DIY Laminar Flow Hood

GCG

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I made my own sort of flow hood. Have to plane down my hepa filter by 1/8" to finish it. Theoretically it should work. Pure lazy procrastination is the only reason its not done. Blower is housed in a 2' square box with 12" air intake filter.
I built a frame 3' long 2' wide and 2' high and lined the inside with glass panels sealed with silicone caulking. Attached one end of that to blower box and stopped there. Need to add a small prefilter at the blower box outlet before its all sealed up with the hepa filter installed.
Bought a big ass 2' x 2' x 12" hepa filter so made sure my fan is ample with speed controls.
After putting it all together the silicone caulking I used to attach the glass to the wood frame sagged a little on one panel. Thus the need to plane down my hepa filter. Damn frame of filter is particle board so im worried it'll get all f'd up. Can take filter off with paper but scared I'll ruin frame.
I'll clear the shit from around it and get pics tonight.
 

Deebs

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That's awesome man! I like the work area that provides. Building this can cut the cost in half about..looks worth it. What's your total resistance on the blower?
 

GCG

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Above my pay grade. Honestly didn't even try to figure any of those details out. Just read the space between filter and blower box should equalize the airflow coming through hepa filter provided fan is ample. I'll test air flow with a lit candle or lighter to make sure it's blowing out uniformly. If I get areas where the air doenst move the flame I need more fan. If it blows out I need less. Can access fan if I need to make changes. Not sure I remember but 2500 cfm with speed controls? Caveman trial and error.
 

GCG

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Not the best pics but its hard to get good shots. The totes are full of everything I need to try tissue culture, which is why I decided to stsrt down this road. Which is also my excuse for not finishing it. Since I haven't found my ultimate keeper plant suitable to attempt long term TC storage yet. When I do I'll finish. Maybe.
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jpcyan2

In Bloom
Not a DIY, but a $75.00 new in box unit i picked up from a buddy who bought two from ebaaay years ago.
The key to achieving Laminar flow, is to NOT blow the fan directly into the back of the filter. You want to have a plenum type box. The fan evenly pressurizes the plenum, forcing an even flow of air through the Hepa.
If your area is not super clean.. a pre filter is a must. Otherwise you plug the back side of the filter with any dust debris and contams. Shortening the life of the very expensive Hepa greatly.

The video is actually pretty good. Descriptive, informative and with specs info. Nice build on the cheap. But i think it could be done even cheaper with some patience and searching for parts.

Filter:
Resistance: .55 @ rated flow 387 CFM.
Efficiency : 99.997 % @ .3 micron particulate at rated flow.

1frontlamflow - Copy.jpg 2backlamflow - Copy.jpg
 
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Deebs

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Nice man! I am more than likely going to build one at some point as I want to get into tissue cultures also. I was thinking a 12x12x24 to start out with, I might just built the one in the video as a project. Is there a benefit to size besides the available work area? If you add a prefilter you need to add that resistance to the resistance total right? That way you know if the fan still fits the bill?
 
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Deebs

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Here are plans for another build. I kind of like this one. Not only well thought out, seems straight forward..



..another interesting reason below....

*Deep thought by Deebs*

Dont pass go, dont collect $200

Dont read if you dont want to read
:hotpoop: blathering

I had a dream the night I found and read this article. I don't always remember dreams, but this one was vivid. Who gives a *F* about your dream Deebs? I know..I know...its more about understanding the joy an excitement in that dream. More please. In that dream, i was running 2 of these flow hoods side by side..on a stainless steel kitchen table of sorts...I had my impulse sealer on the right end of the table still in flow hood area...I was just rolling through bags...big ones...little ones.....G2G..A2G....at one point slicing and dicing into agar, from agar into LC jars...That's about all I remember, woke up to the pooch... but I do remember I was having fun, a blast actually......then an epiphany....I thought to myself..when during growing up did you start to lose the feeling of playfulness (referencing the joy) in things? You haven't really lost them, but lost track of. Things that made you happy. How many do you keep around still (growing, biking, hiking, Canoeing. cabrewing..:) etc)? A lot of things are intrinsic to a each person, and forms who we are....

My question to myself.

