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Big Ass Fans

Posted by 141drew Posted onJun 16, 2010 at 3:03 PM and filed under Reviews & Features
Updated onUpdated on May 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM
I was at a buddies shop this weekend and happened to look up. There was no way of missing it – My buddy had the biggest damned ceiling fan I’ve ever seen. I mean, it was huge. Of course, I had to ask…

“Oh yeah, that’s a Big *** Fan.”

He wasn’t kidding. I had heard of Big *** Fans before, but had never seen one in person. Impressive to say the least and the thing really moved some air. I’m assuming some of our members have used them and I’d like hear their thoughts. Efficient or no?


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Chris 50

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Joined
Feb 4, 2007
Messages
86
Location
LaPorte IN.
I personally don't have one, but I've been wanting a couple of their smaller:rolleyes: 10 footers for my shop. I was at Goodguys in Columbus some years back and had a similar experience. We were walking through the swap meet in one of the large outbuildings and I looked up and said "holy s#!t, that's a big *** fan." And of course upon closer inspection......
 
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method

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Apr 2, 2010
Messages
45
They have these in Ikea warehouses. It's funny because it's actually the name stamped on the fan!
 
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Tim Cowan

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Feb 24, 2009
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295
Location
Piedmont,Alabama 36272
In the southeast, in the last 2-3 years a restraunt chain, SanteFe Cattle Company has used these in all their buildings. Quite an attraction. Some of them have failed and closed.
 
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rsanter

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Dec 22, 2007
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18,487
Location
visalia ca
I had some installed in a warehouse at work
they are classified as a HIGH VOLUME LOW SPEED FAN
they work very well and yes they are variable speed
if you have a large shop or warehouse they will save money over installing a bunch of the smaller fans and they will overall move the air better

bob
 
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wbrian63

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Mar 31, 2010
Messages
843
Location
Houston, TX
I purchased some metal building supplies from Mueller in Richmond, TX. They had one of those in their warehouse. Said that if they turned it on "hi" that practically anything that wasn't bolted down would get moved around. Work carts would move unassisted, sheet metal stored vertically would start banging around in the racks, etc.
 
1

1950ChevySuburban

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Aug 3, 2008
Messages
147
Location
Tucson, AZ
Seriously, I got a shop fan for $5 at the swap. Think it is a paint booth fan. Actually works too good for my little shop, makes more noise than anything. Probably cavitating. Mounted in the rafters.
 
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adam728

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Aug 9, 2009
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2,900
Location
Michigan
Those are pretty cool fans, and definitely can move some serious air. I've been to several warehouses and factories that are using them. One place I work with just went through buying all sorts of new small fans. One guy that was part of the project was pissed, the company wouldn't go with Big *** fans because they were too expensive, so instead they spent twice as much for 5 times as many smaller fans that do a half *** job.
 
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Arne73

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Mar 20, 2010
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1,477
We've installed about 10 of them thru out the plant and warehouse areas. They move a lot of air and decrease the misery factor. Most are on VFD's with a speed adjust on the front of the cabinet and a couple are set up to rotate in either direction.
We got rid of most of the industrial floor fans that cluttered up the floor, I picked 2 of the newest/nicest ones for my shop.
 
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bradleykd

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Joined
Apr 6, 2010
Messages
547
Location
Georgetown, KY
ha, we have a ton of em at work. there is an aisle way with 8 of em right in a row. i turned one up in an enclosed area and it flat put out some air... Their factory is right down the road from me. I turned down a maintenance job there when right before i got my job at Toyota.
 
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eborcim

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Apr 5, 2009
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2,425
Location
Central, MO
One of the furniture warehouse chains here has one in each of their three showrooms. Kinda cool to watch.
 
J

Joey.Donatelli

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May 12, 2010
Messages
20
Anyone know the price of these things? I would love to put one or two in my garage but i don't really want to give them my info and have them calling me all the time.
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
We have several at work in the "stores" area, but they are never on. The building is air conditioned and I have no idea why they even have them.

