The Standard DIY Air Filter Reimagined - The Model G
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- Ever tape an air filter to the back of a box fan? I've been doing this for years and it works really well. What I wanted to do was make filter changes easier and make the look a bit more classy while maintaining functionality. As always there is a ton of testing data for you to see how well the design works. Let me know in the comments what you think!
Buy Air Filter Kits here:
Model-G
www.etsy.com/listing/1631904250
All Kits
www.etsy.com/shop/The3DHandyman
Support the channel!
/ the3dhandyman
www.paypal.com/paypalme/3dhan...
====== SHOPPING LIST ======
(buying from these helps the channel)
FANS
Air King 20in Box Fan (best performance):
amzn.to/3Tbzl1O
Lasko 20in Box Fan (best price):
amzn.to/3c3nVNF
Pro HEPA Filters
AirDoctor: amzn.to/3zd27Zd
Blue Air 211: amzn.to/41GxWpU
Honeywell HPA 200: amzn.to/41HaBUQ
Levoit Core 300: amzn.to/3TKvz3l
MERV 16 FILTERS
Lennox Healthy Climate Carbon-Clean 20x20x5"
amzn.to/48qx4YQ
MERV 14 FILTERs
3M Filtrete 20x20x1" (2 pack)
amzn.to/3duBAxY
Nordic Pure 20x20x2" (3 PACK):
amzn.to/3Ovz8WJ
MERV 13 FILTERS
3M 20x20x1 (4 pack)
amzn.to/3DCrHIy
Filter Buy 20x20x2 (4 pack)
amzn.to/3hUCPbV
MERV 12 FILTERS
3M 4" (2 Pack)
amzn.to/48eeHGI
MERV 11 FILTERS
K&N 20x20x1 (1 pack)
amzn.to/3UN3mXo
3M 20x20x4" (2 pack)
amzn.to/48fKrLq
GAFFER TAPE
Better than duct tape for making your own single filter + fan combo
amzn.to/3AR6E4Q
AIR QUALITY SENSOR
Find out the air quality in your space
amzn.to/3RDubNi
The 3D Handyman is a 2 Point Media Production. Stay safe, stay classy! - Навчання та стиль
Babe wake up a new box fan filter layout just dropped
You're not wrong, I've been waiting ages and checking lol, this is the best source of diy air filtration on UA-cam
My daughter thinks my obsession is weird. IT'S MY HOBBY OKAY?!
I built a model c a year ago for resin printing in the house. It works really well. I didn't want to leave it running all the time, so I used esphome and a DIY air sensor based on a Wemos D1 Mini and the Adafruit SGP40. You can create automations in home assistant to turn on when the air is dirty, and shut it off when the air is clean.
That's a great idea! I hope to bring my air filter game up to that level some day soon. I'll be doing some 3D print related filtration videos in a month or two. Any particular filter you use?
I have been doing the same automated filter using separate sensor concept since 2019. Works great!
I absolutely love the scientific approach to making a simple and affordable solution to a common need! I’d love one of those demo units.
This channel is hand down the best source of information you can get on airfiltration for a home or shop! I hopefully find the time soon to follow your designs!
Thank you! I'll have several more videos out soon that cover canister filters and the 4 filter designs. Thanks for the comment!
I love this series. When visiting the in-laws with a house full of dogs i whipped up a quick fan+20x20x1 and slept like a baby.
It's remarkable how well they work with pets and if there is a box fan around, then they don't take much effort to make either. Thanks for the comment!
Great design, and good data. This concept is far supperior to the tape design i've been using for years. Well done sir!
Love to hear that! I figured it was time for an update to this classic concept
I really appreciate all the work you've put into this topic and sharing your results.
