Hanging air filter discussion and recommendations

[Jbmotorsports]

I already have some box fans with filters and they do a good job but especially when wire wheeling rust it seems to rise immediately so I've been looking into the hanging systems to supplement.

My space is 28x28x13 so about 10k cubic feet. I can't decide if I should get a singler larger unit or 2 smaller ones (or more I don't know). I'm considering a diy solution as well but I have a lot of projects to get started on so I really just wanted to get em and toss them up and continue on for the time being.

I generally like things quieter as I listen to podcasts etc when I'm not wearing hearing protection which is why I consider the smaller ones as I could run one on low if light work or both on high if needed. I don't want to get into diy options as that will send me down a rabbit hole of blower fans, speed controllers, particle detection and I have to put blinders on right now

 

[tarmy]

I have two different ones in two shops. I have found that where you put them is very important to function. In my 9’ high garage I have it directly over my table saw setup and in the middle. Works great. The other shop in 10’ ceiling and the area is much bigger area and doesn’t work as well. Do not buy a Delta…****. The Jet has worked great for many years.

 

[nadogail]

I watched a TED talk on YouTube and fabricated my own from a repurposed Box Fan and some Furnace Filters

I should have used better Duct Tape, but it worked great until the adhesive gave out.

 

[racecougar]

You might not want to DIY one, but a decent furnace blower can outperform the majority of the more entry-level (sub-$1k) scrubbers out there.

I built this one entirely out of scraps: bed frame rails, galvanized sheetmetal from an old furnace installation, a direct drive furnace blower fan (squirrel cage) with a 10" x 8" wheel, and some odds and ends. I reuse the used 20"x20"x3.5" Merv 15 filters from my home HVAC unit and pre-filter with cheap 20"x20"x1" Merv 9 filters.

It works exceptionally well in my 30'x60'x12' metal working shop. I've been completely impressed with its ability to prevent the usual grinding / welding haze. I do change out the pre-filters pretty often, as they turn brown with rust/dirt/etc quickly. The upside is that all that junk is being caught by the filters instead of floating in the air.

As far as noise goes, it's pretty darn quiet. Much quieter than my air circulators, but not as quiet as my mini-split.

 

[racecougar]

Here's a video of it running:

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Figured I'd update: I pulled the trigger on this unit and got it installed last night https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MK6LB85/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I gotta say I'm quite impressed with how much air this thing moves. My shop is 28x28x13 and mounted close to one wall and 11 or so feet high it creates a noticeable current in the shop. It is quite loud even on the low setting though which isn't an issue during the work but I wish it had an even lower setting. It had a bad vibration when initially bench tested but I took some time and made "adjustments" to the cage fan to smooth it out. Could be an issue for the not as mechanically inclined. It also has an odd size filter I'll need to see if the standard 10x20x1 size fits or if it's a hair too big

The problem I noticed already and will need to come up with a solution for is that after 10 minutes or so of grinding rust the filter is completely covered already. I may make an adapter to fit a larger filter (current is 10x20x1) maybe just 4" deep one or make an adapter of some sort to use a much larger one, or even a washable pre filter? Would like some opinions on that.

I may end up making a second unit diy version. I'd like to have one that can run at a much lower speed and volume as well as supplement when making lots of dust. The alternative to that may be making a filter setup for the mini split, it gets really dusty as is and is in the perfect location to complement the hanging one

 

[Rst277]

I try to do real dirty work like that outside. The odd filter size is too make you buy their filters. You can probably rig up some cheap furnace filters in front as pre filters.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Unfortunately outside isn't an easy option as it's on the lift and not easily moveable but yeah I agree. I think a generic 10x20 filter will fit so I ordered a 4" filter to try out. Would be nice though to have an easily removable/magnetic pre-filter that I could grab with something like those robot grab hands.

I wish I would've done something like this sooner, it makes such a big difference