Thread 2950162

I recently moved to an apartment that's second floor street side, and the amount of dust I get is insane. I have to vacuum every day, sometimes twice a day.
I heard about Corsi Rosenthal boxes as DIY air purifiers and figured I'd give them a try since I think a conventional air purifier with my budget wouldn't do much, but I've encountered two roadblocks.
1. Box fans seem to be virtually non-existent in Europe. I've only found a 30cm desk one, though the guides online seem to recommend at least 50cm wide ones. Instead we got those circular ones, though I guess I could use cardboard to make a square frame for it.
2. Merv 13 filters which were recommended seem to also be an US thing, getting them in Europe costs me twice as much. I've read that HEPA filters don't work as well because of airflow pressure stuff that I'm too dumb to understand, so I don't know if there's an european Merv 13 equivalent.

So my question is, are there any europeans here who made CR boxes? And if so, what did you use, and did you manage to stay in a $200 budget?

>>2950162 (OP)
>Corsi Rosenthal boxes
stop calling them that
>though I guess I could use cardboard to make a square frame for it.
makes sense. box fan blades don't scribe a square, they are also a circle cut into a square frame
>I've read that HEPA filters don't work as well
iirc hepa is not a single filter, it describes a range of filters which exceed some particle size filtration.
the smaller the filter grid, the smaller particles it will catch, however it will also clog much faster and require a more powerful fan. and presumably the cost will be affected.
i would suggest you start with as large a filter as you think will help and if it doesn't, replace with a smaller one.
i would suggest bang for buck fan wise look at 10 to 12 inch duct fans, flat pancake style which work on centrifugal principle will overcome a lot of pressure issues with high filtration, at the cost of noise.
suggest you look at the flow/pressure curve of the fan and the impedance of the filter and work out from there how many room air volume changes per hour you will achieve. shitting together some crap from a box shed is easy, doing it properly and efficiently takes some amount of effort.
remember the curve is important. a 2000cmf desk fan will achieve nowhere near that figure once you add filter impedance. you need to know the fan curve.
you can always make your box much larger if you can afford more filter area.

Not OP but would a screen cover work for keeping out some of the dust?

>>2950162 (OP)
> Box fans seem to be virtually non-existent in Europe
Good. In the depicted orientation, the bearings on the fan can destroy themselves quickly—they weren’t designed for that orientation.

>>2950192
> screen work for keeping out dust?
For some kinds of “dust”, like clothes lint, hair, and fluff from trees, yeah.

What I did is build a box with one side face made of cardboard with a round hole in it to match the size of the fan and then just set the box over the fan and adjust it accordingly soas the fan blows out of the hole.. Works wonderfully, and normal bearing wear.

Another tip: most filters are like non-woven polyester and are actually washable if it weren’t for the cardboard surrounding frame.
You can either stabilize (waterproof) the fame, or remove it and build a plastic frame for it and re-caulk it into the frame and wash it that way.

Filters are the razor blades and mobile-phone-plan in these schemes.

My old window intake compatible design

>>2950228
That's a pretty cool shape. I wonder if it's even more efficient than the standard box one, because the fan pulls air from behind it so stacking the 4 filters behind like that could be better than having the 4th one on top.

>>2950232
it wouldn't be any more efficient. it's longer lasting due to increased surface area and ease of use in that you don't need to cut filters or buy 2 sizes but the side filters aren't going to do much until the fronts are so clogged you wouldn't want to run it anyway.

a better design would be (left) and to take it a step further boxed frames for each filter s.t. you can slide them in and out to replace (right)

>>2950232
I have a box fan that is specially made to hold a 20x20 filter. compared to my computers, and 2 rigged up 120mm case fans with simple filters on them, these box fans with a filter suck ass.

my computer case filters more dust in a couple of weeks than those fans with a filter do.

Merv 13 is something like an f7 or ISO EPM1 filter in europe.

OP here. Searching around I came across this sort of PC case where you can put two ikea filters on the side and blow the air with 4 fans. (The Nukit Tempest Euro)
https://cybernightmarket.com/products/the-nukit-tempest-euro-pc-fan-air-purifier-kit
Price wise, $150 plus 4 fans would put me right at the limit of my budget, and I think it would filter less air than the classic 20 inch CR box, but getting ikea filters is cheaper and easier for me long term.
Opinions?

