The air filter is nearing the top of my aquisition list, but I have a question re its placement. My shop in in basement, and the area runs full width of house (but not length, I gotta share 🙁 ). So, down the middle runs the main supporting beam for the house, kind of a “partition in miniture.” Given that the only reasonable place to locate the filter is to suspend it from the ceiling:
- Will the beam have an effect on the filter’s efficacy from one side to another?
- Any general thoughts re locating the unit in any terms? (parallel to beam, normal to beam, close to beam, far from beam, etc, etc.
The shop is approx 25 x 20, the beam splitting the 25′ dimension.
Thank you!
Replies
I have no idea but if you have a model picked out call the manufacturer.. Well, if not in china!.
Sort of joking you but if you can ask the maker of the product they should know better than anyone.
I have a similar layout in my shop and lally columns to work around. I set up my most used equipment in a square around the column with my dust collector standing next to the column. I hung my JDS ambient filter from the ceiling. It is close to the dust collector and the workbench where I sand. I have the out flow pointed away from where I work and travel. I used open hooks screwed to the bottom of the joists and slipped the eyehooks of the filter directly on them. It gives me about 6' 4" of clearance underneath but it is still in an area where I don't walk under it. I have a flush beam so it doesn't block the air either way. If you have a dropped beam, you will likely have to run parallel to the beam if you are mounting close to it. Just make sure the out flow doesn't blow on you or an area that will create or disperse dust.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Ed,
I build all of the air scrubbers in my shop, and have them mounted to the ceiling, as well as sitting on the floor rolling on casters. Dust is only airborne for so long before it settles to the floor. Having a unit up high and down low helps to remove particulate that much faster. That being said, an air scrubber is not a replacement for a dedicated dust collector on each machine, as well as using an appropriate respirator where necessary.
One thing to keep in mind is that any air scrubber will produce copious amounts of exhaust. This tends to keep dust airborne and in motion especially in a small shop. I drape a piece of air conditioner pre-filter (static filter) loosely over the exhaust ports of my machines. With this just attached at the top, it acts as an diffuser.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
Here is some info I have collected over the years.
As important as the air cleaner size is how and where you mount it. Try to mount at about 8-10 feet above the floor (no lower than 6'or 2/3 of the floor to ceiling distance if less than 8' ceiling). Mount along the longest wall so the intake is approximately 1/3 the distance from the shorter wall. Mount no further than 4-6 inches from the wall.
The exhaust is the largest determiner of the circulation pattern. You are trying to encourage circulation parallel to the floor/ceiling so ceiling mounting is not recommended. Use a smoke stick (or a cigar) to observe and maximize circulation. Use a secondary fan to direct air to the intake if necessary. Also, consider that a standard 24" floor fan moves a lot of air and, in some shops, just positioning it in a doorway with a window or other door open can accomplish as much or more than an air cleaner. It's all in the circulation patterns.
The exhaust is the clean air so that is where you want to position yourself. Do not place the air cleaner over the a dust producer. That will guarantee that the operator will be in direct line between the dust producer and the air cleaner. The operator wants to be in the clean air stream. If the dust has to pass your nose to get to the air cleaner, you get no benefits. If you have an odd shaped shop, two smaller units may be better than one large one.
DO NOT RELY ON A AIR CLEANER TO ACT AS A DUST COLLECTOR. The purpose of and air cleaner is to keep airborne dust in suspension and reduce airborne dust as quickly as possible AFTER THE DUST PRODUCER HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.
Since the beam goes crosswise, and the width is not very different from the length of the shop, I'd put the air cleaner blowing parallel to the beam, halfway between it and the wall, roughly centered along the 20' direction. That way air flows down the room on one side of the beam, and back on the other side, with the partial division actually helping your circulation. Ideally it would be placed so your biggest source of dust is close to the air cleaner, but upwind of it.
If it doesn't cause enough circulation by itself, a fan placed on the other side of the beam, blowing the opposite direction, will help the circulation. A timer is also useful, since the best role of the air cleaner is to keep working to get rid of dust after you leave. It will kick up more dust than it removes at first, so having it on while you work might not always be a good idea.
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