Hanging air filtration systems? Waste of money?

[Hobby_Man22]

Have you guys seen these? They hang from the ceiling typically and it's basically a fan that has filters and obviously filters the air. lol Anyone have one of these? Does it do much good to keep dust down on surfaces?

JET 708620B AFS-1000B 1000 CFM Air Filtration System 3-Speed with Remote Control

The 708620B is produced by JET Tools and is described as a JET 708620B AFS-1000B 1000 CFM Air Filtration System 3-Speed with Remote Control

www.mrosupply.com

 

[kaymccampbell]

They work. I've just got a Merv 15 or a sticky filtrete filter taped to a box fan. It gets the airborne stuff. I'm too cheap to spring for a fancy one.

 

[tarmy]

I have had them for years…they are great when combined with a good tool extraction system as well. I have two shops and there is one in each.

 

[PoorUB]

I have a home built one. It is worth having. I use mine if I am painting or welding too. It helps clear the air.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

They work. I've just got a Merv 15 or a sticky filtrete filter taped to a box fan. It gets the airborne stuff. I'm too cheap to spring for a fancy one.

Lmao. That's brilliant.

 

[mwalsh9152]

I just bought a WEN filtration system for $100 on Black Friday. Once I get through my Christmas build rush I can empty the new work shop and actually complete it then I will install the filter and an extraction system. Seems like a good idea for protecting my lungs. Ive always worked outside and just used a fan to blow dust away from myself, so this is all new.

 

[PoorUB]

I should add, my filtration box is and old furnace that I cut off the lower section where the blower sits, and then I built a filter rack to fit it. I just use a simple 2" MERV 10 or 11 filter.

It is surprising how well it removes welding fumes from the air. With the doors closed it was not long before there was a haze in the air. I will weld in the winter and in the past I would open the door and let the air circulate at a loss of comfort and the gas bill. Today I just turn on the filter and it keeps the air clear.

Of course with wood working it catches most of the air borne dust.

In both instances at the end of the day my nose would be blowing out dirty boogers. With the filter running my boogers are pristine!

 

[turbowoodworker]

I have a Jet and a Delta. They work well for the suspended fine dust and if you use the timer and let it run for two hours after stopping work, it makes a world of difference.
Fully agree that you must collect dust at the tool or site of origin. These air filters are for the fine stuff that will settle everywhere.

 

[ar2stp48]

I have the Jet unit, and have used it for 5 or 6 years. Yes, they work very well

 

[Sherk]

I have a 20x20 furnace filter on each side of a box fan running continuously in my shop. I also have a blower fan mounted in a mobile box that I set up with 4 16x25 furnace filters as intakes.

I have a Dylos DC1100 air quality monitor. If I run sanders, etc without dust collection on particle counts skyrocket. The box fan will slowly knock out down (over 24 hours or so, on low). The blower fan setup takes 30 mins to clear the air to acceptable levels. Old pic attached, shop is laid out very differently now.

In short, yes these things work.

 

[CraigStu]

HobbyMan I am glad you asked. I have had asthma since I was a kid. No huge deal, never needed a hospital. I could go for years w/ no onsets and then have them semi regularly for a year or two. I always get along w/ an inhaler. About 7 yrs ago it started getting a little worse. Now at 74 I never leave the house w/o an inhaler. Maybe 2 years ago I got real religous about hooking my shop vac to the bandsaws and disc/belt sander when using them. And the radial arm saw is on wheels and never gets used inside. And I now put on a good face mask when using any of the above. I think it is time to do better. I think I will start w/ Kay's box fan and a filter. Our previous house had a heat pump upgrade and we started using those 4 inch thick filters. I think this may be a really good application for one of them. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[dfiler2]

I built my own also using a 1 hp blower fan and then stacked 4 20x25 furnace filters, I use it mainly for when I use spray paint in the shop during the winter. It works really well. I have a couple of dust extraction systems set up for controlling dust on the larger tools.

 

[nadogail]

What price does one put on Cleaner Air?

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Mine is a King 1400.. I had originally wanted the one smaller in size and got placed on a waiting list. I believe it took something like 6 months for delivery. When my buddy picked his up ordered before He did get the smaller unit. By the time I phoned those units were all gone. The larger is just fine. I had been using it and then started hearing this metal expansion/contraction sound. Went up to investigate and was very surprised at the amount (as my buddy says) wood flour was collected.
My buddy picked up a back up filter. He operates in his basement and is a little more concerned about flour capture.
King is probably the same or similar to the Grizzly. I think
I think they are worth the investment.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Thought about getting one a while back, are they good for woodshops or metal/garage stuff? I have zero woodworking stuff, but get that fine metal/welding/spray paint **** dust on everything in my shop. Would love to avoid that.

