home made carbon filter?

unix60959

New Member
Sup guys, im not sure if this is possible or how well it would work but i had an idea of making a home made carbon filter by using charcoal (burnt wood). i know that you can make a water filter using charcoal in a bucket with holes at the bottom by layering powdered charcoal and and sand in about 1in. layers... anyway my idea is to use two household air filters like the one below

http://ecofriend.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/air-filter_IYR3W_69.jpg

and then filling about 0.5 - 1in of charchoal in between, then mounting the filter onto a box fan?

let me know what you guys think and if this would even work?
 

Slipon

Well-Known Member
short answer, if you cant afford a filter don't grow indoors

if you really want to safe a few bucks, buy a replacement filter for one of them ventilations you have over your cooker

my local "Walmart" have em for around 10$

DSC01007.jpg


full of ACTIVE carbon

DSC01014.jpgDSC01015.jpg

you can also buy it in buckets online, but cost is around the same as a decent filter, get the filter fist and buy a bucket later on to refill it with, filters have a life of roughly a year, depending on how much you run it (I dont in Veg) and depending on your humidity (a high RH will "ruin" your carbon faster)

I like DIY project, and Im even a metal worker and could possibly make a filter pretty easy, actually have most of the stainless steal netting aso at work, but thinking about the cost (50-100$) and the cost of the carbon and stuff I need (20-30$) plus the hours of work I just ended up buying a filter
 

turnip brain

Active Member
If i am interpreting you correctly, burnt wood won't do it. Carbon air filters need ACTIVATED carbon/charcoal. Do some reading about what activated carbon is. And, you don't want sand in there. If any escapes into the air, airborne silica is incredibly bad for your lungs.

If it helps you at all, just went through the research to find what carbon to source for air filters, and found the cost of ten pounds of the right kind of activated carbon with a good iodine rating was about $45 shipped, only $10-15 less than buying this filter: http://www.amazon.com/Hydroponic-Filter-Magnum-Activated-Carbon/dp/B006YBPS4C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1367096824&sr=8-3&keywords=activated+carbon+filter+4 And, this one has better carbon and more carbon volume at a better price than competing filters from the hydro stores and ebay. Donl;t know what size your grow room is though, you may need more or less.
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
i built my carbon scrubber for about 75.00 in materials, then another 55.00 for the activated charcoal (200 ounces/amazon), then 80.00 for the 6" 440 cfm fan and 6" ducting, and speed controller. my scrubber is 6" inlet x 8"w x 24"l. its a monster for a 4x4x7 tent. my scrubber holds about 125oz when full.
 

Grow4tho187

Well-Known Member
i dont dont understand how u dont understand.... IF YOUR TRYING TO SAVE MONEY (YOUR NOT) just buy a damn filter for 100 its gonna last u atleast 4 harvests and 1/3 of 1 plant will pay for it
 

Grow4tho187

Well-Known Member
Not many things u can get cheap on when growing indoors , Do things properly and you will see results .
you can make a sound muffler for 20$ but then again is it worth the time and headache ? dicking around 3 hours to save 20$ its not worth it .
 
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