Unofficial Dry-Vac Carbon Filter

The Goblin and Elf inspired me to do this. Suggested Retail: $108.95
(Pictured Left: Goblin Charcoal Filter)

Nothing against buying those, but this Shop-Vac® Carbon Filter is for those can't and still want to put a decent Carbon Filter together. As it is one of a growers most important tools of security.

The Shop-Vac® Filter Cartridge fits so perfectly flush, into the MasterFlow® Starting Collar, that Duct Tape might not even be required to seal that connection. Also there are multiple other brands of dry/wet-vacs and even generic multipurpose vac filters that will work exactly the same. Two filters can bet stacked together to create a 2x long barrel.

Virtually any screen can be used. For example, I have demonstrated using Stiffened Felt, then started it over again with the aluminum screening. There are generic 6" starting collars for slightly cheaper at your local hardware store that can be used as well. Reducers can even be used in place of the Starting Collar to create Cylindrical Screens.

The Collar, Screen, Canister, and Carbon are my filter's four main components. All of which can be found at Wal-Mart, although you might have to shop around at your the local hardware, pet, and craft stores.


(Pictured Above: MasterFlow® Starting Collar w/Screen inserted into Shop-Vac® Filter Cartridge and Filled with Carbon)
(Pictured Bellow: Proof of Life)
View attachment 1297516

Shopping List:
1 6" Starter Collar - $4.48
1 Shop-Vac Filter Cartridge - $9.99 (Walmart or Sears)
1 Half Gallon of Activated Carbon - $10.00
1 Square Foot of Screen or Stiff Fabric - $8.00- $1.00(One Sheet of Felt)
Total: $30ish Bucks

Forewarnings:
Not included in price estimate: 69 inches of duct tape.
If using Stiffened Fabric, might also require the use of sewing needles or glue to form cone or more duct tape.




Step 1. Cut a Circle out of approximately 1 square foot of your chosen "Screen". Cut a slit toward the center of the Circle (DO NOT cut the slit longer than the radius of your circle). Then Fold to create Cone and affix to "Collar" with Duct Tape.
(Cone Can be placed upside down into the collar for reverse airflow. Requires more carbon.)





Step 2. Insert Male End of "Collar+Cone" assembly into Female End of Shop-Vac "Cannister" and Seal with Duct Tape



Step 3. Remove Cover on "Cannister". Fill "Cannister" with "Carbon". Cover. Then Seal with Duct Tape.



Additional Tips:

Conical Shape is not completely necessary.
Secondary option is to tightly wrap the screen over one end of the collar like a drum. This method requires more carbon to fill the extra room in the cannister.

There are a multiple of other options besides the drum and cone screens. A third trickier rig would involve replacing the collar with a 6" to 4" reducer and the plastic end cap with another 4" to 6" reducer. Place one reducer 4" side up. Wrap the screen around the top to create a cylinder. Tape. Place cannister on top of that. Tape the bottom of the cannister to the reducer. Fill with carbon. Place second reducer on top of that. In this case lets go with 6" side down. Fill furter with carbon. Filling will be done around the screen cylinder poking through the 4" hole in the topside of the reducer. Once filled, trim the screen cylinder to be flush with the end of the reducer. Tape sealed. And put a 4" cap on it.

The Shop-Vac Cannister can be upgraded to the HEPA grade cartridge. Follow the link for more options.
HEPA without the carbon would be great for an INTAKE filter. Skips a step for making a screen as well.

The "Collar" and "Aluminum Screen" assembly can be re-used.
While, replacing the "Carbon" and "Cannister" will be a routine $20. Months that they last depends on quality of carbon and filter.

Activated Carbon Pre-filter is strongly suggested.

Although, Buying the collar isn't completely necessary, if you have a miscellaneous 6" duct piece that you think can work, give it a try. For ventilation systems that are 4" or 8", Reducers can be used in place of the collar to better integrate into the desired system.

Extras: Any Other Hacks to the Dry-Vac Filter will be added here.
Foam Sleeve


The Crafstmen Filter

Special Filter for Cleaning Fireplaces. In other words, it is specified to work with burned charcoal.
"Ultra Web"

Pre-Filter?

PurpleRhinoceros said:

Pictures added, so it's ready for a sticky. I can't let my friend PappaBear have the only DIY sticky on RIU

I hope that replicating this will be so easy, that anyone can go out and put one together. The shop vac fits perfectly into the collar. Any screen can be used. I used Stiffened Felt for this one. Costs a buck for a sheet that is 18" x 12".

Shopping List:
1 6" Starter Collar - $5.00
1 Shop-Vac Filter Cartridge - $10.00
1 Half Gallon of Activated Carbon - $10.00
1 Square Foot of Screen or Stiff Fabric - $8.00- $1.00(One Sheet of Felt)
Total: $30ish Bucks

Forewarnings:
Not included in price estimate = 6(pi) inches of duct tape in three places.
If using stiffened fabric, might also require the use of sewing needles or glue to form cone or just go with duct tape like I did.

The collar, screen, canister, and carbon are my filter's four main components. All of which can be found at Wal-Mart, although you might have to shop around. If so, try the local hardware, pet, and fabric&craft stores.

