Years ago I made an air cleaner from scrap wood, a furnace blower,
variable speed switch, and some 18x24" furnace-type filters. The plans
came from the web, and I apologize for not remembering the author. The
electric motor died recently - aw, shucks. I tried finding a replacement
blower motor, but nothing seemed available locally, and Ebay sellers
wanted too much for a blower (PLUS the SHIPPING!!! It would have been
$125 at least).

Googling around I found what looked like an affordable blower, generally
to be used as a carpet drier fan. It is supposed to be available at Home
Depot or Lowes. HD accepted my on-line order for pickup. I thought I
was set, but the order was cancelled an hour later, no reason given. I
then ordered from Amazon a "Lasko Pro Performance Blower Fan #4900" for
$60, more than the HD price, but available for speedy delivery.

My home-made box has open sides with rabbeted slide-in filter holders.
The whole thing was made for the furnace blower but is now just slightly
too narrow. The filters barely fit on one side, and not quite on the
other. The total dimensions of my box are 25x15x19" L/W/H. Obviously
(see photos), the box could have been shorter and lower, but this is what
I have, and using my existing supply of furnace filters is a plus. The
extra rectangular opening above the blower outlet was for the electric
box with the variable speed switch, now not necessary, because the fan
has off, and 3 speed settings. Plus this thing has extra outlets ...
Obviously the disadvantage of the current setup is that the switch and
outlets are covered up by the filters on that side. Have to find a
solution for that.
I hope this link does go to the 5 photos ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1008977...57631733124534

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:
Years ago I made an air cleaner from scrap wood, a furnace blower,

variable speed switch, and some 18x24" furnace-type filters. The plans

came from the web, and I apologize for not remembering the author. The

electric motor died recently - aw, shucks. I tried finding a replacement

blower motor, but nothing seemed available locally, and Ebay sellers

wanted too much for a blower (PLUS the SHIPPING!!! It would have been

$125 at least).



Googling around I found what looked like an affordable blower, generally

to be used as a carpet drier fan. It is supposed to be available at Home

Depot or Lowes. HD accepted my on-line order for pickup. I thought I

was set, but the order was cancelled an hour later, no reason given. I

then ordered from Amazon a "Lasko Pro Performance Blower Fan #4900" for

$60, more than the HD price, but available for speedy delivery.



My home-made box has open sides with rabbeted slide-in filter holders.

The whole thing was made for the furnace blower but is now just slightly

too narrow. The filters barely fit on one side, and not quite on the

other. The total dimensions of my box are 25x15x19" L/W/H. Obviously

(see photos), the box could have been shorter and lower, but this is what

I have, and using my existing supply of furnace filters is a plus. The

extra rectangular opening above the blower outlet was for the electric

box with the variable speed switch, now not necessary, because the fan

has off, and 3 speed settings. Plus this thing has extra outlets ...

Obviously the disadvantage of the current setup is that the switch and

outlets are covered up by the filters on that side. Have to find a

solution for that.

I hope this link does go to the 5 photos ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1008977...57631733124534



--

Best regards

Han

email address is invalid

My brother in law made an air cleaner very similar to yours about 35 - 40 years ago. This was years before most of us home-shop folks even dreamed of having the kind of equipment available from Jet and others. It did a good job of keeping his basement wood shop cleaner than most.

He passed this spring and his son has now installed it in his garage shop.

RonB

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like one or some, you might check with your local extinguisher serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or free, depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The only cost would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some places, I suppose, having a fire extinguisher might reduce an insurance premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers, for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny

On 10/9/12 4:56 PM, wrote:
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like one
or some, you might check with your local extinguisher
serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that
don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For
utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and
these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or
free, depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The
only cost would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some places,
I suppose, having a fire extinguisher might reduce an insurance
premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers,
for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the
owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny


They're 15 bucks.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

wrote in
:

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like one
or some, you might check with your local extinguisher
serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that
don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For
utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and
these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or free,
depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The only cost
would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some places, I suppose,
having a fire extinguisher might reduce an insurance premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers,
for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the
owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny

Fire extinguisher is near the furnace and hot water heater, on the other
side of the basement as the stairs ...

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

On 10/9/2012 6:16 PM, Han wrote:
wrote in
:

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like one
or some, you might check with your local extinguisher
serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that
don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For
utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and
these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or free,
depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The only cost
would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some places, I suppose,
having a fire extinguisher might reduce an insurance premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers,
for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the
owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny

Fire extinguisher is near the furnace and hot water heater, on the other
side of the basement as the stairs ...



Han! Hey Han! What in the world do you have a hot water heater for?????

On a second note, if the furnace or "water heater" were to need a fire
extinguisher I think I would want the extinguisher to not be near the
source of the fire.

Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in
:

On 10/9/2012 6:16 PM, Han wrote:
wrote in
:

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like
one or some, you might check with your local extinguisher
serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that
don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For
utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and
these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or
free, depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The
only cost would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some
places, I suppose, having a fire extinguisher might reduce an
insurance premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers,
for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the
owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny

Fire extinguisher is near the furnace and hot water heater, on the
other side of the basement as the stairs ...



Han! Hey Han! What in the world do you have a hot water heater
for?????

Made me think ... LOL!

On a second note, if the furnace or "water heater" were to need a fire
extinguisher I think I would want the extinguisher to not be near the
source of the fire.

The washer and dryer are beyond the gas-fired appliances in the basement,
furthest from the stairs. If there ever is a fire in the basement, I'd
want the extinguishers near if I have to get past the fire, on my way to
the stairs. Hope to never have to use it ...
Probably should get a replacement anyway.

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

... The whole thing was made for the furnace blower but is now just slightly
too narrow. *The filters barely fit on one side, and not quite on the other. *...

You could make an extension to fit in between.

A couple suggestions to increase efficiency:

1) Place a plastic electrostatic filter behind the furnace filter -

2) Spray the furnace filter with Endust ....

" wrote in
:


... The whole thing was made for the furnace blower but is now just
sligh
tly
too narrow. *The filters barely fit on one side, and not quite on the
o
ther. *...

You could make an extension to fit in between.

A couple suggestions to increase efficiency:

1) Place a plastic electrostatic filter behind the furnace filter -

2) Spray the furnace filter with Endust ....

Thanks for the suggestions!
In the past, the filters worked well, and got caked with dust pretty
fast. I anticipate the filters will need changing relatively often ...

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

"Han" wrote in message
...
Years ago I made an air cleaner from scrap wood, a furnace blower,
variable speed switch, and some 18x24" furnace-type filters. The plans
came from the web, and I apologize for not remembering the author. The
electric motor died recently - aw, shucks. I tried finding a replacement
blower motor, but nothing seemed available locally, and Ebay sellers
wanted too much for a blower (PLUS the SHIPPING!!! It would have been
$125 at least).

Googling around I found what looked like an affordable blower, generally
to be used as a carpet drier fan. It is supposed to be available at Home
Depot or Lowes. HD accepted my on-line order for pickup. I thought I
was set, but the order was cancelled an hour later, no reason given. I
then ordered from Amazon a "Lasko Pro Performance Blower Fan #4900" for
$60, more than the HD price, but available for speedy delivery.

My home-made box has open sides with rabbeted slide-in filter holders.
The whole thing was made for the furnace blower but is now just slightly
too narrow. The filters barely fit on one side, and not quite on the
other. The total dimensions of my box are 25x15x19" L/W/H. Obviously
(see photos), the box could have been shorter and lower, but this is what
I have, and using my existing supply of furnace filters is a plus. The
extra rectangular opening above the blower outlet was for the electric
box with the variable speed switch, now not necessary, because the fan
has off, and 3 speed settings. Plus this thing has extra outlets ...
Obviously the disadvantage of the current setup is that the switch and
outlets are covered up by the filters on that side. Have to find a
solution for that.
I hope this link does go to the 5 photos ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1008977...57631733124534

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

Fasten a lever on the switch with small sheet metal screws then use a rod
that sticks out the side of the unit. You could get fancy so the rod moves
another rotary switch on the outside, too.
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in
:

Fasten a lever on the switch with small sheet metal screws then use a
rod that sticks out the side of the unit. You could get fancy so the
rod moves another rotary switch on the outside, too.

There are 2 competing things - access to the switch (and perhaps the
outlets next to it), and a more or less airtight hold on the filters
covering that area. If I were an electrician I could figure out how to
wire the variable speed switch I have from before to feed power to the fan.
But then, perhaps that was what eventually killed the electric motor in the
old setup. I had the fan go at the lowest speed most of the time, for long
periods.

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

On 10/9/2012 7:22 PM, Han wrote:
Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in
:

On 10/9/2012 6:16 PM, Han wrote:
wrote in
:

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like
one or some, you might check with your local extinguisher
serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that
don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For
utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and
these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or
free, depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The
only cost would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some
places, I suppose, having a fire extinguisher might reduce an
insurance premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers,
for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the
owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny

Fire extinguisher is near the furnace and hot water heater, on the
other side of the basement as the stairs ...



Han! Hey Han! What in the world do you have a hot water heater
for?????

Made me think ... LOL!

On a second note, if the furnace or "water heater" were to need a fire
extinguisher I think I would want the extinguisher to not be near the
source of the fire.