Thanks for this :) I've been building similar units for my basement woodshop and my garage to deal with sawdust and welding fumes respectively. I've been prototyping some refillable frames for activated carbon granules to help with smells too. I just discovered that commercially available refillable canister-style filters exist... Model B with the duct fan gives me some ideas for how to incorporate those
Awesome. I'll be doing a video on that setup soon. It's really good for cutting down on smells. I got a few different carbon canisters that look like I can take them apart but I haven't yet. What brand of canisters are you looking into?
Thank you for all the research and work you do. Indoor air pollution is a severely underestimated problem.
Thanks for watching! I'll be getting into even more detail on the subject in the next few videos
Glad to see videos from you again, love your presentation style!
This is some legendary work, sir. Thank you!
I appreciate all the time you put into your testing. I've learned so much from your videos!
This is very well done! Thank you for all the hours of research and collating the data
Thank you for all the hard work you do! This information has really helped.
Always good to see another video.
I was just thinking about taping a filter to a box fan. This seems like a more elegant solution
You’re doing some amazing work!!
Man, I love how in depth you go with the testing.
Very useful, good job!
Very thorough and straight to the point. Thanks!
This is an incredible amount of experimenting, data collection, and analysis. Really appreciate you sharing this information as it has helped me decide which way to go.
Great design and data! I love the scientific approach and appreciate your entrepreneurial spirit. Cheers!
I love the air filter studies you do, very thorough and detailed
Thank you! Many more to come
Thanks so much for the data. Really eye opening
I have been waiting for information on this. Thank you for this. Very informative.
Looks like a great simple design!
Thanks for sharing your results, especially the various filter brands. It's making me reconsider my go-to brand.
Thanks for a well done, very informative video demonstration of DIY air filters!
Thank you for all the work you've done for making air filters affordable
This is awesome!! I’ll be buying B and G kits next week!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Very nice information. I have wanted to use one of my lasko fans as a filter while I make dust during my home renovation projects. Subscribed!
Nice design. Thanks for sharing!
just causally dropping the most anticipated video of the year in the middle of the night
You're too kind! My goal was to get 1 video out in 2023 before midnight on the 31st, just made it.
Thank you for all the time and effort put into making these videos! Going to be making one of your model B's!
Awesome. Thanks for supporting the channel!
Looking forward to the next videos on the additional testing data
It’s great to hear you’re still making improvements to the designs!
It is a way of life. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the opportunity, I've been thinking about trying a filter on a box fan.
They are simple and effective. Also, they don't cost to much to try out, which is always nice
This is sweet can’t wait for the next video… planning on modifying a design like this to fit into my rafters. Thanks a ton
That's a great idea! A lot of people have asked about ceiling mounts lately. I might have to do a demo on that.
Thanks for the comment!
This is great. I use the tape design to filter air near my cat's litter box. Works amazing keeping the smell down and dust low
That is a great idea! I've got another concept for that particular use as well. Thanks for the comment!
yeah welcome back.
Happy New Years!
Thanks! It's good to be back. I have hundred of hours of footage for new videos but just haven't had time to cut much of any together. Hoping to change that starting with this one and following up next month with a few more.
Great video! Looking forward to picking up a kit.
Perfect timing! Finally had time to figure out which kit(s) I wanted for my needs and this video popped up. Just bought 3 kits 4” premium kits. Thanks!
Thanks Mike!
I love the work you are doing and the rigor you bring to your tests. With how sealed homes are these days, every home can find value with one of these fans. Keep it up!
Lots more data to come! I'll have a few more videos out soon that cover all the other filter types. Thanks for the comment!
Heeey happy to see you back!
Good to be back. I am hoping to have a lot more content out this year!
For box fan noise, I suggest testing the sound levels with the plastic protective grids removed. If you mount the fans where kids & cats can’t reach them, noise should be significantly reduced & flow increased.
Great video! Excellent advice.
Thank you for all your hard work in testing. Much appreciated. Surprised to see 3m perform so well.
Thanks for watching! At this point I've become a 3M filter fan boy. The Healthy Climate Solutions filter did work incredibly well tho, props to them.
excited to see a video from you again! please keep making content!
