Wacky idea for a monster DIY filter.

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petrushka

Well-Known Member
Being a bad DIYer I was planning to order the entire setup for my very first (600Watt) grow online. However, seeing how overpriced activated carbon filters are and how cheap activated carbon pellets are, I started wondering if I could build a big filter myself. I read through several designs and none appeal to me. They require DIY skills and materials I do not have. ( Pretty much all are based on Walmart’s merchandise which I don't have access to.)
After having a puff from my horrible soapbar :spew: I developed some ideas on how to build a filter myself, but I am not sure if either will work. Can someone let me know if they make sense.

I have 4 metallic shelves about 3.5’m long and 1’ wide and a 5’ tall vertical frame they can be screwed together to form a rack . Each shelf surface is covered in holes. I would cover the top shelf with normal filter for a kitchen extractor fan. On the shelf below I would place the carbon pellets, and on the shelf below that, kitchen filter again.
I then need to encase the entire structure somehow so it is completely closed. As you can see from the pictures, I have experimented with easy wrap, which did not yield great results. Mainly I am looking for advice on how to close up the structure so that it will function as a filter without reverting to superior DIY skills, tool or materials.

My other idea involves the four shelves from above but without the frame. I would take the four shelves and use each as one side of a box, tying them together with wire through the holes. I would then need to place either a smaller box inside this box, or a larger box outside to create the two layers of the filter. I would then do similar to 1) above. I would cover the outer box with kitchen filter, fill the outer cavity with carbon pellets and cover the inner box with kitchen filter again. This would leave a cavity in the centre. But I only have these four shelves.
(This idea can also be modified using only three of the metallic shelves to create a triangular structure.)

Please let me know if either of these plans hold water!
(I already know I need to stop the soapbar but I do not really have a choice until I harvest my own weed.)

Here is a pic of the rack:
 

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petrushka

Well-Known Member
Nobody dignifies me with an answer?
I know I wrote a waay too long article. But you could at least tell me how stupid my idea is or something...

This silence is killing me.
 
Arrid

Arrid

Well-Known Member
You know how a carbon filter works.

There's an inner tube, then an outer tube with the carbon sandwiched between the two.

Go to BnQ and buy something like Chicken wire, or whatever that stuff is called (the name escapes me)

Make two cylinders, one slightly larger than the other.

Get the two cylinders and individually put them into some womens pantyhose. Use a few sets on each to make it durable.

Find an endcap that will fit on the end of the larger cylinder and put it on.

Put the smaller cyclinder inside the larger one..Fill up the gap between the large and the small with your active carbon..

It's really that simple. And you do have the resources. :)
 
desert fox

desert fox

Well-Known Member
It should work. The best carbon filter I seen in action went away from the normal design. It was a monstrous huge 8X3X3 FEET and it used few furnace filters with the carbon just loosely spread out over them like a trays. I can only imagine due to the shear size of it that it didnt really create much static pressure.
 
winkdogg420

winkdogg420

Well-Known Member
ok lot to think about...basically i think you should loose the rack idea all together ... just use the shelves as screens build a box even cardboard and layer like you were orig. thinking..or with snips cut out squares or rectangels out of the mesh and build a wooden box around them ...i will scetch something out for you ..
 
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petrushka

Well-Known Member
winkdogg420 said:
chuck the shelf unit too big...make a bunch of boxes of 2x4s use the mesh from the shelfs to line the frames...
Click to expand...
Thank you!

Nice picture but I don't understand. I spent a while looking it and I still don't get it. Sorry

2x4 is a kind of a board? I live in Ireland. I om OK with imperial just don't know the expression. And the rest of the explanation I don't get either.
Could you please explain?

Would 2.5 gallons (10l) of these be ok?
http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/Growroom-Products-20/Carbon-Filters-Odour-Control-300/Loose-Activated-Carbon-1242.asp
Would it make as good of a filter as they sell there?
I though it might make an even better one with 2.5, but I don't understand how.
 
winkdogg420

winkdogg420

Well-Known Member
Ok here we go .. A 2x4 is a kind of board its the standard size board that walls in houses are framed with . "2x4" is not really there size its more like 1and1/2 x 3and1/2 inches. We just call them 2x4's because thats the size they used to be milled a long time ago. But its just standard wall framing ...what i was saying is cut that mesh off the shelves cut it into equal size peices then make wooden frames to screw them to . Like a box with no top or bottom about the size of the screen pieces .cover these boxes with the mesh and charcoal or filter material and stack them up in layers then blow your stank air through the screens.and it will come out smelling fresh!
 
winkdogg420

winkdogg420

Well-Known Member
And you might want to get 2 of those CONTAINERS OF charcoal pellets they will last a long time but the thicker you put it in the screens the better it will work!
 
winkdogg420

winkdogg420

Well-Known Member
You could do it easier with out wood! Cut the screen out into long strips ..roll up two cylinders one bigger than the next .then wrap them in womens stockings you put the smaller one inside with a layer of charcoal in between .then plug the bottom and pump stinky air into the center tube:)
 

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Zuke

Active Member
Yea i agree with winkdog420 useing the 2x4 method will give you a good lil bit of depth for your carbon. And nailing or screwing 4 pieces of wood together in a square is minimal diy. You can do it! You have to.... Do it for the weed....

Just think... What would jesus do.
 
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petrushka

Well-Known Member
I understand a bit better now. Basically it is a complete a version of my badly formulated:

petrushka said:
other idea involves the four shelves from above but without the frame. I would take the four shelves and use each as one side of a box, tying them together with wire through the holes. I would then need to place either a smaller box inside this box, or a larger box outside to create the two layers of the filter.
Click to expand...
I understand a bit better now. Basically it is complete a version of my badly formulated: "My other idea involves the four shelves from above but without the frame. I would take the four shelves and use each as one side of a box, tying them together with wire through the holes."

The shelves would be very difficult to cut and nearly impossible to roll evenly. They are almost 3mm thick and about 1" is curved downwards on each side.
But to make a box out of them I wouldn't even need wood. If I join 4 shelves at the curved edges and "stitch" through the whole with a wire, it will be a very nice perforated metal box. It would only require a diagonal stabilization like a square wooden top and/or bottom. So far no problem.

Where do I put kitchen filter and carbon though?

Here is a better pic of one shelf. (Later on I'll try adding all 4 joined together. No camera on hand.)
 

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winkdogg420

winkdogg420

Well-Known Member
You want the kitchen filter and charcoal spread out on the shelvs so the stinky air flows through it to get the smells removed:)
 
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petrushka

Well-Known Member
Right. So to spread it even I would need 4 more shelves that I don't have. Wrapping around a square box wont really work. So I can't make a filter unless I buy more crap. Then I might es well buy a filter.

I am going to buy one then.

Thanks for the help!

I will probably need advice on how to put the duct through the window (break?), install the fan etc. I'll post a link here then if you keep being subscribed to this thread.
 
winkdogg420

winkdogg420

Well-Known Member
just stat in here till we get this straightened out. the main goal is to suck or blow the bad air through the filter and charcoal. you can use what you have just box the shelves in with tape and cardboard and force air through it. the main thing is moving the air once you have that you could stuff a sock full of charcoal and stuff it in the exhaust tube! or blow it through 4 shelves covered in charcoal,
 
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petrushka

Well-Known Member
I understand. The problem is to create a structure to distribute it 100% even. Otherwise the air will just go the path of least resistance.

No progress yet. But I am inclined to buy one.
 
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