So you want to build a Carbon Filter?
You realize the ones you buy at the store are over priced and not even re-usable. So you want to build your own and do it well and do it on the cheap. I did too, I researched a bunch of different designs and then designed my own system. This is a hybrid of a few systems, the advantages are that its easy to take apart change the filters and change the activated carbon that is within the filter.
This is a 3 stage system, all air goes through 2 layers of Carbon Air filters, and 1 layer of Activated Carbon.
I give credit to the following design which influenced mine.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=31679
Here's a list of parts:
Some duct tape and/or zip ties.
2 - 6" to 4" Reducer
3 - 6" Hose Clamps
1 - 6" End Cap
1 - Roll of welded steel mesh, same size as the link above.
1 - Bag of cotton.
2 large containers of activated carbon (found in the aquarium/fish section of many stores like Wally World).
1 Carbon Air Filter (has a picture of pets on it, found in the Air Filter section, these fit into large heaters)
Instructions for assembly.
Take your 6" to 4" reducer, roll enough steel mesh to wrap around the inside of the 4" portion. You need about 14-18 inches, but adjustments can be made. Cut. Use the steel wire that was included with the mesh to tie it into a tube, or twist ties will work.
Tape to the inside of the 4" reducer, sticking out the end. Now take your black carbon air filter, wrap a section around the bottom and sides of the tube, cut, use some duct tape to keep it on.
This forms the inner section, where the air is drawn through, 1 layer of the filter is complete.
Now take your other 6" to 4" reducer. Cut another piece of steel mesh to fit on the inside of the 6" section. About 10-14 inches. Use ties to secure it in a tube shape. Secure the steel mesh to the 6" reducer with a 6" clamp.
Wrap the Carbon Filter around the outside section. Duct tape to secure. Leaving the bottom open this time, you do not wrap the entire tube, just the outside of the tube.
Insert the first section into the second section. The 4 inch reducers lining up can be secured with a piece of duct tape. Now the longer smaller section is inside of the larger outer section of our carbon filter.
Shove the cotton up towards the top, filling in the small 2 or 3 inches of area inside the reducer where there is no carbon filter. This also helps secure the large amount of Activated Carbon we are going to dump in.
Now dump in your Activated Carbon between the two layers, filling it up all the way to the top. Once you've squeezed in as much as you can, put your 6" Duct Cap on. Secure with a 6" clamp.
You can use the outer fluffy layer of your Carbon Filter to wrap the filter, securing with zip ties, or leave it off. I don't have the most powerful inline fan, so I keep it off. I plan to re-attach if I get a better fan with higher CFMs.
Now you are done. You would simply use one more 6" clamp to connect to your duct and then your fan. Now your Carbon Filter is complete!
Advantages of this method. Pop off your 6" clamp on the bottom and you can empty out all your Activated Carbon to change it. You an now also change the outer layer. Unroll a little duct tape where your 4inch reducers meet and you can pop out that section and replace the inner filter. Reassembling in just minutes.
Please post your comments or questions. I hope that I have properly detailed the instructions, and I can provide more pictures if needed. But as I am using the filter and having changed it out yet, I don't have any pictures of the insides for you guys yet sorry!
Here's the outside, the completed product.
This carbon filter is working great, you can see it in action in my grow journal here.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/417836-1000w-grow-room-soil-white.html
You realize the ones you buy at the store are over priced and not even re-usable. So you want to build your own and do it well and do it on the cheap. I did too, I researched a bunch of different designs and then designed my own system. This is a hybrid of a few systems, the advantages are that its easy to take apart change the filters and change the activated carbon that is within the filter.
This is a 3 stage system, all air goes through 2 layers of Carbon Air filters, and 1 layer of Activated Carbon.
I give credit to the following design which influenced mine.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=31679
Here's a list of parts:
Some duct tape and/or zip ties.
2 - 6" to 4" Reducer
3 - 6" Hose Clamps
1 - 6" End Cap
1 - Roll of welded steel mesh, same size as the link above.
1 - Bag of cotton.
2 large containers of activated carbon (found in the aquarium/fish section of many stores like Wally World).
1 Carbon Air Filter (has a picture of pets on it, found in the Air Filter section, these fit into large heaters)
Instructions for assembly.
Take your 6" to 4" reducer, roll enough steel mesh to wrap around the inside of the 4" portion. You need about 14-18 inches, but adjustments can be made. Cut. Use the steel wire that was included with the mesh to tie it into a tube, or twist ties will work.
Tape to the inside of the 4" reducer, sticking out the end. Now take your black carbon air filter, wrap a section around the bottom and sides of the tube, cut, use some duct tape to keep it on.
This forms the inner section, where the air is drawn through, 1 layer of the filter is complete.
Now take your other 6" to 4" reducer. Cut another piece of steel mesh to fit on the inside of the 6" section. About 10-14 inches. Use ties to secure it in a tube shape. Secure the steel mesh to the 6" reducer with a 6" clamp.
Wrap the Carbon Filter around the outside section. Duct tape to secure. Leaving the bottom open this time, you do not wrap the entire tube, just the outside of the tube.
Insert the first section into the second section. The 4 inch reducers lining up can be secured with a piece of duct tape. Now the longer smaller section is inside of the larger outer section of our carbon filter.
Shove the cotton up towards the top, filling in the small 2 or 3 inches of area inside the reducer where there is no carbon filter. This also helps secure the large amount of Activated Carbon we are going to dump in.
Now dump in your Activated Carbon between the two layers, filling it up all the way to the top. Once you've squeezed in as much as you can, put your 6" Duct Cap on. Secure with a 6" clamp.
You can use the outer fluffy layer of your Carbon Filter to wrap the filter, securing with zip ties, or leave it off. I don't have the most powerful inline fan, so I keep it off. I plan to re-attach if I get a better fan with higher CFMs.
Now you are done. You would simply use one more 6" clamp to connect to your duct and then your fan. Now your Carbon Filter is complete!
Advantages of this method. Pop off your 6" clamp on the bottom and you can empty out all your Activated Carbon to change it. You an now also change the outer layer. Unroll a little duct tape where your 4inch reducers meet and you can pop out that section and replace the inner filter. Reassembling in just minutes.
Please post your comments or questions. I hope that I have properly detailed the instructions, and I can provide more pictures if needed. But as I am using the filter and having changed it out yet, I don't have any pictures of the insides for you guys yet sorry!
Here's the outside, the completed product.
This carbon filter is working great, you can see it in action in my grow journal here.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/417836-1000w-grow-room-soil-white.html