More on the way very soon!
Great videos - thanks for all the research!
Wow that looks so nice with the 3m tape too, so professional
Only the best. Thanks for the comment!
Very well thought out design. Seems like all edge cases have been considered and the final product looks to be quite efficient material and assembly wise. Well done!
Very happy to hear that. Thanks for the comment!
Excellent job, great content.
Yo, dis filter design is bomb!
Appreciate all the testing. I'm looking to filter my home because I don't have forced air.
Sure thing! If you choose the right filter, DIY air filtration should work really well for you. Thanks for the comment!
straight to the point, thanks man
Giveaway?! You are the air king.
Great update on a fantastic DIY project! Hope I get a filter :) . I've made my own box fan filter to supplement my HEPA filters
You are entered in the drawing! I hope to send it out later this month if the comments keep coming in as they have for the last few days. Thanks for the comment!
That is a great kit, I hope you sell a bunch! Looking forward to your 2024 content! Happy new year!🎉
Happy New year to you as well! Let's make it a good one.
Awesome idea and video.
Great design!
Thank you! Months worth of design and testing went into it. I've been using it all year and am really happy with how it performs.
Great design definitely better than my DIY version! Will love to try out this model G kit.
Happy to hear you like the design! Tried to make it as functional and original as possible. The first shipments just went into the mail today.
Love your videos planning on building a model B this spring!
Thanks for watching! I'm working on a DIY Model-B video that will be out later this month
Awesome work. Happy New Year!!
Thank you and Happy New year to you as well!
Very great content! Love it.
I am quite satisfied with my Model G, purchased two, one setup in the basement with the Air King, the 2nd will be shop and future cottage renovation setup.
Happy to hear it. Thanks for the comment!
I've created several similar filters, but I never thought about using foam or rubber feet to make it quieter, keep up the good work.
One thing I notice with these fans is that they are unbalanced sometimes and without adding weights to the blades, the feet help reduce the shake that translates into the floor. Thanks for the comment!
im gunna need to get that filter for my set ups!
I've started building filters based on much of your findings. Thank you so much! Would love a demo unit!
Happy to help. Lots more data coming out soon! Thanks for the comment
Your kit is a very nice design. I am starting to get enamored with the filtrete filters as the 1" 2200 which seems to have the same airflow as my 5" MERV 13 FilterBuy. They both perform well though. For the Lasko fan, I decided to remove the intake side grill to get a flatter surface and used 2 12" silicone bands which make the whole process much easier. I like to have the fan/filter blow toward the ceiling so I bought some plastic laundry baskets for them to lay on. I did find a cheaper all plastic fan that was both quieter and produced better airflow and the grill was flat which didn't require any modifications. Saying all that I would have probably gone with your kit if it had been available before I did my own thing this summer.
All good! That's a fine approach to the problem as well. I'm with you on the 3M filters. Their 1" high-MERV filters have almost as much filter material as the 4" Filterbuys. The smoke performance is also better. Airflow may be a bit reduced but overall it's worth it. Thanks for the comment!
I have nothing relevant to add-kudos for all your hard work. I’ve taped furnace fans to a 20 x 20 fan with limited success. I’ll be buying a kit soon!
Awesome. Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for watching
great video very informative.
very nice video .. Thanks
Very cool!
I've been waiting for more of your studies! Glad to see you've been busy at work with these, and even commercializing. I get that your focus is shop air filtration, just gonna point out that a big chunk of the in-home air purifier market might have more priority on noise, VOCs, and anything related to pets.
For sure. I have some modifications that I'll debut in an upcoming video that addresses all those things. I'm trying to come up with something that matches the performance of the best HEPA filters out there. We will see...
I think the kit should come with 3-d printed inserts to plug all the dust holes in the fan case. extra points for including fan balancing weights
I'll do a video on this at some point... I have not been able to find any shroud configuration on a single-filter + box fan design that actually improves performance, so it's hard to justify.
