Refilling carbon scrubber

Aby55

Well-Known Member
Hi all. I got a 2 or 3 year old 6 x 20 carbon filter I would like to refill.
My only issue is how much activated carbon pellets to buy.
I was thinking of taking out the carbon that's in there and weighing it but maybe 1 of you know a estimated amount I should buy.
I've already drilled out the 3 rivets and got it open.
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
Buy 20 lbs or more to ease shipping. Reliable sources on EBay where I ordered more Friday after changing pellets in my Active Air filter which comes apart with set screws. Done this for years. Don’t fall for filter maker propaganda that you can’t refill your own. Most are made of perforated SS and such a waste to use one time! Bounce it on its end for a few minutes a couple times and reassemble.

You can pull your filter apart and drain and weigh the pellets.
 

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
The right carbon is not cheap and it will need packing on a vibrating pad to get the same volume per area the manufacturers do plus some need rivets removing and replacing.

Not somthing id bother with but some companies offer or use to offer refill services.

:-)
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
The right carbon is not cheap and it will need packing on a vibrating pad to get the same volume per area the manufacturers do plus some need rivets removing and replacing.

Not somthing id bother with but some companies offer or use to offer refill services.

:-)
That’s the propaganda I was talking about, right there.
 

Boatguy

Well-Known Member
Even a How To and all and someone in the business being Honest!

Seems some folks were making DIY at one time with cat litter? Could have just been a nightmare.
I got my filter there. Only one run on it, hopefully wont be refilling for a long time.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't bother with that messy carbon from ebay for $40 when a brand new filter is $50. I made a DIY carbon filter years ago and had to fill it. It wasn't worth the hassle. It was messy and you can't really get the carbon packed tight enough just from tapping it on the floor. I use my old filters to filter the intakes on my tent. Just hook a short length of duct to them and run it through the vent openings. They don't go to waste and perform a vital function by keeping dust, bugs, and other foreign matter out of the tent and off the buds.

Wear a dust mask and do it outside. Good luck.
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
I run a 14 inch can filter and I have a backup ...once a year I take the charcoal dump it in a wash tub and rinse it, then I put sheet pans on my black roof till it bakes dry ...refill and ready for next run...just an option
Edit: I do this cause those babies run about $300 a piece but the smaller ones might just be better to replace
 

Aby55

Well-Known Member
I run a 14 inch can filter and I have a backup ...once a year I take the charcoal dump it in a wash tub and rinse it, then I put sheet pans on my black roof till it bakes dry ...refill and ready for next run...just an option
Edit: I do this cause those babies run about $300 a piece but the smaller ones might just be better to replace
I've been reading up on that haven't found much info. Does washing it and drying it really get it working again? That's the 1 thing including find. Is if it worked.
 

Aby55

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't bother with that messy carbon from ebay for $40 when a brand new filter is $50. I made a DIY carbon filter years ago and had to fill it. It wasn't worth the hassle. It was messy and you can't really get the carbon packed tight enough just from tapping it on the floor. I use my old filters to filter the intakes on my tent. Just hook a short length of duct to them and run it through the vent openings. They don't go to waste and perform a vital function by keeping dust, bugs, and other foreign matter out of the tent and off the buds.

Wear a dust mask and do it outside. Good luck.
I'm in state that is not canna friendly. So I was thinking trying to dump the old filters would be obvious but I guess I could break it down.

The filter I need even the cheap 6 x 20s are 75 and up unless I'm missing cheaper 1s.

I might give refilling a shot then buy a new 1 as a backup.
I like to dig. Stuff but I don't want to make a huge mess.
Maybe there's a cleaner way to refill it.idk
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
I've been reading up on that haven't found much info. Does washing it and drying it really get it working again? That's the 1 thing including find. Is if it worked.
2009 until today and I do have covers for them both to keep the dust out
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member
I'm in state that is not canna friendly. So I was thinking trying to dump the old filters would be obvious but I guess I could break it down.

The filter I need even the cheap 6 x 20s are 75 and up unless I'm missing cheaper 1s.

I might give refilling a shot then buy a new 1 as a backup.
I like to dig. Stuff but I don't want to make a huge mess.
Maybe there's a cleaner way to refill it.idk
I was quoting this 6 x 18" Vivosun on Amazon. It's what I'm currently using. My tents crammed and is really starting to stink but can't smell a thing in the garage until I unzip the door.

https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Australia-Charcoal-Pre-Filter-Reversible/dp/B01731MLFK
 

Aby55

Well-Known Member
That’s the propaganda I was talking about, right there.
Yea. I already got the rivets out and new bolts to go in the holes took about 5 minutes to drill out the rivets.
I'm either changing out the carbon or cleaning it. If that cause wrong and it's messy I'll just buy a new 1. When I have the funds. These 6x20s don't run cheap.
I might have a bigger filter then needed. But I bout the tent light and filter as a kit from hydrobuilder so I assume it's sized for the tent and light.maybe not.
I'm in a 4x4 with a 1000watt hps
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Yea. I already got the rivets out and new bolts to go in the holes took about 5 minutes to drill out the rivets.
I'm either changing out the carbon or cleaning it. If that cause wrong and it's messy I'll just buy a new 1. When I have the funds. These 6x20s don't run cheap.
I might have a bigger filter then needed. But I bout the tent light and filter as a kit from hydrobuilder so I assume it's sized for the tent and light.maybe not.
I'm in a 4x4 with a100watt hps
if you clean it you need to bake it to reactivate the charcoal, as far as rivets go a pop rivet gun is cheap and you just go up a size
 

Aby55

Well-Known Member
It needs to be packed densely but with a piece of wood almost the size of the opening that should not be hard to accomplish.
No definetly not hard. Just tamp it every few inches I put in. I would guess anyways.
The covert filter I have now doesn't seem to be packed.maybe it is though.
The top stuff was loose anyways.
 

Aby55

Well-Known Member
It's also reversible. Screws instead of rivets so if you want to refill it later yourself all you need is a screwdriver.
I'm definetly ordering that. Then I can put my air cooled light on the old 1 and buy another fan and use that new 1 for the tent air. Probably overkill but I think I'll have better luck controlling temps in the summer. Idk. I'm just spit balling ideas.
 
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