120lb DIY Carbon filter

MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
took forever but here's the (almost) finished product. It took about 3 hours to make.

Parts:
1 4x8 1/2" plywood $12
Free cuts at Lowes.
3 52Lb Activated carbon $150( I didn't use all of one, and honestly this could be smaller)
Circular saw, or saber saw $25
Screen for a screen door $20 4'xwhat ever size you need
8in ducting coupler $5
Duct tape $10

Anyways the project should come to be around $150-205 if you have some of the things already but it was all made out of one 4x8 OSB

Eh it was a fun project I'll be looking for smell in my house tomorrow.. Should be gone, and video to come in the next few days and after flower to explain how it goes.

Ignore the mess that's the work in progress side of the grow room.

image.jpeg
 
S

Shugglet

Well-Known Member
The only thing that concerns me with custom carbon filters is the fact that the fan and filter need to work together. But hopefully it works out. Let us know.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Shugglet said:
The only thing that concerns me with custom carbon filters is the fact that the fan and filter need to work together. But hopefully it works out. Let us know.
Click to expand...
No they don't. Filter companies tell you to match it to buy them more often. An oversized filter has more surface area and the volume of air is moved slower and has more time to scrub the air.

Since there is more surface area it is actually easier on the fan.

One like the op's would last years and years I'm sure.
 
MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
No they don't. Filter companies tell you to match it to buy them more often. An oversized filter has more surface area and the volume of air is moved slower and has more time to scrub the air.

Since there is more surface area it is actually easier on the fan.

One like the op's would last years and years I'm sure.
Click to expand...
Very true, the fan doesn't change pitch at all so it's not stressed at all... It's pretty good so far, no Oder.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
MeGaKiLlErMaN said:
took forever but here's the (almost) finished product. It took about 3 hours to make.

Parts:
1 4x8 1/2" plywood $12
Free cuts at Lowes.
3 52Lb Activated carbon $150( I didn't use all of one, and honestly this could be smaller)
Circular saw, or saber saw $25
Screen for a screen door $20 4'xwhat ever size you need
8in ducting coupler $5
Duct tape $10

Anyways the project should come to be around $150-205 if you have some of the things already but it was all made out of one 4x8 OSB

Eh it was a fun project I'll be looking for smell in my house tomorrow.. Should be gone, and video to come in the next few days and after flower to explain how it goes.

Ignore the mess that's the work in progress side of the grow room.

View attachment 3821413
Click to expand...
I like it. I'm sure it will do the job.

I have one suggestion. Make it where you can switch end the ducting hooks to. On a filter that big it will use the carbon closer to the ducting more. Switching ends every once in a while will help.
 
S

Shugglet

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
No they don't. Filter companies tell you to match it to buy them more often. An oversized filter has more surface area and the volume of air is moved slower and has more time to scrub the air.

Since there is more surface area it is actually easier on the fan.

One like the op's would last years and years I'm sure.
Click to expand...
I can assure you your logic does not hold up for an undersized filter. But you do make a good point on an oversized filter, as long as it doesnt prohibitively tax the fan, which doesnt seem to be a problem here.

I guess my only other question would be, how oversized is your filter. Obviously its a moot point now, but for those who may venture down the same path Id be curious.
 
MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
I like it. I'm sure it will do the job.

I have one suggestion. Make it where you can switch end the ducting hooks to. On a filter that big it will use the carbon closer to the ducting more. Switching ends every once in a while will help.
Click to expand...
Not a bad plan, however I. Can feel the air pulling through at around the same rate all around. If that changes then I'll do that, only have to inscrew 6 screws and empty/refill it.
 
MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
Shugglet said:
I can assure you your logic does not hold up for an undersized filter. But you do make a good point on an oversized filter, as long as it doesnt prohibitively tax the fan, which doesnt seem to be a problem here.

I guess my only other question would be, how oversized is your filter. Obviously its a moot point now, but for those who may venture down the same path Id be curious.
Click to expand...
This should be good enough to have a 1000-1500cfm fan on it, I base that off of the air pull I feel from this compared to the one I'm getting from a paired set I have.. That one sucks about 2x the amount this one does... So by that logic this 750cfm should be able to be doubled. But hey I don't need that lol, just want want smooth air flow with no Oder.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Shugglet said:
I can assure you your logic does not hold up for an undersized filter. But you do make a good point on an oversized filter, as long as it doesnt prohibitively tax the fan, which doesnt seem to be a problem here.

I guess my only other question would be, how oversized is your filter. Obviously its a moot point now, but for those who may venture down the same path Id be curious.
Click to expand...
Of course than logic doesn't hold up for an undersized filter. That would be opposite of what I just said. I have a homemade one that holds quadruple the carbon than the stock 4 in.

I also rebuild and refill mine. I also bake the carbon to reactivate it. People will say it wont work but it does and it has been put to the test by cops being with in 50 foot of my exhaust.

I made the one out of a 3 gallon bucket. I don't have a finished pic.
IMG_20160108_194529497.jpg IMG_20160319_170819816.jpg IMG_20160329_212335966.jpg
I remove the synthetic mesh and replace with metal screen so I can bake them.

I would go up two sizes above the fan size.
 
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MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
Of course than logic doesn't hold up for an undersized filter. That would be opposite of what I just said. I have a homemade one that holds quadruple the carbon than the stock 4 in.

I also rebuild and refill mine. I also bake the carbon to reactivate it. People will say it wont work but it does and it has been put to the test by cops being with in 50 foot of my exhaust.

I make the one out of a 3 gallon bucket. I don't have a finished pic.
View attachment 3821894 View attachment 3821895 View attachment 3821896
I remove the synthetic mesh and replace with metal screen so I can bake them.

I would go up two sizes above the fan size.
Click to expand...
If I need to reactivate mine I'm going to do it with a burn pile with it in pot or two that are trash anyways... That was I can get it as hot as possible ridding it of as many impuritys as possible.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
MeGaKiLlErMaN said:
If I need to reactivate mine I'm going to do it with a burn pile with it in pot or two that are trash anyways... That was I can get it as hot as possible ridding it of as many impuritys as possible.
Click to expand...
An outdoor gas burner would work. 500 for a few hours in the oven works but it stinks awful. Not like weed but like coal.

I got an old oven in an out building. I wired it for the broiler and oven elements to both turn on. Lined it with those stones that go in wood burners. It does the job.
 
MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
An outdoor gas burner would work. 500 for a few hours in the oven works but it stinks awful. Not like weed but like coal.

I got an old oven in an out building. I wired it for the broiler and oven elements to both turn on. Lined it with those stones that go in wood burners. It does the job.
Click to expand...
For me a fire pit is easier and less to worry about.. Just let it sit at the bottom and have the fire built around it, nothing to clean or move just let it cool off bring it in and pour it back into the enclosed and duct tap it up. Also the area where the carbon goes could be a bit smaller if you wanted to get away wit around 75lbs just make the interior 9.5in the exterior is 12".. Perfect for my cheap ass not eating to buy more than one piece of plywood.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
I'm not meaning to be rude but I see a dead tomato plant and dirt on the floor and stuff. A good cleaning job goes a long was to preventing pest like mites.
 
MeGaKiLlErMaN

MeGaKiLlErMaN

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727 said:
I'm not meaning to be rude but I see a dead tomato plant and dirt on the floor and stuff. A good cleaning job goes a long was to preventing pest like mites.
Click to expand...
It's dead because it lost half its roots when I brought it inside, the dirt is from the carbon and just moving the tomatoes around... When I brought them in they turned out to have mites... But the ladybugs are to the rescue.
 
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