It's funny you mention balancing weights! I really like the concept but it's pretty technical to implement properly. I though about it for a long time after I found some Hunter brand lead stickers from the '80s
Some box fans can be really bad. That's part of the idea with the rubber feet on this design. The vibration goes gets canceled out at that point rather that trying to balance the blades.
Thanks for the comment!
These designs are awesome in my opinion. I have subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work! I think your model designs are better than Lasko's air flex box fan (box fan with a filter - that is indeed a real product). And I hope you have a happy new year!
Thank you much! I am familiar with that design. I thought it needed the ability to accept any size filer because those clearly work the best.
Happy New Year to you as well!
This is great. I wish I'd had one during last summer's wildfire season!
These works really well at pulling small amounts of smoke out of the air that leak in from the outside. Hopefully things aren't as dry this summer but if they are, you know what to do! Thanks for the comment
This looks way better than my one with snot green painters tape😅 Looking forward to the 4 filter variations.
An incredible amount time and energy put into this data and these designs. Thank you. Any thoughts on the economics of using a more coarse and cheaper pre filter that prolongs the life of the primary filter?
Thanks for the comment! I have tested this and found it to ruin the performance of the device. The static pressure load from a double filter is way too much for an box fan to handle even when using a super porous MERV 8 and a ultra efficient MERV 16. It was a disappointing result. I was definitely hoping to help extend the life of the MERV 16 but its not worth a 53% reduction in efficiency. A 4-filter cube (corsi-rosenthal style) with cheap 3M MERV 11s will perform way better than a double stacked filter on a box fan.
Its weird knowing there are other people out there obsessing over DIY air filters and all the data that goes with it just like me. Makes me feel warm fuzzy. Gonna need a filter for those fuzzies tho...
That is reassuring. I'll do a drawing at the end of the month for the free filter. Warm and fuzzy requires a touch of luck in this case
This is the kind of data consumer advocacy groups should be providing.
I bought some merv13 filters from filter buy because they were USA and great price. Immediately knew they were LOW quality garbage. Asked for a return with an explanation that i knew for a fact they were not what was advertised and they promptly gave me a refund and didn't even want them returned so i give them credit, they a are honest liars when caught. The filters were so pathetic i could see shadows behind it .
Id love to give that air king a try.
I've seen the same thing after buying from many brands for many years. 3M is the only place that I get consistent quality from. Other manufacturers seem to change their filter material from time to time with different performance results. Not that they don't perform well, just not as well as they should. It's a "you get what you pay for" sort of thing.
The air king is a solid fan! It's loud but it's my go-to fan for this style of filter.
Thanks for the comment!
Was just wondering when we would see a new video from you. Love the comparisons to commercial options
Thanks for watching! I'm hoping to have a lot more videos out this year. Last year was a busy one.
i was thinking about this channel a week ago, thinking he must be busy with the orders and not post a video for a while. I wish I could prototype accessories to sell as a personal business in the future. The product really got better. I think the only limitation for further improvement is the box fan itself which is low depth, inefficient at moving air.
Thank you! I would have liked to focus mostly on making kits and producing more content for the channel. Last year was the year of the unexpected. What I did manage to do was film a ton of stuff and design and prototype a few new concepts. Here's to a far more chill 2024 🍾
I found that inline fans are really great for a lot of applications even if they don't have the highest airflow. Box fan are cheap and compact and sometimes that's just what you want. There's a filter for every occasion!
Have you ever though about designing your own products? There are lots of good fusion 360 videos out there!
@@The3DHandyman thanks! looking forward to your videos! I find the videos inspirational on top of being informative and with excellent testing.
Thanks again for the great content!
I'd love to see a comparison at different decibel ratings. For instance best options at 50 db, 60 db, etc...
Thanks for the comment! I will add this idea to the requests
You have some big fans. ;)
I only need one for a small room, looks like a model G would suit me well. And depending on the needs/results I get I will probably look into the 4 filter versions. Not being able to breath properly begins to take even a mental toll.
