Build an Air Filtration System

[Gary Slater]

I have a med-lg squirrel cage blower and want to build an air filtraton box. Any good plans out there? I have found a couple on-line but was just wondering if anyone out there has actually built their own. Thanks!

[Steve Worcester]

Early on I built one. Not that tough. Basic box, a good washable filter,sealant,the blower and a switch. You may want to look at some Jet, etc., designs and design your particular system to take their pre-made 1st/2nd stage filters.

Post the links for the others you have seen and lets check those out.
How many CFM is the blower you have?

[Turnedoutright]

The unit show in
http://www.turnedoutright.com/2008/0...op-made-tools/

was made as an experiment after reading a lot on the subject.

I planned to build an advanced version of this after finding out if it worked.

I know this approach is not better than a professional unit but I was astonished how well this approach worked.
I replace the fine air conditioning filter every month and its filthy. I don't know what I could do to improve it other than put it in a pretty box or add one more at the other end of the shop.
I figure that if I'm collecting dust at this rate it must be better than nothing.
BTW this is in addition to my normal vacuum system.

I also like the fact that it is very quiet.

[Gary Slater]

Here are two web sites where I found plans for air filtration:

http://books.google.com/books?id=fYE...esult#PPA65,M1


http://www.rockslide.org/Images/air_filter.pdf

I had plans for a similar system from one of the woodworking journals a couple of years ago but have misplaced the article and can not remember which journal it appeared in.

[Malcolm Smith]

I heve a regular filtered dust collection system. I don't remember who makes it. The important thing is the filters themselves. There are aftermarket filters which remove much finer dust. In addition I wear a pressurized mask system while turning. If I'm sanding, I wear the mask and also run the regular collection system. I have both as they really don't do the same thing.

Malcolm Smith.

[rsser]

Yes, we should do all we can, but I do worry about whether it's enough. Seems current systems will let through a proportion of stuff at the damaging 4 micron and below size.

[Gary Slater]

I finally found the plans I was looking for. It was in part of a supplement to Shop Notes about two years ago. The article is titled "Shop Air Filter" and the supplement was "The Complete Small Shop". Due to copyright, I can not post the article. However, I can not find it online either. I might try posting some of it if our moderator can think of a way to do it legally.

The plan calls for about 3 bd ft of hardwood and just over half sheet of 3/4 plywood; a squirrel cage blower (you can pick up on ebay or at your local HVAC dealer-they get them used out of old furnaces etc.); and three pleted air filters. My guess is it would approach or exceed 1000 CFM with the right size blower. That will filter a 20' ft garage about a dozen times an hour!

Now, I found Jet's AFS-1000B at the local Menards on sale for only $160. So do I build my own or take the easy way out?

[Bob Edwards]

My "filtration system" doesn't employ a filter at all. I find a small fan blowing from the tail stock end and slightly away from me is the most effective dust control I have. This along with a dust mask from www.totobobo.com is all I have. I will add that in my shop I installed a window to the outside just three feet from the headstock end of the lathe. I also live in a climate where I don't have to heat the shop.

[Vinces WoodNWonders]

Like Malcolm I have a regular filtered dust collection system for the shop. I am installing a toggle switch just behind the lathe so I can better turn it on and off as needed. I have a floor sweep and a hose line dedicated to the lathe.

However more importantly I have begun using a very comfortable Totobobo face mask at all time when in the shop. I put it on when I put on my eye protection and it is so easy to wear and comfortable I forget I am wearing the mask partially because it is so light weight. It is absolutely incredible how much dust particles these filters will pick up. I had no idea!!! One thing for sure is that I no longer spend 2 days blowing dust out of my nose after working in the shop. If you need any info concerning this mask feel free to contact me at 1-877-284-8969 or www.VincesWoodNWonders.com.

Vince

[michael h]

I made a hanging dust collector with plans from the Fine Woodworking book
'Workshop (or woodshop) Dust Collecting' . It came out a few years ago and I believe was updated. Its a simple project, and quite a bit less expensive then a commercial unit,especially if you have plywood pieces around. I buy my filters through Grainger by the box and save a bit that way as well.
Of course its important to protect your lungs at point of dust generation , the boxes get the stuff that would otherwise float around your shop before settling or breathed in.
good luck,
Michael Hampel