 

[PoorUB]

Thought about getting one a while back, are they good for woodshops or metal/garage stuff? I have zero woodworking stuff, but get that fine metal/welding/spray paint **** dust on everything in my shop. Would love to avoid that.

I mentioned earlier that I use mine when welding and painting. It helps a bunch.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

I have the Jet unit, and have used it for 5 or 6 years. Yes, they work very well

How loud is it? Why does everyone say they're loud? Like dust collector loud?

 

[Jackfre]

I have a JDS filter box. I’ve run it in my shop for about 15 yrs. Do they work? Work in the shop without hem and if you notice a bit of coughing…well!

 

[acer66]

I have a 20x20 furnace filter on each side of a box fan running continuously in my shop. I also have a blower fan mounted in a mobile box that I set up with 4 16x25 furnace filters as intakes.

I have a Dylos DC1100 air quality monitor. If I run sanders, etc without dust collection on particle counts skyrocket. The box fan will slowly knock out down (over 24 hours or so, on low). The blower fan setup takes 30 mins to clear the air to acceptable levels. Old pic attached, shop is laid out very differently now.

In short, yes these things work.

Nice, I like that it is sitting low.
Stumpy nub was talking about air filters and he said it makes more sense to have them low because if they are high they pull the dust from the machine below you up to the ceiling above you and you are in between.
Not sure if that holds up to any science based test though just sounds right imho.

 

[MadeByMiller]

I can't speak for the smaller units that you mostly see used for woodworking, but my Industrial Maid air scrubber is absolutely one of the top investments I made in my small shop, second only to my heater I suppose. I used to do a lot of welding/grinding in my shop, like 15 hour days, and the air scrubber almost entirely eliminated the haze, fumes, smell, and dust from all of that dirty work. I highly recommend it, and you can see it in my shop thread HERE

 

[paredown]

I inherited a Jet with my new set of tools--and it really helps. I'm doing almost all woodworking in a small (i car garage) shop. For source collection, I have a souped up Delta 220v for the table saw and planer, plus a Festool vac hooked up to the chop saw/handtools as needed.

I'm amazed at how much airborne fine dust that the Jet picks up. And since the door to the garage opens into the house, it's made a difference in the rooms closest to the garage as far as dust buildup.

One annoyance though--the Jet mounting points only let you mount it one direction on standard 16" joist spacing--apparently no one thought to add a second set of holes on the top (or a top bar arrangement that swiveled)--so I have mine pointed in a less than optimal direction.

 

[djjsr]

If you buy one, be sure it uses a filter that you can buy locally. The unit I got about 15 years ago had an oddball size filter that had to be purchased from the unit manufacturer. I built a box extension on the inlet so I could use common furnace filters. Works well.

 

[LeonardY]

I have a Jet for over 10 years. It less noisy than my Gorilla dust collector. It works well and I use whenever I am woodworking.
The right location in the shop helps too.
The jet has an odd filter size. I got the washable filter and it's been working well.
The best thing you can do is try to collect the dust at the source. When sanding I use a downdraft table.

 

[ar2stp48]

The Jet is 3 speed. I would compare it to a 3 speed box fan for low and medium; high may be a bit louder.

I have had no problem finding the exterior filters for it; I think Ace and W/M have both had them. They are 12 x 24 if I recall correctly. The interior filter is cloth and a factory replacement

Placement is important. I mounted it on a long wall of shop about a foot from the wall, with the blower output on near side to wall. Works great and creates excellent circulation.

The unit is a bit heavy and awkward to hang by one person but can be done

I was convinced the day I ripped a few pieces of 3/4 MDF; turned the filter on med; and watched the dust haze clear.


I was lucky and found my unit at an auction, both remotes, and both filters showed no dust. cost: $65





the

 

[turbowoodworker]

They are not loud at all. Nothing like the main dust collector.
The Jet, and others have two filters, a pre filter, that looks like the furnace filter and is easily replaced, and the multipleated inner filter.

 

[rbgearz]

They are not loud at all. Nothing like the main dust collector.
The Jet, and others have two filters, a pre filter, that looks like the furnace filter and is easily replaced, and the multipleated inner filter.

We put one in our grinding room and cuts down on the dust a lot. It's the Jet 3 speed and it's not loud at all.

 

[nadogail]

I will be buying filters and duct tape for my Box Fan this week.

 

[brownbagg]

got a 24 inch lovere fan on end wall, hell with filters, its will **** everything out the bldg in less than a minute. I pity my neighbors

 

[PoorUB]

got a 24 inch lovere fan on end wall, hell with filters, its will **** everything out the bldg in less than a minute. I pity my neighbors

Including the heat and/or cooled air conditioned air. I can leave a window open and the door on the other end and the breeze will blow right on through, but at -20F or 95F and 100% humidity it get a bit uncomfortable, that is why i use an air cleaner.