The washer and dryer are beyond the gas-fired appliances in the basement,
furthest from the stairs. If there ever is a fire in the basement, I'd
want the extinguishers near if I have to get past the fire, on my way to
the stairs. Hope to never have to use it ...
Probably should get a replacement anyway.


Actually probably a good idea for your exit strategy, I was thinking of
fighting the fire from the stairs. ;~)

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:56:31 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:



On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....



For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like one or some, you might check with your local extinguisher serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or free, depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The only cost would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some places, I suppose, having a fire extinguisher might reduce an insurance premium, too.



The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers, for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.



It doesn't hurt to ask.



Sonny

Doesn't hurt to check local fire departments too. A few years ago our rural fire department received a grant to provide fire extinguishers and smoke detectors for local residents. A lot of us received one each for basically signing a voucher for their records.

I have two in the shop. One near the entrance door to the house so it is close to the kitchen too. The second on the opposite side of the garage shop.

RonB

On 10/9/2012 2:04 PM, Han wrote:
Years ago I made an air cleaner from scrap wood, a furnace blower,
variable speed switch, and some 18x24" furnace-type filters. The plans
came from the web, and I apologize for not remembering the author. The
electric motor died recently - aw, shucks. I tried finding a replacement
blower motor, but nothing seemed available locally, and Ebay sellers
wanted too much for a blower (PLUS the SHIPPING!!! It would have been
$125 at least).

Electric motors are expensive....


What not buy the real thing for $125

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jet-Air-Filt...em2a23be 70bb

Han wrote:

There are 2 competing things - access to the switch (and perhaps the
outlets next to it), and a more or less airtight hold on the filters
covering that area. If I were an electrician I could figure out how
to wire the variable speed switch I have from before to feed power to
the fan. But then, perhaps that was what eventually killed the
electric motor in the old setup. I had the fan go at the lowest
speed most of the time, for long periods.

Nope. If you had burned out windings, then you could have suspected the
switch. In your case, it was the bearings that gave way and that is just
plain old mechanical wear - not related at all to your switch. Bearings
only last so long in any device.

--

-Mike-

Leon wrote:


Actually probably a good idea for your exit strategy, I was thinking
of fighting the fire from the stairs. ;~)

Isn't that the wife's job?

--

-Mike-

RonB wrote:


I have two in the shop. One near the entrance door to the house so
it is close to the kitchen too. The second on the opposite side of
the garage shop.


Near the kitchen???? Bad, bad - very bad place for a smoke detector. Don't
you cook hamburgers like I do? Seared to perfection?

--

-Mike-

"Mike Marlow" wrote in
:

RonB wrote:


I have two in the shop. One near the entrance door to the house so
it is close to the kitchen too. The second on the opposite side of
the garage shop.


Near the kitchen???? Bad, bad - very bad place for a smoke detector.
Don't you cook hamburgers like I do? Seared to perfection?


When the smoke detector goes off, then you know it's done. *g*

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.

Puckdropper wrote:
"Mike Marlow" wrote in
:

RonB wrote:


I have two in the shop. One near the entrance door to the house so
it is close to the kitchen too. The second on the opposite side of
the garage shop.


Near the kitchen???? Bad, bad - very bad place for a smoke detector.
Don't you cook hamburgers like I do? Seared to perfection?


When the smoke detector goes off, then you know it's done. *g*


Correction - ALMOST done...

--

-Mike-

On Tue, 09 Oct 2012 18:30:26 -0500, Leon wrote:

On 10/9/2012 6:16 PM, Han wrote:
wrote in
:

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012 4:04:07 PM UTC-5, Han wrote:

On a side note, I noticed your fire extinguisher in the pics....

For those of you who don't have fire extinguishers and would like one
or some, you might check with your local extinguisher
serviceman/service center. Old extinguishers, I've discovered, that
don't meet code for many applications, are often discarded. For
utility or shop use, there is often no code or less strict codes and
these extinguishers are suitable and available for little $$$ or free,
depends on the service center and/or the extinguisher. The only cost
would be to have it refilled/re-activated. In some places, I suppose,
having a fire extinguisher might reduce an insurance premium, too.

The local service center, here, is giving me several extinguishers,
for the shop, for free, but after chatting, I offered to make the
owner a bistro table, for his patio, in exchange.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

Sonny

Fire extinguisher is near the furnace and hot water heater, on the other
side of the basement as the stairs ...



Han! Hey Han! What in the world do you have a hot water heater for?????

He bought it online at Lowes, they think they are hot water heaters too.


basilisk

On Oct 10, 10:19*am, "Mike Marlow"
wrote:
RonB wrote:

I have two in the shop. *One near the entrance door to the house so
it is close to the kitchen too. *The second on the opposite side of
the garage shop.

Near the kitchen???? *Bad, bad - very bad place for a smoke detector. *Don't
you cook hamburgers like I do? *Seared to perfection?

