Mini Split Dust Filter, A Must Have In The Woodshop. 

i actually had a small bout of depression when i thought there wasn't going to be a farmcraft video posted today.

Your always thinking Jon and your right again!!! You ALWAYS only want to have one size of unit around your house, no options...period!!!!!😂

Interesting solution. Hope it works. Good video. One thing you could do to monitor your filter blinding is install a magnehelic gauge or other manometer between the room air and inside your new box. You'll be able to see how the filters are by the pressure reading. As the pressure drops inside the box, the filters are getting more clogged.

You done good John

A 102 video, awesome sauce. I was starting to worry the channel wouldn't get used! 🎉

Please keep in mind that if you use a filter that is too small or restricts air flow your fan speed will increase causing the fan motor to run hot and will burn up pretty fast.

Nice simple job it is in a workshop and does not need to be furniture grade appearence. Ought to consider a pre-filter for the wall unit next tp one you just made cleaning those condensing coils is a pain and a similar filter in front of unit will save you big. Ray

BTW: You could use neodymium magnets & small pieces of flat metal on the two ends to hold the front panel on will secure it but still make it very easy to open the cover. If you countersink the magnets and use super glue or something to hold them in there should not be air leaking past them and you can always use thin foam stripping to seal too.

Thanks for the video Jon. Have a great weekend. See you next week.

This is a must have for any shop, wood or otherwise.

Wow, the RU-vid algorithm just saved me. I'm in the process of installing a DIY mini split this summer.

I made something similar for my wood shop. You will be some dust incursion to the inner filters. As the add on filters begin to clog the pressure to draw thru the tiny gaps increases. I clean my main filters 16x20 about every 60-90 days and the internal filters annually. I love seeing someone have the same idea that I did.

This is the kind of thing old dresser drawers are great for.

Love it! I finally installed a unit a few weeks ago after 5 years of no AC and only torpedo heat in my tiny shop. I literally woke up this morning to an alert from the app that the filter was dirty already and had this same thought when I went out to clean it. Excited to see how long we get from so much more filter surface area.

Great idea adding a large filter area to collect the fines and keep them out of the AC and also filter your air. As i was watching I thought a simple 15 minute project would be to get a large enough cardboard box cut out the bottom to fit the AC cut out the front to fit the filters and just tape the filters to the cardboard box. Then mount the box above the unit with a couple brackets to the wall. You're done. When you want to open the unit just remove two screws and remove the cardboard box. Use a shop vac to clean the filters. In the filters he replacing just cut the tape and tape a couple more on to the cardboard box.

Beautiful!

Didn't realize you had a second channel till today. I made it at least. A wise man once said (and I'm paraphrasing): "Caulking and paint make me the carpenter I ain't". lol

Thank you for including the small mistake that we definitely didn't see. Makes me feels o much better about never making that sort of mistake myself :D

A friend that installs and maintains these mini splits told me how to clean it to get a much better performance. I measured it with a thermometer and it it made 3 degrees Celcius difference. So how to clean: turn the mini split *on* and then use a water and 30% alcohol mix and spray it liberally on the fins. This will clean the very fine dust particles on the fins and increases the cold exchange between the fins and the air.

I want to commend you for the effort you put into maintainability. The obvious advantage is that every time you need to service the inner filter you save yourself some time, but the hidden advantage is that every time you need to service the inner filter you're less likely to feel that you need to replace the system as a whole.

The cover plate or even the whole plenum could be soft such as vinyl upholstery, rubber sheet or tarp material that doesn't need removing.

Hey John. I'd love to see a video here about how you refill grease tubes for use on your equipment. And hopefully you can use it on your big new excavator soon! Cheers!

Just a public service announcement folks: keep an eye on your subscriptions - sometimes RU-vid turns off your notifications, and can even un-subscribe you.

I've had a mini split in my shop for over a year. I check the filters every couple of months and I never seen a speck of dust. I even run my cnc router without dust collection some times. I do plan on adding filters to it but I'm going to put in charcoal filters for smoke and pollen.

How am I just now finding out about the second channel? Thank you RU-vid algorithm!

Slick filter Box Jon 4:28 @FarmCraft102

Johnson, awsome, just discovered 102. More content please.

And here I didn't even know there was a second channel, what a pleasant discovery!

1:26 grizzly makes a 2 stage dust collector with a hepa filter, add a dust deputy xl and a 55 gallon collection drum then run your air filter duct each machine with blast gates you'll need to use metal spril pipe for the duct work. I found a distrubtor for the pipe here not sure if there is a location near you. Or you can spend 800 more from Oneida.

looks good! stay cool & hydrate! have a great weekend, Jon!

