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cubezoid
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Is this Flow Hood a good deal?
#18032655 - 03/30/13 12:04 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hey guys! I found a local equipment dealer and they have a 33" x 24" x 23" laminar flow hood for sale. It has a HEPA filter and is fully functioning. They are asking for $800, is this a good deal? I will post a pic of it.

Thanks!
Edited by cubezoid (03/30/13 12:07 PM)
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Jeff
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18032681 - 03/30/13 12:11 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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I can't tell by the pic. Is the filter in the back or the top?
-------------------- Myco-tek
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boneynerd
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18032688 - 03/30/13 12:11 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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You could build one for half that price, fungiperfecti sells some for like $450 new i think.
-------------------- "Your mama's grow was so contaminated, the shroomery got trich." -SpitballJediS "your a female, no one woulda cared you were naked,hell probably made someone's day, but I pull my balls out on a bus and im the bad guy.." -Bishlap
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cubezoid
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: Jeff]
#18032746 - 03/30/13 12:29 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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The filter is mounted on top
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cubezoid
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: boneynerd]
#18032770 - 03/30/13 12:34 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
boneynerd said: You could build one for half that price, fungiperfecti sells some for like $450 new i think.
This one seems quite a bit nicer, and I won't have to pay for shipping, I'll just drive over and pick it up. Also, fungi perfecti's start at $529. I will probably get this one for under $800 since i can pay in cash, that's just their listing price.
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PussyFart
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18032795 - 03/30/13 12:39 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Build your own and save at least $300.
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
Edited by PussyFart (03/30/13 12:40 PM)
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Jeff
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18032819 - 03/30/13 12:45 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Horizontal hoods are better for what we do. Here is an older thread that explains why.
Link
-------------------- Myco-tek
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boneynerd
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: Jeff]
#18032981 - 03/30/13 01:12 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Make sure and inspect the filter, prefilter, etc.
I just like the DIY approach.. But to each their own, if it works and you got the cash to flop.. by all means. Start it up, give it a flame test, youll know after your first batch whether the hood is any good.
-------------------- "Your mama's grow was so contaminated, the shroomery got trich." -SpitballJediS "your a female, no one woulda cared you were naked,hell probably made someone's day, but I pull my balls out on a bus and im the bad guy.." -Bishlap
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cubezoid
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: Jeff]
#18032991 - 03/30/13 01:16 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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So if I make my own, what size fan do I need? Some have CFM ratings and some just have sizes. And what sites do you recommend for buying HEPA filters?
Edited by cubezoid (03/30/13 01:20 PM)
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boneynerd
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18033006 - 03/30/13 01:20 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Fungiperfecti website has the hepa filters, like $100-$150
Fans I found are Dayton squirrel cage fans. 450-500cfm
build a standard box outta 3/4inch good quality wood and install filter.. setup a prefilter for your blower fan.. turn it on and get to work 
expect total cost between $350-$450 for a brand new setup, used or salaved parts can be found.. but always start with a new filter, itll last you a life time.
-------------------- "Your mama's grow was so contaminated, the shroomery got trich." -SpitballJediS "your a female, no one woulda cared you were naked,hell probably made someone's day, but I pull my balls out on a bus and im the bad guy.." -Bishlap
Edited by boneynerd (03/30/13 01:21 PM)
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boneynerd
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: boneynerd] 1
#18033018 - 03/30/13 01:22 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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I thought I would save money by building my own.. i should have just bought the one off their website, between the time, the tools required and all my buildling..
they are really charging you like $150 in labor to make the thing.. so its worth it in my opinion.. but if you like building, and your a hands on person and good with a saw and power tools.. make that shit its fun
-------------------- "Your mama's grow was so contaminated, the shroomery got trich." -SpitballJediS "your a female, no one woulda cared you were naked,hell probably made someone's day, but I pull my balls out on a bus and im the bad guy.." -Bishlap
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cubezoid
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: boneynerd]
#18033349 - 03/30/13 02:38 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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So for a 24" x 24" x 6" 99.99% HEPA filter, and an average prefilter, what CFM do I need for my fan? It seems as though I will need about 400CFM for such a filter. 4 sq. ft. x 100 ft/min = 400CFM? Will an in line blower such as this one suffice? I checked the rated velocity on the filter and it is 175 FPM. Does that mean I will need a fan that puts out 700 CFM? ( 4sq. ft. x 175 FPM = 700CFM ) Thanks!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HYDROFARM-ACFB8-Active-Air-8-Hydroponics-Inline-Duct-Booster-Fan-471-CFM-/230953170378?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c5e1b5ca
Edited by cubezoid (03/30/13 02:59 PM)
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PussyFart
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18033422 - 03/30/13 02:56 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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That is a fan, you need a blower.