For sure. Breathing is a must. You can always try out a taped up version to see if it is effective for you and if you want more, you can add more filters. In a small room the 5" filter from this video would likely perform as well as just about any HEPA filter. If you have any questions, don't hesitate
Thanks for all your effort.
I was initially confused by your statement to put the filter on the back of the fan. I understand why. my own thinking has been so focused on using these as a filter,
I forgot it blows out the front because that's what most people use these fans for. 😅
I'll just put it on the back and turn the fan around so the back becomes the front l o l
Glad I could help! 🙂
@@The3DHandyman You are welcome I plan to buy your kit
Planning to set up something like this for my laser engraver
It will help with particle capture but not that much with VOCs. I use a Model-B with an inline fan so that I can hook it up to a large carbon filter to remove smells/gases in small quantities. Extracting the fumes from the machine to the outside is also a good idea with this sort of thing. I'll have a video on this out in the next few weeks
I don't need a filter just wanted to thank you for the testing.
Thanks for the thanks!
We used to use a charcoal version for the grow room back in the day 😅
I'm sure you weren't the only one!
Nice suction bro!
Many thanks, bruh!
I love to have one please
Absolutely love your videos
Cool periodic table. I can't easily identify wood types and I bet that would help me. Another item added to my wishlist.
Also, thank you for all your research. It will help me out greatly!
I wondered if anyone would notice that! The website Wood Database has a ton of great info on every type of wood and I bought their poster so show my support. Here's a link amzn.to/48epYXy
1:35 - I would always clean the surface, first with dish-soap and then with Isopropanol.
I have some bad experiences with several "sticky-tape" products, but only because of a not clean surface.
This set looks very good.
True, if the fan housing is dirty it can effect adhesion. 3M VHB is some intense stuff though, so if there is a little something on there, it might still be able to handle it.
Thanks for the comment!
@@The3DHandyman - This Acrylate tape is interesting, very strong, water resistant and a bit expensive.
They have a "3M VHB Surface cleaner", but this is only Isopropanol, but for 500% of the price of the Isopropanol what I can buy in the local store.
@@mikropower01 Haha, I can imagine they would jump at the chance to upcharge for that. I have used VHB on painted surfaces that have a bit of oil on them and that is an issue. Dust does not hinder operation so much unless it's really caked on. I used it a lot doing signage/graphic design type stuff and once it sets it is a "very high bond"
Awesome to have you back leading the charge for us 👍. When can we expect the new variations using the CAT fan with a drum filter and/or paper filters?
I am hoping to have the next videos in the series out later this month that will cover the individual types and then a new comparison video where they all go head to head next month some time. Thanks for your paitence!
@@The3DHandyman fantastic … as always 👍. Can I be cheeky and ask you first post the Model B or A - whichever model uses the canister filter as the filtration as I’ve been waiting to build that because as you know we don’t have the furnace filters in NZ. I’m keen to pay for the plans and accessories too 😀
@@PeterWoolstonMusic I think you will like the accessories for the ne Model-E! Not quite ready to show those off yet though. Soon! The plans will be easy, all you need is a few wooden circles. You may not even need them if you want to keep the budget low.
Have you bought the fan and filter yet? Lat I remember you were thinking about looking for a year end deal or something.
@@The3DHandyman bought CAT fan - waiting on Model X for details before I buy the right canister filter as they are over $200 here and I can’t return the wrong one!!!!
@@PeterWoolstonMusic Fair enough! I hope to have that video out by the end of this month or early next month.
I've seen people say they can build units with computer fans that despite having slightly lower performance, have massively lower power draw and noise. I've always been skeptical of their ability to work at that static pressure. Have you experimented with this?
Edit: NVM I just saw your comment about it. Excited to see more.
Awesome. Thanks for checking the comments! I hope to have that video out next month.
