Anyone have any ideas/tips on making your own dust filter rather than buying one? All I know is that people have used stuff like dryer sheets or panty hose... yah. Ideas? or is it better just to buy one of the those alumminum ones?

Quote: Originally Posted by dliv3rnce Anyone have any ideas/tips on making your own dust filter rather than buying one? All I know is that people have used stuff like dryer sheets or panty hose... yah. Ideas? or is it better just to buy one of the those alumminum ones?

How about just using some standard window screen? When pulled tight enough, it would make a good fan filter to keep out large dustbunnies and such.

Depending on how visible the intake fan is, have you thought about using filters for furnaces or whatever in houses? In my house, the refrigeration-esque unit (furnace, or whatever) uses filters to filter the air as it goes from the central air unit through the vents, I'd assume. You can buy those at Wal*Mart or about any store selling home hardware stuff, I'd say.

Quote: Originally Posted by dliv3rnce Anyone have any ideas/tips on making your own dust filter rather than buying one? All I know is that people have used stuff like dryer sheets or panty hose... yah. Ideas? or is it better just to buy one of the those alumminum ones?

I dont think the aluminum ones are very good...Just get some of this stuff. IDK where you could get it from a brick and mortar, check hardware stores. Its kinda a course open cell foam...

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyno01 I dont think the aluminum ones are very good...Just get some of this stuff. IDK where you could get it from a brick and mortar, check hardware stores. Its kinda a course open cell foam...

Just go to the section at a Lowes or Home Depot, Ace Hardware, whatever's around and check for the filters for different home appliances, such as central air, air conditioners, etc.

Not sure what Cyno's talking about. What is the function of that filter, Cyno?

Quote: Originally Posted by subdismal Just go to the section at a Lowes or Home Depot, Ace Hardware, whatever's around and check for the filters for different home appliances, such as central air, air conditioners, etc. Not sure what Cyno's talking about. What is the function of that filter, Cyno?

I've got a window fan, not like a normal box fan, but some fancy window fan that had stuff like that on the back that worked pretty well. I'd think any sort of open celled foam would work ok.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyno01 I've got a window fan, not like a normal box fan, but some fancy window fan that had stuff like that on the back that worked pretty well. I'd think any sort of open celled foam would work ok.

Agreed. dliv, just ask someone at your local hardware store about what they have for filters. Let them know it's not going to be for standard use, but for a modified cause that needs filtering. Tell them you're looking for an open-celled filter/foam, or something that has small holes and whatnot to filter out the dust and debris.

Hope we helped!

A cut piece of nylon sock stretched over the fan area makes a great filter.

I agree with BA, a stretched nylon sock will work. I could be wrong on this but my buddies that were in Iraq said they used breatheable cheese paper on everything to keep the sand out of their machines. It could translating well over to your intended use.

Edit: Both are dirt cheap and disposable!

I used regular window screen on one of mine. More as a finger guard, since the grille I used was almost entirely decorative. Looks nice and keeps out some dust bunnies, but nylon would probably be more filter-like.

Thanks guys for the advice, but for attaching the filter/foam/sock to the fan, where and how do you put in relation to the fan. I'm thinking using the screws or maybe some tape.

For now, I'll go check out the foam idea, then if not foam, I'm going to find some pantyhose/nylon sock, or some dryer sheets to see how that works out.

Quote: Originally Posted by dliv3rnce Thanks guys for the advice, but for attaching the filter/foam/sock to the fan, where and how do you put in relation to the fan. I'm thinking using the screws or maybe some tape. For now, I'll go check out the foam idea, then if not foam, I'm going to find some pantyhose/nylon sock, or some dryer sheets to see how that works out.

Just screw it in. The foam tears pretty easily, just screw through case>filter>fan.

Quote: Originally Posted by dliv3rnce Thanks guys for the advice, but for attaching the filter/foam/sock to the fan, where and how do you put in relation to the fan. I'm thinking using the screws or maybe some tape. For now, I'll go check out the foam idea, then if not foam, I'm going to find some pantyhose/nylon sock, or some dryer sheets to see how that works out.

We are getting pretty basic when you start asking where to place the filter. I deleted the rest of this post before hitting submit reply, be proud of me.

Pantyhose! They're pretty cheap too.

the question is do you really want to go to the store and buy pantyhose... id love to see people's reactions if i bought some lol

Quote: Originally Posted by 4rm4g3dd0n the question is do you really want to go to the store and buy pantyhose... id love to see people's reactions if i bought some lol

Funny quick story - We figured out how to make our own wine during Desert Shield/Storm. The only problem was the gas released during the fermenting process caused the bottles to break. So I made it back to Daharan and purchased a dozen boxes of large condoms. The condoms allowed the gas to expand and we could release the pressure every now and then. The dude at the checkout and the other patrons were looking at me with great interest and respect.

lol I do something called amtgard, basically foam weapon combat, and we use Panty Hose to make the foam less abrasive... Imagine working at Walmart, and some1 checks out with this...

Electrical tape, Packaging tape, FunNoodle(pool toy foam), CampFoam, PVC pipe, and a ton of Pantyhose. You get some odd looks/questons...

One time I was with a friend, and this old lady was working and asked us what we were using all of it for, we somehow managed to keep a totally straight face and say... "A bomb." and walk out. She was SOOOO , lmao... Guess it could have been worse. I could have looked at her and Said "He's playing the women tonight." She might have thought twice about giving us a smiley sticker.

Jester

Quote: Originally Posted by dliv3rnce Thanks guys for the advice, but for attaching the filter/foam/sock to the fan, where and how do you put in relation to the fan. I'm thinking using the screws or maybe some tape. For now, I'll go check out the foam idea, then if not foam, I'm going to find some pantyhose/nylon sock, or some dryer sheets to see how that works out.

Great idea, I'm gonna have to try the cheese paper (remember seeing some around here..), anyway, a tight rubber-band around the housing should do just fine.

Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita A cut piece of nylon sock stretched over the fan area makes a great filter.

How good does this work?