Step 1. Cut "Pac-Man" type semi-circle out of the "Screen". Fold to create "Cone" and affix to "Collar" with Duct Tape.
(Conical Shape* not completely necessary. Another option is to wrap the screen over one end of the collar like a drum. This will merely just require more carbon to fill the extra room in the cannister.)
View attachment 1293243View attachment 1293250View attachment 1293239

Step 2. Insert "Collar+Cone" assembly into Shop-Vac "Cannister" and Seal with Duct Tape
View attachment 1293241View attachment 1293236

Step 3. Fill Cannister with "Carbon". Cover. Seal with Duct Tape.
View attachment 1293237View attachment 1293246View attachment 1293248View attachment 1293245



Additional Tips:
I realize my conical shape is ideal for pushing air out the filter, not for pulling air in.
For pulling air in, it's probably ideal to wrap the collar like a drum with the screen instead of like a dunce hat.

The Shop-Vac Cannister can be upgraded to the HEPA grade cartridge.
HEPA without the carbon would be great for an INTAKE filter. Skips a step for making a screen as well.

The collar and aluminum screen can be re-used.
Replacing the carbon and cannister is simple and only $20.

Click to expand...

wonderful man, my little girls ARE starting to stink already. and if i already had a fan i would just make one of these. but since im buying a fan im just going to get a fan/filter combo.


but this is great information man, do you use this? hows it work?

+rep

S-D-T

great job, the concept is great.. looks like it will work. does it?
the felt might need to be rethought although it might work great.

Yeah, the aluminum screen is definitely preferred. I just have ALOT of stiffened felt from my DIY fabric pots project. I just collect the different colors on sale. You can make a you're own fabric pot for the price of a fabric pot ($2). The only reason you would make it yourself is to give it a special design, or because you don't have a hydro store. (I have a hydro store). That I even brought in some of the fabric pots I've made. It's just really time consuming and you will realize that you will acquire more felt than felt-pots. (Running off topic)
Edit: Best fabric pot design is currently Green Felt with the top folded over to resemble a plumbers pot.



But yes, it works, even with my can-fans.
I know, cheap :/ But fits like a glove and breathes like a sock.

My intake is actually just the HEPA one(no carbon). I bought it on sale for like $15 bucks. Right after I payed $10 for the regular white one, which I'm using for my exhaust. Of course, filled with carbon.

Great idea man +Rep

Thanks Guys,
I'll let everyone know how long it takes for the filter and carbon to be replaced, once I figure it out myself.
Also, I'm going to get the aluminum screen and re-do the "Cone+Collar" assembly, just so this thread will be more legit.

And, that felt pot pictured above is not mine. My design is much better and much more layered. I'll post that DIY thread later when time permits. Just the one thing everyone has known ever since childhood, the plants that come out of the green pipes, "Spit hot fire".

That's a very interesting idea man. We just bought some of that exact charcoal to rig-up/re-purpose an old household air cleaner. Isn't the shop vac loud as all hell though? We have a tiny shop vac and when it's running my ears just about bleed out. =(

brownbearclan said:

That's a very interesting idea man. We just bought some of that exact charcoal to rig up/purpose an old household air cleaner. Isn't the shop vac loud as all hell though? We have a tiny shop vac and when it's running my ears just about bleed out. =(

Click to expand...

I'm not using the shop-vac itself, just the replacement filter. It is actually hooked up to my inline booster fan. (It's a stealth operation.) (More so, it is a cheap operation)

This filter is outside my grow-box and dank-air from inside is being blown through and out of this filter.

PurpleRhinoceros said:

I'm not using the shop-vac itself, just the replacement filter. It is actually hooked up to my inline booster fan. (It's a stealth operation.) (More so, it is a cheap operation)

This filter is outside my grow-box and dank-air from inside is being blown through and out of this filter.

Click to expand...

Ohhh okay lol, I was gonna say those are LOUD. Cool idea, I like it! =)

brownbearclan said:

Ohhh okay lol, I was gonna say those are LOUD. Cool idea, I like it! =)

Click to expand...

Thanks BBC,
I like your sheet metal work. Gives me the feeling that I need to get my first attempts at that out of the way, so I can start to make my own as well.

pretty cool DIY

Thanks, I needed that. I was the only one that posted in this yesterday. So day two wasn't looking so good for this thread.

wow very nice, i was just think the other day how to do a DIY carbon filter. i may have to build one to build one of these

ElectricPineapple said:

wow very nice, i was just think the other day how to do a DIY carbon filter. i may have to build one to build one of these

Click to expand...

Glad to hear that EP. If do end up going with the shop-vac filter, you should come back and post it.

haha ok i will. i have some auto's going now, may make it for the cab i made for them.

how big of a space do u think this will cover. i was gonna go with one of the 5 gal buckets but i like this idea

I think it's best suited for hobby grows. Anything closet sized really.

Here's some pictures of it blowing up a trash bag. Then I tore a hole in it and you can see a piece flapping around.
The can fan is rate at 188 cfm. I have no idea if that is accurate or not. Retail is $49.95.


It's hard to see, but the bags sealed to the filter so only air that passes through the carbon is filling the bag. As for the fan, it's just resting on top of the filter, no seal.

Good job you got your sticky!

I have the biggest shit eatin grin on right now from the happiness. Thank you RIU!

ya buddy!!! nice sticky