>>2950359
I've had almost the exact same set up and it works. It is much quieter than a box fan and will help considerably with the dust. The price looks way to high for me, but I live in 'Murica where box fans are $20 bux and 4 big old filters are $30 on sale. There are many ways to rig an exhaust fan to a frame that will hold a filter, but if you want something that will just work (TM) this is going to kick the ass of standard air filters you might buy at whatever euro walmart is.

>>2950359
matthias has a couple of videos on air filters specifically, and plenty on air pumps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym2Dpx-kPT8
i wouldn't personally think designing around e.g. an ikea filter was a good idea, you are fucked when they stop selling them. they won't? i have a kids wardrobe system bought 5 years ago can't get drawers for it now.
anyway consider what you are trying to filter. merv 13 is around 1 micron, plenty of dust is much larger. if your house is full of 100 micron dust you will clog your filter immediately. you can get sub 100 micron woven metal mesh as a pre filter for very little money, and it can be simply washed out rather than disposed like a fabric filter.
also if you are in want of filters specifically a possible avenue may be looking at car cabin pollen filters.

>>2950256
>it wouldn't be any more efficient.
the increased surface area makes it more efficient because the fan has less impedance.

>>2950359
can't imagine these little fans will do anything. my pc is dusty as fuck but so is the rest of my room. it isn't collecting the dust from the entire space its only collecting the dust from right beside it.
bigger a fan is the faster the blades move for the same rpm.

>>2950439
>matthias has a couple of videos on air filters specifically, and plenty on air pumps
maybe I'm retarded but this is nowhere near being worth the savings for most people. he basically traded his time in lieu of money.
>$12 filter material that needs to be cut and manually installed. probably takes 1hr each time.
vs
>$35 filter box that already fits most box fans and takes 5 minutes to swap

your time is worth more than saving a measly $23 for an hour

>>2950162 (OP)
These are great
Though, I do a triple layer, Merv 5, 8, and 13

OP here again.
In the end I found this site called DigiKey and ordered 4 Merv 13 filters from there (3M Filtrete) for 110 dollars total. I also bought this second-hand fan from amazon.de, I searched for one that was designed to be positioned upwards after reading anon's post >>2950195 so hopefully it won't destroy itself. This was 40 euros plus 20 for transport so 60 total. Overall managed to fit under my 200 budget. If the thread is still up by the time my things arrive I'll post a picture. I'm planning on following this guide www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxPk8yOH-z4 and make a "tower" rather than a box, though I won't be using a glue gun since I don't have one.

>>2950450
> your time is worth more
Mine isn’t right now!

>>2950538
That guy’s girlfriend approved segment is pure cringe.

I made mine with 3 filters, a tabletop fan coming out of the side, and it has a top so I can use it as a table.

For the fan blowing out the top, you could build a top for it with 4 pillars to leave a gap, and then attach the top to the the pillars. Then put stuff on the new top.

>>2950359
Seems expensive for what is essentially a PC case with no motherboard mounting points inside.
Maybe you could replicate this with an actual PC case. They go for $50 or less pretty often.

brake dust is likely kevlar and metal. conductive materials, look into ionic purifiers maybe install a foot switch for easier maintance.

hepa filters rip almost immediately, they are a clean room thing, for use after the air has been heavily filter.

>>2950162 (OP)
Checked diy and found a thread with a similar situation here (i'm in SEA). Looking for something that will deal with VOCs because nigs are chain vaping a sauna around my apartment. Also can I say vaping is completely retarded here with kids putting ketamine and anasthetics in their chink vapes.
Apparently carbon soaks fast from the 3d printing guys so thats a no go. If I can find cheap hepa filters here that'd be the best solution and replace them every couple months but they're non existent here. So I've been looking at these long term filters like the Daikin Streamer which I think uses electrostatic tech? Why do japanese filter brands last 10 years while others need frequent rechanging?

