Using box fans instead of ceiling fans?

[kywildcat]

I have been thinking about hanging 4 or 6, 20" box fans from my ceiling instead of regular ceiling fans. I figured to hang them down about 8 inches from the ceiling to get the air flow. Has anybody else ever tried this? The box fans are cheaper, and you dont have to worry as much about raising something up into the blades like you would a ceiling fan.

 

[ptschram]

I have three of them going pretty much all the time I'm in the shop.

One is vertical, one is horizontal and one is portable.

Cheap, work well, easily replaceable.

 

[Falcon67]

I found one like this at HD
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200361823_200361823
and used some hooks to hang it in a couple of places. Moves way more air than a box fan. But - don't drop it or it's toast LOL.

 

[daveroy]

The only down side I see... is noise. Box fans, even on the low setting are noisy. And you wont realize how out of balance most of those cheap ones are till you hang them from chain and watch them start to swing! (fun to watch!)

 

[58Yeoman]

Last year, I bought three new ceiling fans at garage sales for $8 or less each, still NIB. So far, I've only got one up, though. All are 42" and white.

 

[malibu101]

In the summer, depending on how your garage is vented and insulated.
You could be blowing alot of hot air down at you.

 

[glntom]

My experience hanging box fans on side or on angle(over my wife's horse stalls) has been they do not last long. The bearings do not seem to be made to take the load imposed by the position.

 

[ptschram]

My experience hanging box fans on side or on angle(over my wife's horse stalls) has been they do not last long. The bearings do not seem to be made to take the load imposed by the position.

I've got one that is completely horizontal, runs 24/7 and has been going for better than two years.

 

[glntom]

I've got one that is completely horizontal, runs 24/7 and has been going for better than two years.

Thats great, mine only last 2-3 months running 24/7. Probably a difference in quality here.

 

[kywildcat]

Seems like alot of people do it this way, so I'm going to Walmart this weekend.....

 

[Orangestang]

I've done it and it works fine......

 

[ptschram]

Thats great, mine only last 2-3 months running 24/7. Probably a difference in quality here.

The best case would be that I got them at Wal-Mart, most likely, Dollar General!

My father in law used to use box fans in his restaurants. Once a month, he'd take them outside and hose them down. Those that didn't survive got replaced.

The fan that I have horizontally mounted is perched on two shelf brackets. When the weather changes, I turn it over so it is blowing down in cold months and up in warmer.

The vertically mounted one is screwed down to the piece of lumber that my overhead door is attached to.

Neither one seems to vibrate too much and they don't bother me too much.

 

[buddyboy]

take a look at the difference in wattage.

just guessing but i would think a box fan (90 to 130 ??) would be higher than a ceiling fan (50 to 90 ???).

i could be way off

 

[glntom]

The best case would be that I got them at Wal-Mart, most likely, Dollar General!

My father in law used to use box fans in his restaurants. Once a month, he'd take them outside and hose them down. Those that didn't survive got replaced.

The fan that I have horizontally mounted is perched on two shelf brackets. When the weather changes, I turn it over so it is blowing down in cold months and up in warmer.

The vertically mounted one is screwed down to the piece of lumber that my overhead door is attached to.

Neither one seems to vibrate too much and they don't bother me too much.

These fans are seasonal items here, some have come from dollar general, some from Walmart. Occasionally one will go a whole year, most go just a few months. It also could be the enviroment in the barn, fairly dusty. I have tried keeping them "blown out" and even have drilled oil holes in a couple, helps for a short while.

 

[klhitman]

if you know a hvac guy you could get some scroll cage blowers for cheap and put plugs on them and they don't care how they are mounted and usually blow more air

 

[ssathre]

I have been looking at this the last few trips to harbor freight. you could mount this upside down or on a shelf and get 1500 cfm of air movement. costs a bit more, but they do have that 20% off coupon out now.

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-portable-ventilator-97762.html

here is another and a bit cheaper, but still more than 3 or 4 box fans. but for the little extra I think this might last longer and achieve more air movement. your mileage may vary...

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-blower-with-variable-speed-dial-93231.html

 

[ssathre]

I have been looking at this the last few trips to harbor freight. you could mount this upside down or on a shelf and get 1500 cfm of air movement. costs a bit more, but they do have that 20% off coupon out now.

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-portable-ventilator-97762.html

here is another and a bit cheaper, but still more than 3 or 4 box fans. but for the little extra I think this might last longer and achieve more air movement. your mileage may vary...

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-blower-with-variable-speed-dial-93231.html

lol, well I just looked up the cfm for a 20" box fan. it's 1000 cfm more than what I sent you to at HF. I'm just going to shut up now.