Shop Fan Recommendations

[lkempf]

I am looking to buy a shop fan and would like some suggestions. I am looking at either a pedestal type, or one that sits on the ground with wheels. Pros and cons of each? Thanks

 

[isb cornbinder]

Buy a ceiling fan. Check your local Craigslist.

 

[lkempf]

I have a ceiling fan over the work bench, but I am looking to have one that I can move around.

 

[matt_i]

I like the ceiling fan but I have a pedestal fan, around 30" I think. The pedestal fan puts out enough air to sail across a small lake. Its really too much...

My experience with ceiling fans is they seem to be more effective if they have a longer down-rod. My shop fans sit close to the ceiling out of choice and I think it starves the airflow. If you have the luxury of a 12' ceiling or higher I'd go with a 2ft down-rod. The fans inside my house with longer down rods seem to be much more effective at moving air and that's my opinion as to why.

 

[CombatNinja]

Got me a dock style fan like this:

I mounted it on some angle iron utilizing the existing garage door opener hangers. Plugs right into the outlet that is up on the ceiling for the opener. Takes up no floor space, never in the way and the articulating arm and swivel head make it so I can aim it pretty much anywhere I need it. I would never recommend something you have to sit on the floor over my set up.

 

[southalabama]

Barrel vs pedestal ?

Height of the wind. Looking to move air out get a barrel and move to the opening. Looking to cool yourself get a pedestal fan if you are looking to move it. If you are in a fixed location ceiling fan or wall mount fan as shown above.

 

[larry4406]

CombatNinja - nice dock fan! What brand/model?

 

[59 wagon man]

big *** ceiling fan. if nothing else the name makes my kid laugh

 

[CombatNinja]

It is a Strongway 18" dock fan from Northern Tool & Equipment. I think it cost me about $80. Moves 3300cfm, which is more than adequate in my attached oversized double. If the garage feels too hot in the evening, all I need to do is open both doors, open the man door in the rear and aim the thing out the front so I am drawing cool air in from the shady backyard instead of drawing hot air off the driveway. I put this on the highest of the three settings and it can easily drop the temp 15 degrees in 15 minutes.

 

[pepi]

It is a Strongway 18" dock fan from Northern Tool & Equipment. I think it cost me about $80. Moves 3300cfm, which is more than adequate in my attached oversized double. If the garage feels too hot in the evening, all I need to do is open both doors, open the man door in the rear and aim the thing out the front so I am drawing cool air in from the shady backyard instead of drawing hot air off the driveway. I put this on the highest of the three settings and it can easily drop the temp 15 degrees in 15 minutes.

That's a stretch, one too many zeros .....and a pipe dream

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&ipp=48&Ntt=dock+fan

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200323875_200323875

 

[A**holes Garage]

I've had this one for a few years. it replaced one I had that was the same model, they "updated" it.

A little noisy but it does push some air in my tight garage.

https://www.zoro.com/dayton-air-circulator-20-in-3650-cfm-115v-1anz7/i/G0890881/?q=DAYTON+#1ANZ7

 

[CombatNinja]

That's a stretch, one too many zeros .....and a pipe dream

None of those fans you posted are the correct one. I double checked, according to Northern's website, 3300cfm. It has 3 speeds and I assume this volume is on the highest speed which is like a gale fore wind blowing in your face.

 

[niget2002]

Here's the one pictured above

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660293_200660293

 

[cvairwerks]

Something to think about..Most barrel fans, until you get to very large diameters, turn the blades quite fast to get the air velocities up to move large amounts of air. Along with that comes noise, and in large quantities. We have a bunch of the 36" and 42" barrel fans at work, and after being around them for a half hour or so, I'd like to beat my head on the side of the airplane just to get some relief from the rattling and drumming noise they give off.

At home, I've got a 24" pedestal fan that also oscillates within the blade cage and has 3 speeds. Yeah, it's a little noisy, but no where close to what a barrel fan is.

If you have to move lots of air in the shop, hit up your a/c guy for a blower takeout from one of their a/c replacement jobs. The move lots of air, not real noisy and are very directional.

