under 16" thick.
Also I would use 2" filters if you are going to only have 3 filters in the unit.
Blowing air out the the filter box towards the wall is the best scenario for a ceiling mounted filter.
Hope that helps!
Great work! I've watch all your videos and they are really informative, thanks again for all the hard work. I have a question though, why not trying the big Cat Fan with only one filter with low pressure drop? I am only wondering this as filters can be expensive and I found some really good ones with low pressure drop that could handle the static pressure. Would love your thoughts on this! Thanks
Thanks! If I were to pair the Cat fan with a single filter it would need to be a 4 or 5" filter. This setup would also probably not perform well in heavy dust environments.
When filters are new the pressure drop is reasonable across most brands. When they start to collect dust, that's when there is real benefit in large number of filters. In some scenarios a set of large filters paired with the Cat fan can handle pounds of dust without significant loss of power. A single filter would pretty much stop all air movement and potentially damage the fan motor because the motor is air cooled. No air movement = no motor cooling.
For single filter (high static pressure) setups I would recommend inline fans or centrifugal blowers. I'll have some videos coming out on those soon.
Hope that helps!
@@The3DHandyman Oh alright, that makes sense, thanks!
I assume the drum fan filtration setup can be suspended in the air? Or does the fan need to be on top of the filter setup as you have illustrated? I would like to have it out of the way in my small shop. Thx
A system like this one would work well ruclips.net/video/OhVWsnTm8iU/видео.html
I am also working on designing a purpose build ceiling mount unit. That video will be out later this month.
Also people have definitely mounted the Model-A on a ceiling. There are specific mounts in the plastic parts kit that make this easy.
Thanks, I like that setup! I need something soon, too much dust flying around.
Quick question, does it matter with way to setup the filter? Pull through filters or push into filters?
@@MDD1966 Each fan direction has different benefits. If the rooms is small or the filter is close to your work area, I prefer pointing the fan into the filter box. If the room is a 2 car garage without major ceiling obstructions pointing the fan up is generally better. I will do a video on the subject soon.
The filter will go into the frame differently in each scenario. If the fan is pointed down into the filter box the arrow on the filter will point outward and visa versa.
This is info for the 8 filter design. So, if you decided on something custom, the same concept applies. The arrow on the side of the filter points in the direction of airflow.
@@The3DHandyman thx, I will point the air into the filters since my work space is small. I plan on hanging it above my work area to keep it out of the way! Appreciate your input!
Incredible work in this series. Thank you very much! If one of these fan systems is good, would two be twice as good or is there diminished returns due to science things? (Not a science guy, I just really want to minimize the dust in my shop).
Thanks! I have operated 2 in the same space before with good results. If the space is large then several units can help clear the air a lot faster. If the space is smaller, then you can run one with the fan blowing air down into the filters and another with the fan blowing air up towards the ceiling. This creates better circulation.
@@The3DHandyman Awesome. I think I’ll give that a shot. Thanks again!
12:54
Will a Canister filter work or will it restrick the Air flow to much for that Cat 14 inch fan?
I have had more success using the Cat fan blowing air up out of the canister than blowing dust into the canister. Also, once the canister gets dirty, performance is cut dramatically. So, you will need to clean it frequently.
In general, the Model-A or Model-B performs better with the Cat fan.
I'll have a video out on the comparison some day soon, I hope. Very busy at the moment and it's hard to keep up with content production.
@@The3DHandyman Thank you for all the time and effort you have into this project. I spoke with Wynn, the manufacture of the canister filter and they do not reccomend using the fan into there filter. Thought I would pass that along to you.
@@steelhead1194 Thanks for the info! So their recommendation is to blow air upwards out of the filter with all types of fan?
Do they recommend using the Cat fan at all?
@@The3DHandyman He said that there was not a good seal and it would leak, I am not so sure that could not be made air tight. He refered me to a video by Stumpynubs where he adds a canister filter to a ceiling mounted ambiant filtration system. He also said that the air could be forced back thru the fan, causing the dust to be escaping into the shop. But this could be fixed with a large canister or 2 smaller ones I would think. I am relly looking forward to your next video and see what all you have found. I just bought a ceiling mounted one from amazon, it was not to costly and I will have some air cleaning for now. I think a system like yours along with the ceiling mount may be very good, as the ceiling mounted one I purchased exhaust the aid down, so the dust will be moving and be caught in the floor system of yours as well.
