Carbon filter rebuild

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Forgive me if there is already a post somewhere about this. My search didn’t bring one up. In another thread talking about best brands for carbon filters it was brought up that you can refill some (all?).
It’s something I’ve meaning to do so here we go:

Phresh 6x16

Ordered:
“4x8 mesh sized activated carbon”

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Drilled out rivet heads with 1/4” bit and popped off with pliers.


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M.O.

Well-Known Member
Thread posted too fast so let’s see if I can fix it here.

keep the foam:
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Noted level of carbon
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Open the bag carefully and tape to side with packing tape.

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And inside
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then you’re ready to dump. I just covered with trash bag and simple.
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Used a plastic cutting board for a guide and a 5 gallon bucket to fill.
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fill and then jiggle it. Just a lil bit. Ha okay a lot!

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poke with a chop stick

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foam
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foil tape for the win
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M.O.

Well-Known Member
I still can actually I have two. One is still in use though so it’ll be a few weeks before I get there.

I shook and smacked the F out of it though. And added. Shook and smacked. Added. Went until that stopped. Forgot to add that note!

surprised no one called me out on the crappy foil tape job:p
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
With a super rough estimate here looks like you’re right on, thank you! @Paddletail

On a bathroom scale is the only way I can check for now weighing the old waste and what’s missing from the new bag.

9.5 lbs. was in there and looks like the new bag is only 8 lbs lighter… roughly right but still more to go.

I can easily reopen and keep packing. We’ll see how close I can get it. I honestly never thought of that so thank you!
 

Paddletail

Well-Known Member
Hit up a pawn shop and buy an old used concrete vibrator or maybe rent one from a box store for a few hours. That thing should drop the level a few inches. I just have seen a few try and fail in the past. Not trying to be an ass, just trying to keep you out of jail.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
All good, I really appreciate it. I’m in a legal state (MI) and keeping it within the rules so I can afford some experimentation. Still I want to get this as close as I can. I realize the Phresh out of the box will be superior and would tell anyone they are great filters.

I have a really heavy duty 1/2 sheet sander I was hoping to not need. Not sure what others would have to create that kind of vibration. I’m betting that’ll work but I’ll be honest if it fails. They’ll get tested over the next 2 months too.

Honestly if we find this idea sucks I’m happy to take it out back and bury it with the compost.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Round two.


Reopened, dumped and I was 1.5 lbs shy from the original weight.


Filling slowly as I turned it and tapping with a hammer from the bottom I was able to get it to within a few ounces shy. My sheet sander (with some ply in between and filter covered) did what seemed a good job on low setting but the hammer and overloading it a bit and pressing it in carefully was better at the top for sure.

Thinking about testing the concrete vibrator for the next two I need to do. Would just need a small one I’d guess.


I took at least an hour doing this maybe more as I didn’t want to give up with that last 1.5 cups volume of material. At that amount my scale isn’t accurate anyway.

Still need to test it. With that said I’m extremely optimistic. Also counting on two of these to do a slightly bigger job than one was before.

If stealth is critical don’t try this. Not exactly a hot topic but I’ll see it though to actual use and let ya know.
 

Paddletail

Well-Known Member
Careful with the concrete vibrator as it might make your teeth jump out of your head. Those things are powerful.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Haha nice. Did someone you know do that successfully? The sheet sander will rattle your hands to the bone to where you need a lot of your weight to stop it from kickin. The problem was that at the top it was too loose and I had to switch tactics to keep from making a huge mess.
Air feels good pulling through it and it smells clean but there is only one true test.
 

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
There's no reason it shouldn't work well, you got 99% full with fresh carbon, it should be just as effective.
Well done.

How much were the carbon pellets?
 

Paddletail

Well-Known Member
All you need is 1 small "weak" path for the air to travel through...

Owned a concrete/construction business many years back and had a few of the vibrators so know the power they have. Every time I see someone fail at an attempt to repack what they pull out and bake I have always thought to myself how wonderful one would work here.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
There's no reason it shouldn't work well, you got 99% full with fresh carbon, it should be just as effective.
Well done.

How much were the carbon pellets?
This was actually my initial thinking. Seems like it should be easy.

I’m agreeing with Paddletail though as I’ve packed and now repacked. Just one spot where air can easily pass and it’ll blow it. That 2nd try I got a ton more in. 1.5 lbs missing was a lot.


I do think it’s doable but I also don’t expect one filter to take care of the super dank. In total I’ll have 2 like this in flower room for exhaust and one stand alone refilled scrubber that can go between flower room and dry tent.

I went deep on this experiment with some steadfast determination. I purchased a 55 lbs. bag for $260 shipped. I used EnviroSupply and found their merchant on Amazon saved me $10 vs their site. Not bad though, 10 lbs fills one filter this size so I’ll get five refills. One new Phresh would be $180 I think or around


Think if I need more vibration I’ll leave it sealed and vibrate, then open and pack if possible.

I have the new one scrubbing some air for a test. I can tell it’s working. Excellent actually. So relived haha.

Would it work as solo exhaust though, I can’t say yet.

Last note, sorry long post. The mess doing this was minimal. Not even considering this stuff is anti-toxic. Probably the nicest stuff I mess with growing in soil mixes.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Since it’s not actually for concrete?
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or would that thing be a total PoS? lol

At that price I might just buy one and return if if sucks.
 

Paddletail

Well-Known Member
Most likely will be returning that. Good ones are pricey. Best off finding a rental place and paying for an hour or so. Maybe drive up to a concrete crew and give them a case of beer for 5 min use of theirs.
 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
For vibration try a hammer drill and spin the chuck on the filter, use a piece of wood/plastic whatever to prevent damage.

Where did you get the carbon to refill it and is that as good quality as the original phresh activated carbon?
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
For vibration try a hammer drill and spin the chuck on the filter, use a piece of wood/plastic whatever to prevent damage.

Where did you get the carbon to refill it and is that as good quality as the original phresh activated carbon?
Hell yea, that’s another great idea for some vibration. I have a decent air compressor too thinking pneumatic hammer maybe. Something to consider!

Check out EnviroSupply for the company I used. There are others but they just do carbon filter tech. You can order from their site but I found them on Amazon and saved $10 after shipping cost. It is exactly the same stuff as far as I can tell.




The low tech hammer tap seems to have worked. Just takes some time. You need to fill slowly, tapping and packing little by little the whole way.

My current flower run was getting past the old exhaust filter. The new packed scrubber is completely scrubbing that air. If I have the time and can get up motivation to move my plants I’ll try to install it for the end of this flower run.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Most likely will be returning that. Good ones are pricey. Best off finding a rental place and paying for an hour or so. Maybe drive up to a concrete crew and give them a case of beer for 5 min use of theirs.
Good to know. I’ll save my money for now and see if I can improve repacking my 2nd and 3rd. Time will tell!
Super optimistic with it scrubbing so well.
Vivosun attempt coming soon.
 

M.O.

Well-Known Member
I took a closer pic of the original waste:

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and the new stuff which does look less rough

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But I’m pretty sure mostly the size is important. On the Phresh box it states
‘4/8 activated carbon’ but all I could find was ‘4x8’ and ‘4 8’
the size is right on though. It’s most definitely scrubbing.
 
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