 

[Garett]

I have a 36" 3 speed wall mount at my one garage door. I usually have all the doors open if I'm running the fan. It moves a lot of air, when I fire it up at night I can fill my shop with mosquitoes so fast. It's good for moving gas or chemical or paint smell around if I'm doing something.

 

[larry4406]

It is a Strongway 18" dock fan from Northern Tool & Equipment. I think it cost me about $80. Moves 3300cfm, which is more than adequate in my attached oversized double. If the garage feels too hot in the evening, all I need to do is open both doors, open the man door in the rear and aim the thing out the front so I am drawing cool air in from the shady backyard instead of drawing hot air off the driveway. I put this on the highest of the three settings and it can easily drop the temp 15 degrees in 15 minutes.

Thank you - the reviews for this indicate it is quite loud. Speeds of high, higher, and highest! How awful noisy would you say it is? Can you hold a conversation and listen to music?

Interesting on the video in the link is that they say it is 33,000 cfm! Also the spoken hp doesn't match the 1/2 hp rating.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660293_200660293

I do like these.

Any that oscillate?

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

Was your bracket separate? I didn't see it on the Northern Tool website. Thanks.

Got me a dock style fan like this:

I mounted it on some angle iron utilizing the existing garage door opener hangers. Plugs right into the outlet that is up on the ceiling for the opener. Takes up no floor space, never in the way and the articulating arm and swivel head make it so I can aim it pretty much anywhere I need it. I would never recommend something you have to sit on the floor over my set up.

 

[oldgoaly]

an old whole house fan turned on it side and a screen on both sides.
turn slow so it's not blowing trash around but you can feel air moving a 100' away. Plus it is quiet too!

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

I have one of these but the fan bearings are going out. I'm not sure how to get the bearings out to replace them. I tried to lube them better by drilling a hole in the bearing housing and putting some oil in it but that didn't help it any.

an old whole house fan turned on it side and a screen on both sides.
turn slow so it's not blowing trash around but you can feel air moving a 100' away. Plus it is quiet too!

 

[Jeff May]

My nephew recently installed a few of these in his garage/shop area.
Hampton Bay 60" Industrial ceiling fans.
I was somewhat skeptical as I have a cheapo 56" in my shop.
He turned just one on, WOW....those things move some air....
About $85.00 at Lowes....
I have then on my list to get ASAP....
I have a 24" Dayton 2 speed fan on a pedestal with castors. It will move a bunch of air even on the low setting. 2 drawbacks, its so danged noisy & I have to chock it because the castors don't lock.

 

[Jeepster04]

Was your bracket separate? I didn't see it on the Northern Tool website. Thanks.

Cant really make out the brand name but I would like to know more about that fan too.

 

[tom-ky]

I bought one of these this year:
https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...9-c-12727.htm?tid=-3721963832433061892&ipos=2

I like being able to tilt is in case I am working on something higher. So far I like it.

 

[CombatNinja]

Was your bracket separate? I didn't see it on the Northern Tool website. Thanks.

I just mounted it on a couple pieces of angle iron like you can buy at any home improvement/hardware store. The mounting plate for the fan has holes pre-drilled so you just find some angle iron that has holes that match up pretty close. I have two garage doors w/ openers and both were already tied together with angle iron to increase rigidity so I just mounted this right there between them. Took all of 15 minutes, most of which was cutting a couple pieces of steel.

Basically, look at that area in this picture where the two doors' support structures are close together in the middle of the garage. That is where I mounted it.

 

[oldgoaly]

I have one of these but the fan bearings are going out. I'm not sure how to get the bearings out to replace them. I tried to lube them better by drilling a hole in the bearing housing and putting some oil in it but that didn't help it any.

not knowing which type of bearings they used in yours, fill the shaft holes with a lead/tin babbit bearing material, drill for the shaft and oil port or grease fitting. That will work for many years! These are slow turning "high cfm / low velocity" They could also be pillow block type and some have replaceable inserts, others you replace the whole bearing measure the center line to the base for the proper height.