DIY Air Purifier Box Fan

Using a random orbit sander or palm sander to sand wood, fiberglass or other material can create a lot of airborne dust. This fine dust can cause irritation to the respiratory tract, and the sawdust of some rare hardwoods is considered toxic. While working in a well-ventilated area and using a dust mask are advisable, another method of helping to rid the air of these fine irritants is to build a DIY air purifier box fan filtering system.

20-inch box fan
20-by-20-inch fine-particulate allergy air conditioning filter
20-by-20-inch general purpose AC filter
Roll of 2-inch duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Place the box fan face down on a work table. The side with the power cord should be facing up.
- 2
  Position a 20-by-20-inch fine-particulate allergy AC filter over the back of the box fan. Point the airflow indicator arrow on the side of the filter toward the fan.
- 3
  Place a 20-by-20-inch general-purpose AC filter over the allergy filter. Point the airflow indicator arrow on the side of the filter toward the fan.
- 4
  Attach the two filters to the box fan with duct tape. Seal all of the gaps around the perimeter of the rear of the box fan and the filters, using the tape. When you're done, the only air flowing into the fan will be through the filters.
- 5
  Place the box fan air purifier near your work area, with the filter side of the fan facing the source of the airborne particles. Plug in the fan's power cord and turn the fan on high. There should be considerable air flow through the filters, capturing as much of the airborne pollutants as possible.

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