--

-Mike-


Fire Extinguishers. One is right outside of the garage entrance with
the door closed.

"Mike Marlow" wrote in news:7d74d$50759186
:

Leon wrote:


Actually probably a good idea for your exit strategy, I was thinking
of fighting the fire from the stairs. ;~)

Isn't that the wife's job?

She comes with the band-aids ...

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

"Mike Marlow" wrote in
:

Han wrote:

There are 2 competing things - access to the switch (and perhaps the
outlets next to it), and a more or less airtight hold on the filters
covering that area. If I were an electrician I could figure out how
to wire the variable speed switch I have from before to feed power to
the fan. But then, perhaps that was what eventually killed the
electric motor in the old setup. I had the fan go at the lowest
speed most of the time, for long periods.

Nope. If you had burned out windings, then you could have suspected
the switch. In your case, it was the bearings that gave way and that
is just plain old mechanical wear - not related at all to your switch.
Bearings only last so long in any device.




--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

In article , Pat Barber
wrote:

Electric motors are expensive...

Furnace blowers can be had cheap or free, and I regularly see 1750 RPM
motors in working condition at yard sales for $5-$10.

djb

--
I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I
like fishing because it¹s the one thing I can think of that probably doesn¹t. *
John Gierach

Dave Balderstone wrote in
news:111020120513128263%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderst one.ca:

In article , Pat Barber
wrote:

Electric motors are expensive...

Furnace blowers can be had cheap or free, and I regularly see 1750 RPM
motors in working condition at yard sales for $5-$10.

djb

I'll be keeping my eyes out for them, but they don't get up and stand in
your way around here ...

Anyone seeing one available in Bergen county, NJ, email me at opahan on
yahoo dot com, please ...

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

On 10/11/2012 4:13 AM, Dave Balderstone wrote:
In article , Pat Barber
wrote:

Electric motors are expensive...

Furnace blowers can be had cheap or free, and I regularly see 1750 RPM
motors in working condition at yard sales for $5-$10.

djb


Those are great but in the south you will be hard pressed to find a
furnace blower. Maybe a motor from a heat pump blower assemble.

Home made air cleaners just don't make much sense to me when you
can get the correct tool.

Somebody wrote:

Electric motors are expensive...

Furnace blowers can be had cheap or free, and I regularly see 1750
RPM
motors in working condition at yard sales for $5-$10.
--------------------------------------------------------------
What you are looking for is an "Air Over" motor used to drive fan
loads
and get their cooling air from the fan being driven.

When you can get the job done with a 20" box fan for less than $20,
why reinvent the wheel.

Lew

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in news:5076e984$0$13323
:


Somebody wrote:

Electric motors are expensive...

Furnace blowers can be had cheap or free, and I regularly see 1750
RPM
motors in working condition at yard sales for $5-$10.
--------------------------------------------------------------
What you are looking for is an "Air Over" motor used to drive fan
loads
and get their cooling air from the fan being driven.

When you can get the job done with a 20" box fan for less than $20,
why reinvent the wheel.

Lew


I have a JET model. There is an outer filter that catches most of the
big stuff, but then there's an inner filter that catches quite a bit of
the finer stuff. Just dropping a filter on a box fan isn't likely to
catch that finer stuff.

It's also quieter on high than the box fan (but not by much), and has a
timer to shut off after 2, 4, or 8 hours of running. I usually turn it
on and set the timer for 8 hours. An annoying infrared remote has been
included so the device doesn't have to be set where you can get to it.
(It's annoying because it doesn't turn on to reasonable defaults so it
takes at least 4 button pushes to set it properly--every time.)

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.

On 11 Oct 2012 12:55:17 GMT, Han wrote:

Dave Balderstone wrote in
news:111020120513128263%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalders tone.ca:

In article , Pat Barber
wrote:

Electric motors are expensive...

Furnace blowers can be had cheap or free, and I regularly see 1750 RPM
motors in working condition at yard sales for $5-$10.

djb

I'll be keeping my eyes out for them, but they don't get up and stand in
your way around here ...

Anyone seeing one available in Bergen county, NJ, email me at opahan on
yahoo dot com, please ...

Write down the addresses of all the HVAC guys in your area and start
visiting them while driving the truck/van of choice. Take a case of
sodas or beer and swap tip them with it when you find the beast. They
remove lots of usable furnaces every year due to new property owners,
adding A/C, broken A/C warranting a whole new system, etc. My whole
extra furnace unit was free for the asking. Some day, it will be a
dust removal fan for the shop. sigh Also, check your local
FreeCyclers for fans. Put up a request. It's free. Ditto Craigslist.
And recycling is good for the planet.

--
Energy and persistence alter all things.
--Benjamin Franklin