DIY Scrubber Filter Suggestion

[Azeotrope]

Hello to all my fellow DIY fans! Hoping that you are safe and well!

Just re-filled my scrubber and got to thinking about a dust cover/filter. In the past I have used polly filter (rolled material), but it is not very good at picking up small particulates. When I emptied my filter of the high grade aquarium store bulk pellets (which is not that great) this time, I weighed it on a digital scale. 19.5 lbs????? What? I only put in 16 last time and it was weighed on the same scale.

Moisture and DUST!!!! Stirring it created a dust storm of an epic nature. So, my camera is down right now, but this is simple so just try to picture what I did.....

I took a 18" x 25" x 2" pleated high efficiency air filter (surplus pile free to employees at work) that you can get at the hardware store (rip off prices) or your local filter warehouse and removed the cardboard/paper. Stretched/straightened out the cotton filter media and layed it flat. Put the filter on it's side on top and rolled it right up. Keep it tight and then use wire/cable ties to secure it.

I went twice around and could have gone 3 times. Trim as needed with tin snips. The media generally has a very light gauge metal mesh backing. Leave it as it won't come off. However, it will poke the hell out of your hands!!!! You'll be okay.

I have seen way too many nicely built DIY scrubbers with no filter or dust guard. The best you can buy will fail early without one so why should your hard work go to waste?????

Side Note off topic: I used some way fine/small (just bigger than coffee grounds) carbon this time from e-bay. The smaller particles give you more surface area and more total pores. Try it, just make sure your window screen is small. Also, it packs very, very tight!!!!!

That's all for this way long post. Sorry for going on and on and no pics.... If I can find the camera charger I will throw some up.

Regards,

Azeo

 

[Azeotrope]

Pic.... Here is what it looks like when complete.



Camera still down had to use a mobile device. Hope you get the idea.

 

[Guest 88950]

nice job............i use the finer carbon too but i sourced it locally......most cities have companies that install h2o filtration or clean air hvac systems using bulk activated carbon and they sell bulk carbon.

 

[Azeotrope]

Good suggestion on the carbon source. Thanks The shipping costs can add up!

 

[Hammerhead]

What was the cost to build that ??

 

[Azeotrope]

Hammerhead - The filter in total ...... About $50.00 in materials and the first fill on carbon was 16lbs x $1.80/lb = $28.80. Around $80.00 U.S. I get duct fittings and the hose clamps at wholesale.

2 - 8" Duct Caps
1 - 4" Duct Cap
1 - 10' roll of 2' wide harware cloth
2 - 12" hose clamps
2 - 4" hose clamps
2 - 4" toilet flanges (black ABS)
1 - used window screen from 2nd hand store
1/2 roll aluminum tape

This re-fill I got enough really excellent carbon for this go and one more refill for $82.00 shipping included. It holds about 12# of the fine carbon, has a 2" bed and handels my 6" vortex well. It is 8" round 16" long with a 4" center and even with crappy pellet carbon last time did not let anything through.

So, long term it is cheap. The air filters are from our employee pile at work.

 

[Hammerhead]

My biggest problem I cant find quality carbon(Iodine# 1100) and when I do its very expensive.

 

[Azeotrope]

Coconut is very good and here is where I ordered ine. Most coconut is 1050 or better and this had almost no noticeable ash. She made me a good deal on ordering 2 of the 13lb size at once, but you are right it is expensive. Years ago I ran 2 scrubbers like my current but 6" x 12" x 30" long and the carbon buy was always a sizeable bill.......


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Activated-C...121?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4843b27101

 

[Hammerhead]

Thanks it does not give specs on the carbon. I asked him what the Iodine# is. If it's 1050 its not for air purification. 1050 is for water treatment. I will post his responce here

 

[Azeotrope]

Cool, willbe interested to hear what they say. I got mine installed and instant odor remediation. I've done a lot of research and had a hard time finding cocnut under 1050 Iodine. It has always served me well. Last time I went with aquarium supply store pellets and it crapped out early. I hadn't been up and running for a while got carried away and opened the front door after work to a holly shit moment, so I turned around and went straight to the store!!!!! Never before had I let myself get lazy on odor control. I was pissed at myself, but it got me through.

Gotta hit the rack. Work comes early. Peace and kindest regards.

 

[Hammerhead]

all Aquirium carbon is coal carbon 1050 or lower.. All air purification carbon is coconut shell carbon 1100 or greater..

http://www.carbochem.com/activatedcarbon101.html

 

[Guest 88950]

The Iodine Rating is for liquid phase where the CTC (CCI) test is for Vapor Phase.

IR ~ 1150 or above
CTC (CCI) ~ 60 or above

The industry standard quality tests for VAPOR PHASE activated carbons is the CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
ADSORPTION CAPACITY, or ASTM D3467.

Typical vapor phase virgin activated carbons have CARBON TETRACHLORIDE ADSORPTION CAPACITIES ranging from 45 to
70 percent by weight.

 

[Hammerhead]

I got a reply from the eBay seller it's 1100 min. This is good to use for our scrubbers.. There is no Coal Carbon higher then 1050 on the shelf. You can have some specially made but will cost you an arm and leg to get it. Coco Carbon is what is used in air purification. I spent many hrs looking into this as I always replace the carbon in my scrubbers. The cost is the problem the better the carbon(Iodine # 1100 mg/g min) the more it cost..

All of the info I have found uses Iodine #. the higher the # the better it's application for air purification. I posted this already. CTC is not listed

http://www.carbochem.com/activatedcarbon101.html

 

[Azeotrope]

Good to know the Iodine rating. I can tell you that it had very little ash/dust. Thanks for asking them. I had bought it somewhat on faith and based on the very small grain size and the fact that it is coconut which is what we should use. Coconut is almost alway 1100 or better.

What kills me is that Phresh and Mountain Air (and many others) run around bragging on their coal based carbon...... Not sure about that..... I think it is all marketing.

At any rate. Good discussion here. Kind regards and happy gardening!

 

[Hammerhead]

Those company's can get coal carbon at 1100 its just very expensive and only available in large quantities..we could not get it....

 

[Guest 88950]

i got lucky sourcing my carbon locally..........there were some idiots working there and they made a mess when they opened a full cubic ft bag to sell me half......they looked liked the 3 stooges scooping out carbon and weighing it....spilling carbon all over the front desk and finally just selling me the bag.....almost full for $75.

ive already refilled my store bought 4" filter from htgsupply.......it had the pelletized carbon and i replaced it with a finer carbon the size of coffee grounds.......i had to wrap the outer and inner mesh screens with pantyhose legs to contain the finer carbon........was worried that a tightly packed filter would be too much for my 4" fan but it breaths very easy.

did a diy vibration pack using an empty foot bath tub with heat and message.......sit filter in tub, put on message and fill filter with carbon....packing the carbon from the top with a piece of 1"x1".