@@steelhead1194 Thanks for letting me know what they said! I have seen that stumpy nubs video. It is a great use of the filter.
One test I ran where the Cat fan was blowing into the canister showed dust starting to kick dust back out of the fan rather than blow it into the filter. The HVAC filter type designs Model-A/B can take a lot more dust before reaching that point... not to say that they are perfect either.
With the fan blowing upwards out of the canister filter the cord gap was not very significant issue with performance. Like you said, it can be easily filled with some foam tape or something.
At the moment I have about 10 videos each 1/3rd done. Hopefully by the end of the year I'll have them all out there 🤞
I don't understand why everyone uses fans that are designed for free flow air why not use
a squirrel cage as it is designed for high static pressure put it in box with filters on one
end and sound baffles on the output to reduce noise
The cost of the fan upfront and the cost of electricity in the long run plus the significantly higher CFM make axial fans far significantly more cost effective. As long as they are paired with a lot of filters they will run with little to no static pressure.
Not to say that there aren't squirrel cage fans aren't good. I did get one second hand and will make a video on that at some point
I live in New Zealand and already have plans for a similar solution but the cost is prohibitive because of the filter availability of the design for NZ. I was about to buy a commercial unit which ended up cheaper, although inferior when I stumbled on you ... thank you! You have saved my bacon! I am now going to build your version as you have better options in your design for someone at the bottom of the world that will produce better outcomes and it is mobile :D But I just can't order anything until you've done the Reusable Canister Filters VS disposable furnace filters design comparison video ... how long till that's out?
It should be out in a few weeks. I'm testing everything next week. 4 different canister options will go head to head with the best square HVAC filters. I will also test multi-layer filtration with a canister and HVAC filters.
I don't know if inline duct fans are easier to find on your end but these designs all work with a 12" model. I'll test that in the new video as well!
@@The3DHandyman you ROCK!
@The 3D Handyman any update on the release of the 4 canister video? Hoping it's soon! Thanks from New Zealand 👍
@@PeterWoolstonMusic Hey! Sorry for the delay on this. It's pure chaos here at the moment. Unfortunately I think it will take me a month or so to get that video done. I lost my testing/shop space after someone parked a stolen car in that garage... this lead to a heated argument and I moved my shop out of there the next day. I've moved into a new space but it's full of stuff and needs to be cleaned out before I can actually start testing. Just another great day.
Many apologies for the wait! I know you are trying to get started on your build ASAP
Any space left in New Zealand? I'm about ready to get out of here
@@The3DHandyman lots of space in NZ but you’d have to leave your individual rights at the border as we are still operating under COVID Emergency Government 🤪 Sorry to hear about your workshop worries … Don’t let it get to you! Take care of yourself 👍
Question: how can I calculate how many filters I need based on the CFM of my fan?
That is a great question! I will address this in one of my next videos that covers conceptual filter design. It may take me a while to get that out. The short answer is, more is always better. Look at 3M filters static pressure ratings at ____CFM.... check your fan CFM.... you will want to keep the SP rating below .1 for the whole unit. Maybe an even shorter answer is one filter for every 200cfm or so. Hope that helps, I'll cover it in more detail in the future.
Hey, are yoy planning on selling this kit on etsy any time soon?
Edit: ah nvm, just saw a comment you left someone else
I should receive all the parts for the new kits this week, then testing, then launch. It will be a bust couple of weeks but they will be ready to go ASAP.
@@The3DHandyman oh awesome! Will this be for Models A and B? Or is this for a new design?
@@adamthewoodworker2571 I am going to focus on the B/C style for now because it is more simple and easier to make than A. The new kits will have the same power and functionality as the A kit due to a few tweaks in the design. There will also be a few entirely new designs coming out at the same time.
@@The3DHandyman nice! If you need anyone to "beta test", just lmk haha
Really incredible stuff. Appreciate all of your time and effort. I came across this link , ruclips.net/video/rOecQZZR5kA/видео.html , and I’m curious what your take is. It’s the same fan that you are using, uses what is clearly a more expensive filter (Wynn) but ? larger surface area and easy design build. Any thoughts on airflow and efficacy?
Thank you! I get this question a lot lately. In short I don't think this fan is the right choice for the Wynn filter. I have a similar design coming out soon that uses an inline fan as well as a few additional upgrades to the design that solve a few issues I have seen with all air filter designs. I think that the original Wynn design is better than this drum fan version for a few reasons.