Nice idea to adapt the intake to the filter so you can use them everywhere

Didn't see what? The DeWalt XRP drill still living it's best life. Man. That's almost like OG Makita teal tools. I really enjoy the 102 vids.

great idea! maybe some 3D printing person could some up with adapter plates that match the profiles of particular head units (and maybe also solve the hatch issue too). Also maybe add some foam insulation tape to seal?

Looks like an effective solution. However, in the future, if you ever need to replace that unit, or are installing another mini-split in another dusty environment, my recommendation would be to purchase a "ducted" (aka "concealed") mini-split. Would be much easier to adapt for additional filtration, and would not add excessively (or potentially any) to the cost, and has the added benefit of allowing for some additional flexibility in the location of the head unit. (doesn't need to be on a wall)

Yikes, good thing the algorithm showed this on the front page, because it sure didn't alert me. Changed the notifications to "all" in a heartbeat. And now, I'm going to actually watch the video... 4:00 The only thing not making sense is using a drill to drive screws :P Then again, you're not pre-drilling so at least you're not constantly swapping implements.

Filter box setup came out nice Jon 10:41 @FarmCraft102

Nice table saw setup Jon @FarmCraft102

Good enough for who it is for!!! Said this about my work for many years! Enjoy every video that you make! Keep up the great work!!

Hello John, you could also mount the filterbox on the wall with a french cleat system and let it go on to of the airco unit. Seal it with rubber tape. For checking the internal filter, just lift the filterbox to take it off.

I don't understand why people don't buy a ducted mini split for their garage or shop. Same price and you can build whatever size filter box you want. I built a double 24x24 filter box for mine, ceiling mounted and works great.

They do make 3 inch vinyl tape. How quickly do you have to change them? Do make a 2 inch thick filter.

I did something similar to our air cleaner system in the shop after I saw your install video. I just did a couple of different things, first I used high-flow reinforced filtrete filters I got from Lowes, similar to the ones you're using. I noticed that cheap walmart filters would get sucked right in after a couple of weeks. Second, between the unit and the box (mine is free standing because the air cleaner hangs from the ceiling) I used a cut-in-half nylon dryer hose. It let me create a cushion between the box & the air cleaner and worked perfect for me. Thank you for the idea! I got so tired of taking the air cleaner apart every month just to clean it, and that idea has really saved me. I haven't had any problems with it at all!

Keep Pressing!

Oh, new channel? Yeah, fresh from 2022!

What is that....an ounce of prevention is worth a pound 0f cure! Nice work, John

Calk the removal piece! Looks great! Glad I found this channel.

Get a 20v battery adapter to go into your 18v dewalt tools, it will really wake them up, been using them for over 5 years now without issues.

John I hope it’s spelled correctly. Aren’t you ever tired bud?! I’m ten years your Jr and you make me feel inspired! I feel tired and sore everyday but watching you work you kill it brother. Love your content.

Thanks for this! I need to do the same for my new bosch mini-split in the shop, appreciate seeing someone go thorugh it.

There was a second channel ? Nice 😊

Great job JOHN! Will definitely save 💰, with that unit not burning out now or other costly damage.👍👍

That board probably was cut correctly but if you laid it down by your board stretcher that’s why it was too long.

Great to see you're well... I missed your Friday regular on the main... Happy weekend!

John love ur vids, I would recommend putting some type of seal, spongy foam or something to keep the filters edges where it touches the wood, that fine dust will sneak through and get to that unit filter and trust me it will get to ur coil. I work on a lot of those, love the concept.

Love the ingenuity! I wouldn't let those filters get too loaded with sawdust. I can't imagine those Mr Cool fan motors can handle much external static pressure. Replacing the filters a bit more often than needed is a lot cheaper than replacing the fan motors! Love the channel(s)!

You might want to look at Gaffer tape for jobs like that. It holds like duct tape, but removes cleanly. Great video.

Nice work!. Did you notice, if you watch the video at 10:40, there is air space at the bottom of the unit that can draw air up along the inside of the service door that won't be filtered buy your setup?

Add a door knocker, with a string. Then you can periodically shake some of the dust off the filters.

Only change I would make would be to add a small angle to the filter surface (aimed down ~3-5 degrees) to aid in filter self cleaning.

Hey Jon, I'm an avid follower of Farmcraft101 and wanted to say that I also love the "less editing" video series. Thanks for having this great idea!

Nice, I have to do the same.