>>2950162 (OP)
Also OP and /diy/ could take a look at this made from a table fan. Is it even comparable to a fan attached to a MERV filter? But maybe if you're just looking at large particle filtration this might work for you.
https://witonosfreestyle.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/diy-air-purifier-in-less-than-15min/

>>2950966
>If I can find cheap hepa filters here that'd be the best solution and replace them every couple months but they're non existent here
If you have an Ikea near you, they have some decently priced (around 15 bucks) almost* HEPA filters.

how about making the filters yourself?
get some fabric and sew a long sock that you attach to your fan.
If you need the sock to hold it's shape you use wire or some kind of basket (wire trash can, milk crate with holes, etc)

>>2950359
I just bought one, going to keep it in the same room as my 3D printers to remove all the plastic airborne materials I have t been filtering before

>>2950792
The ones meant for American are standard 20x20x2 filters all you have to do is replace every 12 months and all the parts jnside are just computer fans and power supplies nothing proprietary

>>2951036
Yeah, I know. If a PC case is $50, and this thing is $150, you have a $100 budget to add a couple of metal strips at the right height and width and you'll beat the product.

>>2950162 (OP)
>merv
bagagwa

>>2950985
Hmm there aren't any ikeas but I did find some chink hepa filters replacements. The expensive electrostatic filters still interest me for their potential for filtering aerosols. But I can't find much on the daikin/sharp website asides from marketing.

>>2951048
They offer the design for free, honestly I can’t laser cut it for much less than they’re selling. They’re probably making like $50 per sale maybe after labor shipping, Shopify etc

I ordered one *shrugs*

I would absolutely support more companies that offer this kind of end user flexibility and less than the Samsung type of attitude where if it breaks they just encourage you to purchase a new one than repair

Honestly I’m kinda a dumbass and autistic though, maybe throwaway is the best way but at least there is someone out there making autism tier designs that I appreciate enough to trade my autism labor / autism Mcwages for

The autism economy churns

>>2951048
Also it came in today, and it’s definitely not a computer case, it’s more bent sheet metal that you bolt together that has the textured computer case paint on it

Definitely not as solid as a computer case only 4 bolts hold the 3 sides together

>>2951245
So it's actually a little worse than a computer case then.
>>2951244
My favourite post on the Do It Yourself board.
Fair enough if you really don't think you'd be capable of this, but I just could not bring myself to pay $150 for some bent pieces of metal sheet.

>>2951251
Yeah I don’t know where YouTubers/reviewers got the “based on a computer case” from

It’s 4 flat sides you bolt together with very minor bends in it. Nice laser cut patters that say up

Some very low end fan controller stuff that looks like it’s off temu, some double sided tape

>>2950359
she released it open source, and even did a web to make it diy with a parametric design

>>2951276
https://www.filterboxbuilder.com/

>>2951274
Ok so the box got me thinking...what's the best adjustable diy frame one could make for a box filter of varying length? Is there some 3d model out there I could print out? One that'd provide support for the squishy hepa filters I'm about to use...

>>2951441
steel angle, either cut to length the drilled and bolted, or cutting one side and bending it to shape.
make 2 of the same, then bridge the gap between with the offcuts.

>>2951441
dude look here >>2951277

i can't imagine these perform worse than something like pic related. i have one just like this and i've not changed the filter in like 6 years, but it does have a pre-filter that i take out and rinse off. it's mostly for white noise to keep the tinnitus away.
the problem is that a box fan with HVAC filters taped to it looks like shit. i can have pic related in my room and not look like a broke nigga

>>2950162 (OP)
If you feel the need to vacuum the dust particles are big. That shit in your pic is for small dust.

>>2951441
If I were designing this box, I’d create a small slot in the side panels, from a design from manufacturability standpoint point I’d do it so that the side panel and front fascia form each half of you slot.

Front fascia would be redesigned so it’s not just a plastic garden net cut to size, but a cheap metal windscreen meant for offices

Then you can use a captive floating nut from the aviation industry top and bottom which will allow you to use two nylon washers , a wing nut and a small carriage holt

So the celing of your enclosure can either come up or down and the sides can move in and out to make up for the loose tolerances on those filters but that’s just me

I’m not really a mechanical engineer I just make products in fusion as one of my job duties, and buy for the company but my true role is salesman/supervisor

>>2950965
Brake dust and car exhaust contains a lot of cadmium. Small amounts aren't a big deal, but larger amounts are, and it becomes large amounts eventually, because it accumulates in the body over time as it's difficult for the body to remove it.