It is easy to make, I'll give it that. The trouble is that axial fans are not ideal for high static pressure situations and when the filter is new it may be able to preform alright but when it's filled with dust the performance will drop, significantly. The outer drum on the fan is also much larger than the opening in the filter and this will also drop the performance significantly. The outer rim of the fan happens to be where the air moves at it's highest speed, thus robbing the fan potential performance even more.
My assumption is that with a perfectly clean filter this unit may push around 700cfm or less. When the filter is a tub of dust, it may drop to 300cfm or less.
I'll be buying one of these to test the specs to be sure, I don't like to say something without backing it up with some garage science. Unfortunately the creator that made that video didn't buy a $30 anemometer to back up his claims. He also states that it's capable of "4000cfm". My wind tunnel tests indicate that without any filter attached this fan can only do 1440cfm maximum in ideal conditions.
Sorry for the long answer but I'm already working on the script for the video in my head and the words do flow 😀The new video should be out in a few weeks!
The kits are back in stock! www.etsy.com/listing/1373712349
The Model-B/C now has a drum fan upgrade that matches the performance of the Model-A. For now the Model-A will be a make-it-yourself option only. The 3D printed parts for the Model-A are still available as well as free plans here the3dhandyman.com/workshop-air-filter-drawings/
Model-A Parts kit (wood not included):
www.etsy.com/listing/1309978884
Performance numbers:
Model A + Maxx Air fan + 3M MERV 13 filters = 1448cfm
Model A + Caterpillar fan + 3M MERV 13 filters = 1396cfm
Model A + Maxx Air fan + Nordic Pure MERV 14 filters = 1320cfm
Model A + Caterpillar fan + Nordic Pure MERV 14 filters = 1249cfm
I prefer the Caterpillar fan due to the enclosed motor. All the link are in the description.
This looks great. I would like to get one of your kits but would rather do local purchase/pickup since I am in St. Louis also. Let me know if that's possible. Thanks!
It sure is! I just replied to your message on Etsy with details.
I love the project. thank you for creating it.
have you considered a residential filter as well? I think the key features would be:
- ability to automatically select fresh air intake from a vent/AC or internal circulation depending on CO2 and CO values as well as outside temperature and outside particulates. EG in winter you don't want super cold air blasting inside all the time. In summer similarly you don't want hot air coming in all the time. And for people with allergies, you want external air as little as possible during pollen season.
- quiet 24h operation with possibly an external sensor to turn it off when you need it to be completely silent, eg a load cell on the bed would turn it off for the first 4 hours so you can fall asleep
- ability to integrate with a light so the filter can be installed overhead while also serving as a lamp and being hidden by the light fixture. No one looks at the overhead lamp so it's the best place to put a bulky filter.
- eventually maybe some sort of integration with systems such as AC (for drying air), heating, and a system that boils off water for humidity if you're in a very dry climate and/or need a high relative humidity eg due to health issues. (much like you, I tested a bunch of different ways of increasing humidity, and in a dry climate it is impossible to keep above 35% RH without boiling water. My go to solution is an slow cooker pot set in the room that needs the RH adjustment. I had to do it because of bad eye related issues caused by dry air). Integration with heating would be useful eg if it's winter, you need to let in fresh air due to air quality, but you also don't want the room to cool down. This could be done with high quality mains SSRs (solid state relays) controlling inexpensive, good quality mica panel based heaters.
- maybe, perhaps, integration with a green wall where air is being blown through the roots of the plants in a green wall. A project like this is mentioned on the company page for Noctua, under the section "industrial applications".
You were on a roll there! I thought I typed up long comments :)
I will be testing a home version that is really quite simple and lacking in features now that I think about it! Haha. I'll stat there and see where it goes. I do know a guy that has done a lot of home automation stuff that could help with some of the ideas you threw out there. So, maybe some day I can integrate some of those things you mentioned.
I do LOVE the idea of a green wall. Right now my 3D print room has a lot of plants in it and it has cut down on the VOCs in the air quite a bit. I want to take this to the next level and put it through a lot of testing. I hope to do a video on this in the next few months.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
@@The3DHandyman glad you like the ideas :) maybe one day you can implement them :)
The filter seal and turn tabs for the filters are nice upgrades. Seems the turn tabs would speed up the filter change process on b/c design. Would this be something you could incorporate on the b and c models? I do realize the design is currently different.