Cool to see another video Jon on the second Channel @FarmCraft102

Stick a Febreez air freshener in the filter box :)

Well that helped me!!.. my condensate line clogs up & backs up, so u just fixed my problem again buddy.. ha and if ya get some time to have some foundry fun; Cody’s lab just did a video on casting with thermite, and it was good, but it would be Awesome if u did it!!.. and maybe cast something cooler than a pan… maybe like an “Anvil”?.. or another cannon.. haha

Thank God for that video I thought you had become an actual mechanic, must have been a nightmare I was having that there would be no more true farm craft Love the show Cheers from Aus

Glad to see a video - I may have missed it in your past posts, but @farmcraft1026 - dare I ask - "Why the switch to a new channel?"

Use Velcro to hold front panel

That's a good idea. I have one of those in my shed and I might do something like that, too.

Looks good john

Really neat and nice. If I would’ve Thought about this on my own, which I probably wouldn’t, I’d just tape a plastic garbage bag from the filter box down and around the heat pump. Lazy version 😅

the video is set to unlisted :)

Thanks for the video. I look forward to your posts.

Cool just found 2nd channel 😊

I didn't know there was a second channel. Happy days!

The only issue with this is it makes disinfecting (and washing) the coils harder. Once a year it is recommended to disinfect the indoor unit. The condensing water makes an excellent place for nasty things to grow.

At 10:37 you can look straight down out from the filterbox, around the units internal screen. That seems now the path of least resistance for air into the unit, not through the filter box.

I was about to doc your pay. Thank God you posted something. lol

hack tip a/c foam closed cell for snug air tight fit, next time on ur front filler piece / along the edges hint

Small suggestion: use 1/4" plywood, wood glue, and 9/16" staples. Forget the 3/14" plywood, forget the wood screws/deck screws/sheetrock screws. There's no reason to use 3/4" plywood to build an air box for a mini split wall unit. ;) Save that 3/4 for something that deserves it, and 1/4" plywood is supremely cheap. Wood glue and staples will hold together as good as any screw you might want to use... this thing isn't a skid loader hoist. ;) It just holds filters and doesn't leak air. There's no reason your air box for this should weigh more than about 25#, unless you're building a wall-mounted panic room that your filters attach to... ;) Wrong kind of overkill, John. 🤣😅

You're gonna be surprised how much those screens in the unit will still have dust on them in ONE year. And it will get past them and into the unit, all over the blower cage and the fins, etc.

Hey Jon! Please, find some nice profile picture for this channel. One letter on one color background make it looks like some bot account. Love your work!

For your ducting i would have used something like rubber or flexible hvac duct and attach to the filter door so you wouldn't have to bring a drill to clean and maintain it every time.

Excellent timing! I'm about ready to add the Mr. Cool to my workshop so this is really helpful. I will do something similar although not as much space above the unit so I will have to adjust accordingly, but you gave me a great start. Long time viewer of your main channel so seeing 102 for the 1st time and subscribed - Win - Win! Thanks

Might as well make one of those shop filters designed around a box fan, too. There is a name for them. Too lazy to look it up. But, you (we) don't need to inhale all the dust either. These box fan filters are efficient and effective. Key, is the surface area of four or five filter surfaces. Slowing down the flow makes it efficient and effective.

Probably major overkill for this, but when I need to do a removable panel like that, i have become a big fan of round rare earth magnets. a 1" Forstner bit and a little epoxy, and you can just pull the panel off and it will snap right back into place when it gets close. Only thing is make sure you get the magnets oriented right..... don't ask me how i know that.

Great job love your videos Magnets work great for areas you want to eventually get to…😮but so do screws🔩😃keep up the good work John

You should look up a Jay Bates old video where he did the same thing

That's pretty good. Thought about doing that for mine but said screw it. Yes I now clean it out once a year or so. Maybe I will do something eventually :)

The only issue is most people don't have that kind of space to make that box that big to fit regular size filters and I don't know if they make filters small enough to fit the space that most people have available above their unit.

Try using a canvas cover between filter and unit?

Thanks, Jon! Looking to get one for my garage soon. Hot in Louisiana

Looks good. fyi- At end u have a "This video is unavailable" on screen.

Your a pretty smart guy Jon great video thanks

Soo, since you have two channels... we can expect double the videos. Right? Riiiiight? 😁😝 Love your videos! 😁

Great job 👍

Great work!!!! Looks super practical !!!

Great job. One thing to consider, I expect that unit's door doesn't seal perfectly against body of the unit. Maybe some additional electrical tape around that perimeter?

Glad you have the 2 nd channel Jon ! 🐿️🤚🏼

You have a machine shop room, a woodworking room, a forging place, yet where is your inorganic and organic laboratories, and spectra physics biophysics, chemistry physics, and geophysics Library, chemical supply room, flask and chemistry laboratory glass supply room, sterile processing room, kitchen, and blasting backdrop and shooting range, etc.?

Why did I not know this channel existed?? Put me in the "having withdrawals" category all week long! 🤣