Yoooooo... Subbed to get a look at that model C! That looks waaay better than my duck tape monstrosity.
Awesome. I'm moving onto the 3rd generation of the kit now and it is working niiice. Video will be out this month.
What a great and long research study on something that helps the everyday person. “All you need is scissors!”
I've always been interested in filtering the air. My house is very dusty. But buying a filter unit at the store is expensive, then buying the filters are expensive, And I can never remember what model filter each damn unit uses.
I have started using a higher quality 2" filter in my furnace ( the largest it will hold ), with a pre-filter to catch dog hair. But that still only does so much. The joys of living in a farm town, and when the farmers start harvesting, or grinding up the chaff after they harvest, The amount of dust in the air is visible. And in a 100 year old house, sealing the house is not really an option.
I like the design of this, it allows you to buy simple filters at any big-box store, And hell, could also buy one of those super cheap green filters, to catch the bigger stuff, like cat and dog hair, stopping them from clogging the actual filter ( which is what I do in my furnace ). The best part is, who DOESN'T already own a box fan? So honestly, The kit is probably cheaper than your estimates, as most people probably already own one.
Edit: Just wanted to mention. I took an old stanley ( and now a Lasko ) drum fan from walmart, Used cardboard and superglue, and made my own 3D fan using AC filter foam, that attaches to the intake of the blower fan. And I put the filter on a rail system, allowing the filter to slide in and out easily, for easy cleaning. Since doing that, Not once in 5 years have I needed to clean the dust filter from the window AC unit in my bedroom. And I'm the type of person that will turn the AC on if the temp outside reaches even 70f. So it runs A LOT, and never gets clogged with dust. The filter on the blower fan gets CAKED in dust, in only a few months. It works great, and was a fun little project.
I can picture the dust from the fields perfectly. My Grandmother's place had fields in all directions and no AC so windows were always open that time of year. Some cleaning required.
Drum fans are one of the best options for these. They have a fair amount of torque and push a lot more air compared to the standard box fan.
Pet dander/fur is a bit larger as you said, I think a MERV 8 can handle a lot of that stuff. Set up one of those in a friends dog kennel room last year and it helped a lot with her allergies.
Thanks for the detailed comment!
This is awesome. I’d love to see a comparison to the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty HEPA filter at some point. It’s been the recommended air purifier by NYT Wirecutter for several years, and I’d love to see how it stacks up against the others and against the model G. Thanks for all your hard work!
That looks pretty cool. Almost subwoofer-like. Definitely better looking than a box fan! Based on it's smoke CADR of 234, I would expect it to perform a bit better than the Honeywell HPA 200 from this video. So, in some cases the box fan+filter will outperform it, but the Conway has a lot of other features that make it a fine product.
Thanks for watching!
Really appreciate the effort you put into these videos, was wondering about your thoughts on PC fan air filters that people are discussing on Twitter? They're much quieter than box fans, but I've seen conflicting opinions since they may not be able to move as much air (very dependent on fan brand and number of fans used in the design).
Good question! If you have a lot of PC fans they can move a reasonable mount of air but the noise level goes up quite a bit. I'll be testing with something like this in an upcoming video.
General impression is that they would be fine for a desktop/bedside air filter but outside of that they can't realistically move enough air in "quiet mode" to do a meaningful level of filtration. If you are using a 200mm fan that gets 120cfm without a filter attached, with a filter that number my be cut in half. These fans aren't really designed with static pressure in mind. So if you have a 10'x15'x8' room where you are running the filter, it may be able to do 3 air changes per hour. Minimum recommended 6-8. So, 3 is pretty low and most of the dust in the air will settle out naturally at that rate without ever having gone through the filter.
With more fans you can overcome the lack of power but at the moment there are 6 PC fans a few feet away from me running on low and they are hardly whisper quiet. On high, you can hear them through the floor. Overall I like the concept, but they realistically only have a small area of effect.