Replies

1. 
   sjnkc | Feb 04, 2006 05:36am | #1

   I've been thinking the same thing.

   A fan, a box, some pleated furnace filters, how hard could it be?

   That Jenn Air fan should be able to be made to work

   I've been thinking as simply as a box fan with filters taped to each side.

   I'll watch this thread I love a home brew solution

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Feb 10, 2006 06:41pm | #2

   Here's what I did with an old 2 speed furnace blower, part of a sheet of MDO, some old trim and 4- 16"x25" furnace filters.  The filters are accessed by a side door at the rear of the box.  They are in progressing orders of fineness.  I replace the outer two at 1 month and 2 month intervals respectively.  The two inner filters (electrostatic and charcoal,) get replaced every couple years.  This will turn over the air in a 25'x25' room, with an open ceiling, in about 2 minutes on high.  It will even clean the air in the next room, another 25'x25' room, connected with a 9' overhead door in one corner pretty effectively.  Counting the cost of the MDO, blower, filters, etc, I might have $75.00 in this.Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

   
1. 
   sjnkc | Feb 10, 2006 09:25pm | #3

   The 4 stage filter Idea is great. Never thought of that.

   Now to find a blower motor.

   Thanks

   SJ

2. 
   Edgemaker | Feb 15, 2006 04:19am | #4

   I was planning to do pretty much the same thing you did.  In the planning process, I did some online research and learned that charcoal filter pads absorb chemicals from the air whether the filter unit is running or not and that, depending on the environment, they can "wear out" quite quickly, perhaps in only a few months.  One of the persons I consulted suggested making a slot for a charcoal filter pad but not putting it into the filter housing until it was needed, such as, for example, when working with lacquer thinner or some other VOC that needs to be removed from the air.  When the filter pad is not needed, it should be kept in an air tight container that has as little air in it as possible or wrapped tightly in several layers of plastic to prevent exposure to air.  Under those conditions, a filter pad would be expected to last a couple or years or longer.  My informant also said the same thing applies to charcoal filter pads in face respirators.

   I haven't built my unit yet, but finally have all the materials.

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Feb 15, 2006 06:00am | #5

   I used a charcoal filter for several years but pulled it out a couple months ago, for the reasons you talked about.  Right now, I'm just running three filters. Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

2. 
   mudman | Feb 15, 2006 06:24am | #6

   If you are talking about a stove vent I doubt that it has enough CFMs to work effectively. Like another poster did I would find an old furnace or central AC blower. The down side to those is the noise.

   Mike