>>2950162 (OP)
Just buy an AirFanta 3Pro. Widely available in Europe, uses much more efficient HEPA filters, uses silent PC fans, and it is cheaper.

>>2951608
Damn that's pretty much what I wanted to make but sold pre-made by a company. If you posted this a week ago I might have bought it. Oh well, good to know for the future.

OP again, well here it is, my masterpiece.
As you can see I'm not worried about looking broke because I AM broke as shit. Won't be bringing girls home anytime soon.
In hindsight 20x25 inches is a bit overkill for my room, but the site I ordered from only had in stock 20x16 and 20x25, and they were the same price for some reason, so I tried to get more bang for my buck.
I'll probably make a better fan hood later when I get a larger piece of cardboard. For now I'll try running this bad boy for a couple of hours before sleep and see how my vacuum cylinder looks like the next day.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread, I hope I'll do a better job next time.

I hope op doesn't use those gimpy little PC fan boxes, a 'silent' fan means you can't hear air moving. And if you can't hear air moving it's because its not moving. I.e. useless.
>>2951978
Extremely fucking based
As an aside I was always taught in clean room design that air blows in from the top and is extracted at ground level because the air movement helps dust settle more quickly and not spread across higher level work surfaces. I'm not sure how that information helps in this scenario but something to be mindful of

>>2951978
maybe put some sort of washable textile as a prefilter, so they last longer

>>2951978
If you put led in the box it might double as a nice lamp.

>>2951978
Well done Op you actually delivered

>>2951245
She’s running now, got attic p14s

Lights aren’t running, looking for a clean way to run the ARGB system but everything is just a ARGB to sata conversion , might do that at a later date or never

used a 1.33A 5.5mm x2.1 plug equipped power supply from an old sea gate drive

Got this thing setup behind the prusa print farm will see how much plastic it sucks up

>>2953306
>>2951245
Did it come completely disassembled? How long did it take to put together?

>>2953317
you buy the frame, fans,filters, power supply all separate. the kit is just the frame and a barrel jack to fan connector wire. so that $225 or whatever was jjust for 4 pieces of metal, some zip ties, and some othr odds and ends

the filters came from target

fans came from amazon

psu i had on hand ( i keep a small inventory of power supplies labeled in the garage )

I want to do something similar, something to filter solder and plastic fumes but I want it connected to a large hose.

What's a good fan that can push plenty of air through?
Induct fans seem like a natural choice but I'm worried about noise with those.

>>2953339
some fans can move a lot of air, but can't do it with any pressure (computer fans), other don't move tons of air, but can with a lot of pressure (centrifugal).

>>2951992
>As an aside I was always taught in clean room design that air blows in from the top and is extracted at ground level because the air movement helps dust settle more quickly and not spread across higher level work surfaces. I'm not sure how that information helps in this scenario but something to be mindful of
You were pretty much on point anon. I feel like this "tower" model facing upwards is a bit inefficient as it's really good at pushing all the dust above it everywhere else in the room, way before the dust manages to get vacuumed in the sides of the box. It's probably also the case because 1. My box is very big and 2. it's not perfectly vacuum sealed, so the air pressure inside is weaker than it should be.

When I get free time I'll try to retool it in a side-blower shape kinda like these ones >>2950228
>>2950256

SEAanon back again, I've given up on the box/pyramid fan again because finding filters and fans of appropriate size are extremely difficult. I've found someone make a diy with a tower fan (they call them air coolers here, some also have evaporative cooling) by sticking a hepa filter to the intake. I wonder how well would this work? Would the sealing be an issue where the fan inside the casing pull from the gaps instead?

>>2954153
Also forgot me pic.

>>2950967
Hey that's pretty clever, maybe I'll try that.

There is a YT dude called The 3D Handyman that has done a bunch of experiments with different types of fans and such
He also sells kits. My recollection is that they are like 2X as expensive as pure DIY, but they look nice and make it easy to change filters and such

>>2950162 (OP)
those sort of work.