 

[PoorUB]

If using a box fan I would get five 20x20x2 filters and tape them together to form a box, then tape the open end to the fan. Cheap propeller type box fans don't move a lot of air if you choke them down and the larger filter area helps a lot.

 

[wes73]

I have the Delta one tarmy posted. Originally used when sanding drywall in each room of the house. Did a great job containing the dust to the one room with a door closed. Now it hangs in the garage on a timer switch. Run it when working, then set the timer before I leave. As said it works great with a dust collection system.

 

[jmiller_2308]

If using a box fan I would get five 20x20x2 filters and tape them together to form a box, then tape the open end to the fan. Cheap propeller type boxe fans don't move a lot of air if you choke them down and the larger filter area helps a lot.

I struggle with this type of a home grown solution. From a cost perspective does it really make sense to build a corsi-rosenthal type box when you can buy some low end hanging air filtration systems for less than $150?

Buying 5 20x20x2 filters of MERV 13 looks like it could easily cost close to $100. Now add in a dedicated box fan for another $20+ and you are getting awfully close to the cost of a complete low cost air filtration system that will have a remote, timers, 5 and 1 micron filtration, and a max capacity of roughly 400-500 CFM.

I like doing stuff myself and have been accused of "McGivering" plenty of stuff but in this case I don't understand the benefit of building vs. buying the solution. What am I missing?

 

[Youngandfree]

I struggle with this type of a home grown solution. From a cost perspective does it really make sense to build a corsi-rosenthal type box when you can buy some low end hanging air filtration systems for less than $150?

Buying 5 20x20x2 filters of MERV 13 looks like it could easily cost close to $100. Now add in a dedicated box fan for another $20+ and you are getting awfully close to the cost of a complete low cost air filtration system that will have a remote, timers, 5 and 1 micron filtration, and a max capacity of roughly 400-500 CFM.

I like doing stuff myself and have been accused of "McGivering" plenty of stuff but in this case I don't understand the benefit of building vs. buying the solution. What am I missing?

Got a link?

 

[mogandave]

Tough to beat a swamp cooler

 

[Metal-Marc]

I like doing stuff myself and have been accused of "McGivering" plenty of stuff but in this case I don't understand the benefit of building vs. buying the solution. What am I missing?

There is no benefit to themselves or to others. Check law #3.

Carlo M. Cipolla - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[PoorUB]

I struggle with this type of a home grown solution. From a cost perspective does it really make sense to build a corsi-rosenthal type box when you can buy some low end hanging air filtration systems for less than $150?

Buying 5 20x20x2 filters of MERV 13 looks like it could easily cost close to $100. Now add in a dedicated box fan for another $20+ and you are getting awfully close to the cost of a complete low cost air filtration system that will have a remote, timers, 5 and 1 micron filtration, and a max capacity of roughly 400-500 CFM.

I like doing stuff myself and have been accused of "McGivering" plenty of stuff but in this case I don't understand the benefit of building vs. buying the solution. What am I missing?

Well, the filters are needed no matter and disposible, most people have a box fan laying around. With 15 seconds of shopping I found 20x20x2 filters for $10 each. So about $80 all in.

A cheap Grizzly is $160 and up. The better ones, Grizzly and Jet are $500.

Sure it isn't a fantastic deal, but not as bad as your numbers.

 

[duneslider]

Got a link?

Powertec on amazon for 149 and free prime shipping.

 

[PoorUB]

Really the best deal is to find an old furnace blower and build a box, or do like I did and just use the lower portion of the furnace cabinet. You get a 1,000 CFM+ filter.

HVAC shops toss them in the garbage everyday so they have no value. Toss someone $20 to save a decent one and have at it.

 

[MongoTA]

I've had a Delta unit for maybe 20 years.
I use it for wood and metal. Works great for both. Three-speed is nice, as is the timer and remote.
Mine hangs on the ceiling of my basement shop on a small sliding frame. It can filter as is, or if I really want to generate fresh air exchange, I can open or remove a basement window from its buck. I can slide the fan back towards the window buck and all of the exhaust goes out the window with fresh air being drawn in from the other side of the shop.
If you think you need one, yeah, you probably do.
Home-built or bought, as long as it works, you'll enjoy having it.

 

[vrinner]

I use a box fan on low with a taped on filter when doing soldering of stained glass. I sits on top of my bench about 5 feet away and greatly reduces the fumes that I used to breath in a lot of. To me its a benefit having something more portable in a big shop.