Carbon Filter Build

Hey DIYers, let's make a carbon filter.


Step One - Plan and Gather Materials

Considerations for my current setup were:
- Small space, small centrifugal fan
- Smell must be 99% removed (or at least better than last grow)
- Volume reduction would be a plus

With this in mind, some online searches yielded the following list of materials:
1 x 4" Starter Collar
1 x 4" Aluminum Duct Connection
1 x 5-4" Duct Reducer
1 x 4" End Cap
1 x 5" End Cap
2 x 4" Duct Clamps
2 x 6" Duct Clamps
1 x 4' Package of Air Conditioner Weatherstrip
1 x 24" Roll of Hardware Cloth
1 x 24" Roll of Aluminum Window Screen
1 x Pack Size Q Pantyhose

Tools:
Screw Driver
Duct Tape
Tin Snips
Scissors






Step Two - Getting Started

The first thing to do is build a point for the filter to connect to the fan, this piece can also be used as the mount for inner and outer core.

Grab the starter collar, aluminum connector, weatherstripping, and duct tape.



Fold back the flanges and cut weatherstipping.



Apply weatherstripping, make sure its tight.



The aluminum connector should be placed inside of the starter collar so that the entire unit will fit into the reducer and line up at the 4" end ...more on this soon. Every flange taped individually and then wrapped will provide the strongest connection.





Add the reducer to the base, tape and secure it.





The idea was to get the 4" connector at the ridge inside the reducer, this came out short.





Base is now complete.




Step Three to follow.

Step Three - Airwell/Inner Core

Now that the base is done, start on the core.

Grab the tin snips to cut the appropriate size hardware cloth and window screen.







Wrap cloth and window screen tightly around the 4" endcap, have the 4" duct clamp ready.





Repeat with the base and stitch it together if there's a gap.





Grab the pantyhose and scissors. Cut off a leg and roll it onto the core. It might be helpful to tape off the screen's edge at the endcap to avoid snags before applying the pantyhose.







The core is now finished.

Take a break, smoke a bowl, and get some sleep.

Now that the sun is shining and you're well rested, start on the filter's outer shell.

Step Four - Shell

Cut the appropriate size hardware cloth and window screen.



Wrap the cloth and screen around the base, attach with the 6" duct clamp. Repeat with the 5" end cap.







If it's got a gap, stitch it up. Avoid pinching or catching any part of the screen on itself to minimize stitching.



Pinched.



Tape off the edges at the end cap. If it helps with opening and closing, apply a handle for the end cap.





Apply pantyhose from the reducer end and cut off the toe.

you might wanna screw that reducer on if you didn't, I just looked at a thread where someone's diy carbon filter busted open in the grow and was distributed to the sticky buds by way of air flow. if you aren't buying it bulk then you'll be paying 3-4 dollars a pound for activated carbon. I made my first scrubber but from now on I'm buying manufactured filters.

Amazon had 3LB of carbon for $12 shipped. This filter took 4.5LB, better planning and I would have bought two.

Step Five - Carbon and Mounting

Add the carbon to the filter slowly and evenly. Run to PetCo for more carbon, sell a couple fillings to pay for it.





Fill it far enough to be able to fit in the endcap. If it doesn't fit in there quite right or there's too much carbon rolling around, a simple fix would be to fill the endcap with quilt batting.



Apply the end cap and install.






...that's all folks. A fun and inexpensive project for the olfactory-paranoid DIYer.

Questions and comments are welcome.

looks to be pulling air thru 3/4 inch of carbon at the most, 2 inches would be ideal.

nice build though, the small amount of carbon will just mean you'll be changing it out more.I was lucky, I work in a sheet metal shop and spot welded most all of mine together, it held like 15 pounds of carbon.

dbkick said:

you might wanna screw that reducer on if you didn't, I just looked at a thread where someone's diy carbon filter busted open in the grow and was distributed to the sticky buds by way of air flow. if you aren't buying it bulk then you'll be paying 3-4 dollars a pound for activated carbon. I made my first scrubber but from now on I'm buying manufactured filters.

Click to expand...

Ouch that sucks and yeah, shit aint cheap.

dbkick said:

looks to be pulling air thru 3/4 inch of carbon at the most, 2 inches would be ideal.

Click to expand...

Yes, 2" would be best for most situations. Anyone thinking about building one of these should use a 6" reducer instead of a 5".

Thanks for stopping in dbkick.

overTHEman said:

Ouch that sucks and yeah, shit aint cheap.



Yes, 2" would be best for most situations. Anyone thinking about building one of these should use a 6" reducer instead of a 5".

Thanks for stopping in dbkick.

Click to expand...

no , thank you for posting your diy.