I decided to keep the B and C versions more simple for this round... so at this time they are only features of the model A. If you are making your own you can use the same construction methodology from the original model A to allow it to be used with any filter size and the clips which can be purchased separately or printed on your own.
dang, I would have bought a model A kit
I am hoping to bring them back some day soon. Just got a CNC machine to make them 👍
When will you have the "Model-A Air Filter Kit" available, sir?
At the moment, I am retooling some things and will launch some new designs in a few weeks. The Model-A has a lot of parts and is time consuming to produce. At the moment, I just don't have time to put into making those kits beyond the long list orders I have to fill. Some of the new designs should offer identical performance to the Model-A in a slightly different package. There will also be options for multi-stage air filtration. Sorry for the wait on this! I wanted to keep sales of these going but I'm working about 100 hours a week and, something had to give.
@@The3DHandyman Thank you for the update on your product availability. I appreciate your hard work and dedication to producing high-quality products. I understand that it can be time-consuming to produce the Model-A kits and that you are currently retooling your production process. I'm looking forward to seeing the new designs you'll be launching in a few weeks, and I'm glad to hear that they will offer similar performance to the Model-A with additional options for air filtration. I'll keep an eye out for your new products, and thanks again for keeping me informed."
At 1:33, Could you share with me the measurements for the CNC cut woods?
Do you have to use 8 filters, or could you get away with 4 or 5? How restricted would it be and how many cfms would it pull/push with 4-5 filters? Using the caterpillar fan.
Hey! Sorry for the late reply, it's been a busy month. The static pressure with 8 filters is about zero which really helps performance. I think if you go less than 6 filters the allowable manufacturer air speed through the filter can be breached and particles can actually get pushed through the filter media.
If you go with (4) 20x30in filters in the Model-B its cheaper can get as good of performance as the Model-A. I have an updated version of the Model-B on the way that can use a 12in inline fan as well as the CAT fan.
If you have any more questions, I hope to be more on top of comments moving forward!
would it be better to put the fan inside the box? This way it pulling air through the filters and keeping your fan clean??
In general its best to run the air through the filters first. I call this the "pull" configuration because the air is pulled through the filters. This method is the most effective when you want to filter the ambient air in a space.
Personally, I use this unit as a dust bin for cleaning parts. With the fan pointed into the box, I brush the dust into the filter to prevent it from becoming airborne in the first place. The fan motor is enclosed, so the most critical parts of the fan do not get dirty. This is not a standard use of an air filter, but it does work very well within a short distance around the unit (5ft or less).
I had just found and was studying your prior videos and preparing to build one of these! This is perfect! Would much rather support where I got the education and your work on all the R&D and good videos. This is much easier.
Awesome! Thanks very much for your support. running a channel is a ton of work and it isn't paying the bills just yet. Maybe one day!
I was going to get one today off of you. But that usps fee got me by suprise lol 😆 i will get one next week from you hopefully they look great 👍
Lol. You must be in Cali or something :)
The shock you experienced is why it's an extra fee. People don't know how much shipping actually costs these days because it's all "free". At this point you will be buying Version 4 of the Model-A kit and they are looking very nice ✨
Is there a reason why the Model A is not available any more? Also, would it be possible to fit a carbon canister filter inside the box attached to an inline fan at the top?
I had issues with the CNC shop that I was working with and it resulted in a ton of scrap parts and several hours of sanding per kit. Neither of which I have time for. I am looking into getting a CNC machine of my own some time soon and I may have these back in stock in by December, hopefully.
Yes, it is possible to fit a carbon canister in the CNC unit. The DIY plans don't have quite enough space in there to fit an 8" canister.
Sorry for the late reply!
Why can’t I find how to order the kits
You can buy them here www.etsy.com/shop/The3DHandyman
Let me know if you have any questions!
I've been trying to find a good filter for my connected garage, some of my family have asthma and this is definitely my next build. Appreciate the effort you put into all your videos!
Thank you, I'm happy to help! I have gotten a lot of good feedback from people that use these to improve air quality for asthma sufferers. I hope it works just as well for you!
Hi great work I am going to build one of these myself. Are you able to share the 3d files for the new thumbscrew and the fan clips for the push config so I can print them myself? Thanks!
Sure! I am struggling to keep up with my task list at the moment though.... for instance I am doing an emergency door frame repair in -5 degree weather in about 30 minutes... Hopefully next month I'll have those files up. Sorry for the wait!