Home Made Dust Collectors

[Stromey]

Hi All,

I'm just looking for some advise. I can't afford even the basic dust collectors, so I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to create a home made one. I have read on line about taking a box fan and making one out of furnace filters but I can't find any plans/instructions.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks

Dave

[Dan S]

Hey there,
As far as I know to make a filter from a box fan you just attach a filter the same size as the fan to the back side of it. You can do something similar with the squirl cage type fans like you see in some swamp coolers and other equipment. Hunt arround your local flea market and get creative.

Good luck,
Dan

[johncarves]

It's so simple it is scary! Get the right size air conditioner filter at Lowes or Home Depot. And a roll of duct tape. Duct tape a filter over each side. Cut the fan on!

Some cheap box fans won't handle the extra load of the filters so always keep a check to make sure your motors not about to blaze up. Never leave a running fan unattended. I do not recommend this as a permanent solution.

I was doing some really heavy grinding inside and used a set-up like this in addition to my regular dust collectors. I was really surprised by how much dust it trapped.

[Goody]

Unless you have a filter that goes down to 3 microns all a dust collector does is move material. Even my big two bagger is worthless without the special bags. Its the dust that you can't see that does most of the damage to your lungs. Most dust collectors move the dust away from the immediate work area making you more comfortable. It removes the larger particals and blows the small stuff back into the room, you walk around breathing it. You can use your fan idea to move particles away from you but I would also but a fan in a door way or window and open a second outside air source to evacuate room air as much as possible. I recently went to a Trend Airshield. These aren't cheap! But Its a lot cheaper than a trip to the Er. Due to some recent problems I have been told I have lung damage and had to give up working with wood. The Trend Airshield is the only alturnative I have.
The best Dust Collector in any Shop is your Lungs! They are just not replaceable!
Goody

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Goody

Unless you have a filter that goes down to 3 microns all a dust collector does is move material. Even my big two bagger is worthless without the special bags. Its the dust that you can't see that does most of the damage to your lungs. Most dust collectors move the dust away from the immediate work area making you more comfortable. It removes the larger particals and blows the small stuff back into the room, you walk around breathing it. You can use your fan idea to move particles away from you but I would also but a fan in a door way or window and open a second outside air source to evacuate room air as much as possible. I recently went to a Trend Airshield. These aren't cheap! But Its a lot cheaper than a trip to the Er. Due to some recent problems I have been told I have lung damage and had to give up working with wood. The Trend Airshield is the only alturnative I have.
The best Dust Collector in any Shop is your Lungs! They are just not replaceable!
Goody

Ya, that's why I use a good over the nose and mouth filter. And I have an industrial type air cleaner too. And ear plugs for the noisy things.