My understanding is that they are unbelievably expensive, edit: don't want to mislead anyone, and I misspoke. The fans use 3 phase current except for the new shop fan. Deleted my statement about taking single phase and making 3 phase and control the speed with variable frequency drive. They start at 8 ft and go to 24 ft.

I would not have minded to have a 10 or 12 ft one for the shop, but had to settle for three of the Home Depot 60 inch industrial fans.

Good to let everyone know about them however, someone on here has the money for one, its just not I.

Charles
 
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A

abumason

Active member
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Mar 3, 2010
Messages
36
We've got two of them in the storage bay at work. Move a lot of air and are relatively quiet. Makes quite a difference when the door is open.
 
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lupinsea

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Mar 30, 2010
Messages
261
I think we might have spec'ed one or two for some of our client's houses. They are pretty cool.
 
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akdiesel

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Aug 8, 2008
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2,617
Location
Wasilla, AK
We have approx 50 of the 14' diameter fans similar to those for cooling. They are made of aluminum and take a large 480 3phase motor to move each one with a soft start to protect the belts as well as the motors.
They may be nice to have but keep in mind the cost to run them as well. Plus I would not want to have one in my shop spinning when one came apart with out a cage.
 
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Identaltech

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Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Messages
514
Location
Norwalk Iowa
We have the 24' fan in our warehouse and if you turn the control to 6 it moves a ton of air.
runs very quiet.
I dislike the strobe effect it gives as the blades pass the ovehead lights.
We did have one guy hit the fan with the forklift.
I will say it made one heck of a noise and you should have seen everyone run with one of the 12' blade flopping around wildly in the air.
The biggest benefit is in the winter with it on low moving all that hot air at the ceiling down to the floor.
summer time there is less benefit. (100 f at 80% humidity it dosnt matter how much you move it It's still hot.)
 
6

6768rogues

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Nov 28, 2007
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Western NY
Our local Walmart has big fans in their garden and outdoor furniture area. They have to be at least 12 feet in diameter.
 
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crankshaftdan II

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Feb 25, 2009
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1,293
Location
Milwaukee, burbs.
Before retiring two years ago the shop I worked in installed a 24' diameter one in a large warehouse. Like previously stated in the winter time the heat would be blown back down to the floor, however the dirt also gets blown with it and is hard on your eyes and nostrils! They do move a lot of air for large areas in lieu of A/C-electricity costs are high and everyone liked to play with the variable speed control, I'm hot, I'm cold etc.!! Trade-off, better than hot humid air!!:headscrat
 
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ddrewyor

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Joined
Dec 23, 2007
Messages
250
We went to the waterpark Kalihari about three years ago. I looked up and saw these fans and thought nothing of it because they are probably 60 feet up. However, when I climbed to the top of the waterslides and they were only 20 feet away it hit me that they were huge. I went down the slide and then back to our room and looked them up. Yep, Big *** Fans!

Dave
________
DODGE RAM RUMBLE BEE SPECIFICATIONS
 
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rcayot

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Jan 30, 2010
Messages
101
Gee I'm kinda dissapointed... I thought this was about fans of big asses!
 
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pnhigg

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Joined
Apr 26, 2006
Messages
3
They make these fans here in Lexington. Quite of few of them around. Very expensive, but very efficient as they turn slow, but move a bunch of air. They are quiet too.
It is funny to be with someone from out of town when you pass their factory as they have a big Donky's rear on a sign with BIG *** FANS written above. People seem to nearly wreck everytime someone sees the sign for the first time. It has become somewhat of a landmark over the past few years.
Good product for high ceilings in large warehouse type buildings.
 
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dmeadow

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Sep 3, 2005
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952
Location
Houston, Texas
They must have a big *** marketing budget. They have ads in many of my car magazines and one recently in the local newspaper.
 
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CraigFL

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Nov 1, 2005
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704
Location
Panama City, FL
As opposed to a little *** fan?

cleburn%20117.jpg
 
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dan76

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Jul 14, 2009
Messages
230
One of the few class acts from the NFL was this company's spokesman for a couple of years. William Perry AKA "The Fridge" a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears was featured on the company's print and web media.

It's a good product and I now see this company has updated the fan design by adding winglets to the rotors.
 
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