Am I supposed to build one to open a door somewhere? Too a happier existence, doing something more fulfilling? I know I want to build one anyway.....All I know is this shit is both interesting, fun, and rewarding for sure...loving every fucking minute of it..getting a couple buddies interested in edibles also....the key point..find and keep what has intrinsic value to you..


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Kkvguitarist

In Bloom
Chiming in, here's a couple of the flow hoods I have built. I do sell and ship them if anyone needs one. I can do whatever size for different prices. Even a tiny 12"x12" can be fairly cheap and turn your entire mushroom growing game around 100%
 

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Kkvguitarist

In Bloom
If you notice in the larger one I put my blower inside of the plenum so it only has a 4 inch square on the top where my prefilled goes, the square is 12"×12" and fits a merv 13 filter which is a high grade filter to help prolonged the life of my hood.

The hoods I build have blowers that are at least 200cfm higher than needed. This ensures as the filter gets used and particles begin clogging the pores, the filter still maintains its minimum 100cfm fo an effective laminar flow.

And the more you use a filter, the more it clogs, also the better the filter works so these puppies will last easily over 10 years
 

Kkvguitarist

In Bloom
Starting on my new permanent design for flow hoods, 24"x 24" using 6" thick filters i stead of 12" and they work the same, cuts off a good chunk from the depth of the hood. Also working on a side project designing a steripe airflow type box for those who can't spend $1k for a flowhood. Ill post tek here if I test it and it wofks
 

Caddis

Zinger
Here are plans for another build. I kind of like this one. Not only well thought out, seems straight forward..



..another interesting reason below....

*Deep thought by Deebs*

Dont pass go, dont collect $200

Dont read if you dont want to read
:hotpoop: blathering

I had a dream the night I found and read this article. I don't always remember dreams, but this one was vivid. Who gives a *F* about your dream Deebs? I know..I know...its more about understanding the joy an excitement in that dream. More please. In that dream, i was running 2 of these flow hoods side by side..on a stainless steel kitchen table of sorts...I had my impulse sealer on the right end of the table still in flow hood area...I was just rolling through bags...big ones...little ones.....G2G..A2G....at one point slicing and dicing into agar, from agar into LC jars...That's about all I remember, woke up to the pooch... but I do remember I was having fun, a blast actually......then an epiphany....I thought to myself..when during growing up did you start to lose the feeling of playfulness (referencing the joy) in things? You haven't really lost them, but lost track of. Things that made you happy. How many do you keep around still (growing, biking, hiking, Canoeing. cabrewing..:) etc)? A lot of things are intrinsic to a each person, and forms who we are....

My question to myself.

Am I supposed to build one to open a door somewhere? Too a happier existence, doing something more fulfilling? I know I want to build one anyway.....All I know is this shit is both interesting, fun, and rewarding for sure...loving every fucking minute of it..getting a couple buddies interested in edibles also....the key point..find and keep what has intrinsic value to you..


giphy.gif
Did you ever build a hood? Looking at diy, seems simple enough?
I tried the oven method with a couple of five grain jars the other day, worked ok.
I’ve got some bags to try, but a plastic bag and 325* doesn’t sound compatible?
The glove box is an option.
 

Deebs

The Sentient Naturewalker
Staff member
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Did you ever build a hood? Looking at diy, seems simple enough?
I tried the oven method with a couple of five grain jars the other day, worked ok.
I’ve got some bags to try, but a plastic bag and 325* doesn’t sound compatible?
The glove box is an option.
I have everything I need just need to cut the shop birch and put it all together, will be 24x24x30 hood. Since I have been designing the new lab, I think I going to go a bit bigger.
flow-48_1.jpg
 

Brokehoe

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I’m considering trying this after pricing Hepa filters.


Found a similar purifier, not sure on fpm.
Any reason you couldn’t mount a 12v fan on the outlet and pull air through the filters, if the stock fan was insufficient?
Amazon product

I wouldn't. Just build a flow hood or use SAB
To me the box fan with a decent filter is better/ cheaper choice, but not practical.

If you plan on anything morethan a couple of 6qt bins now and then you need a flow hood.

I'm just getting into this and am no expert. Just my thoughts

I'm getting materials together for my flow hood build. Now
 
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