Exhaust Fan Recommendations

[zeebad1]

I'm looking for suggestions for an exhaust fan for the shop.

I see the axial direct drive all the time, but they tend to be noisy, and leak cold air in the wintertime. I have been searching for powered shutters, but haven't found them yet. I would assume that they would seal better. With a variable speed controller, the noise could be reduced.

What about the inline fans? Has anyone tried those. Maybe a tube ductwork over the welding/fabrication area, and vent it out the endwall. I did find backdraft dampers for those.

What do you have that either works, or doesn't work for you.

 

[s_ontario]

Build a box over the inside with doors just like a cabinet open them when you want fan running closed to conserve heat

just make sure fan won't pull the doors of cabinet closed when running

 

[RAYJAY]

Build a box over the inside with doors just like a cabinet open them when you want fan running closed to conserve heat

just make sure fan won't pull the doors of cabinet closed when running

great idea ......

 

[ersatzs2]

Better yet, something I thought of recently that is similar, buy an 'explosion proof' fan and build it into a wall cabinet big enough to be a paint cabinet. Then whenever you have a quick paintjob you've got a ready space to do a quick spray wo stinking up the garage. Meanwhile you've got a powerful exhaust fan.

 

[e-tek]

Better yet, something I thought of recently that is similar, buy an 'explosion proof' fan and build it into a wall cabinet big enough to be a paint cabinet. Then whenever you have a quick paintjob you've got a ready space to do a quick spray wo stinking up the garage. Meanwhile you've got a powerful exhaust fan.

I built one of these and it's been AWESOME. For the first time I have a spot to contain overspray, contain fumes (and the SMELL!), stays clean and can be heated in a few minutes with a little heater. Now, not one item in it is "Explosion proof" or "fire proof", but it does the job. Next one I build will be safer....maybe.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24339&highlight=booth

As for a shop exhaust fan, I have "barn fan" with a reostat, but the louvres do let some air in/out. The door idea is GREAT too - thanks.

 

[Torque1st]

I was going to use gravity type louvers for a belt driven squirrel cage fan on my new shop but building a cabinet would conserve more heat. -Thanks Ontario!

 

[kbs2244]

Depending on how much air you want to move, I would think about a blower from a scrap clothes dryer.
It will hook right up to 4 inch duct work and you can use the dryer style outside flapper for keeping the wind out.