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
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cubezoid
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: PussyFart]
#18033442 - 03/30/13 03:02 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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OICU812
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid] 1
#18036297 - 03/31/13 06:31 AM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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A few links that might help:
Boris's Home-Made Flowhood Tek
TranscendingLife's GloveBox Tek
Damion5050's Flow Hood Build
oderus urungus's Laminar flow hood build (pics) [about $140-150.]
Lotte & Thomas Orchids Laminar flow hood construction
Got a bit carried away with the links but it should give you some ideas and information. Flow hoods can be build on a very reasonable budget if you are willing to study what others have done and put a little time & effort into the project.
Just My 2¢
-------------------- -------------- "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" --Benjamin Franklin "Those who give up liberty for security won't have, or deserve, either.". . . Benjamin Franklin ----> Read: The Fight of our Lives - Defeating the Ideological War Against the West - by Victor Davis Hanson
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cubezoid
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: OICU812]
#18036892 - 03/31/13 11:13 AM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks! those links were quite helpful.
I am struggling with understanding the math behind the blower requirements. I want about a 400-800 CFM blower @ 1.2" of pressure, what does this equate to @ 0.0" of pressure? I can find blower specs, but they are mostly @0.0" of pressure.
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fastfred
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18069607 - 04/06/13 10:32 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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That pic is of a standard flow hood, not a laminar flow hood. You don't need to follow all the blower math because it uses a much more logical system and doesn't require such big blowers.
-------------------- It drinks the alcohol and abstains from the weed or else it gets the hose again. -Chemy The difference between the substances doesn't matter. This is a war on consciousness, on our right to the very essence of what we are. With no control over that, we have no need to speak of freedom or a free society. -fireseed "If we are going to have a war on marijuana, the least we can do is pull the sick and the dying off the battlefield." -Neal Levine (MPP) I find the whole "my drug should be legal but yours should be illegal" mindset disgusting and hypocritical. It's what George Bush and company do when they drink a cocktail and debate the best way to imprison marijuana users. -Diploid
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Darkman
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: cubezoid]
#18080607 - 04/09/13 06:28 AM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
cubezoid said: Hey guys! I found a local equipment dealer and they have a 33" x 24" x 23" laminar flow hood for sale. It has a HEPA filter and is fully functioning. They are asking for $800, is this a good deal? I will post a pic of it.

Thanks!
I have one like this, built it myself.
Vertical hoods work fine but the protocol is different, plus you need to make some concessions like working with glass hip flasks instead of petri dishes etc.
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fastfred
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: Darkman]
#18081562 - 04/09/13 12:08 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Vertical hoods work fine but the protocol is different, plus you need to make some concessions like working with glass hip flasks instead of petri dishes etc.
If you're hood is working properly you should have no problems and not have to change anything.
The only real difference is that you have glass in front of your face and the air only rushes past your hands, so you don't have to sit there and work like you're staring into a fan all day.
Sometimes you have to raise the front to get large things in and out, but it's well worth it for the cost savings and not having wind in your face all the time.
-FF
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Darkman
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: fastfred]
#18081800 - 04/09/13 01:05 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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As RR once posted re vertical hoods, if you keep everything the same your hands will contaminate the cultures when you open them. There are many protocols, mine (kudos to Sparkle), allows for small mouth containers and forceps use. No use of hands no need for gloves, virtually no contams, if you follow the protocol. You can find this protocol in Sparkle's threads.
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mmmmush
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: Darkman]
#18085082 - 04/10/13 12:29 AM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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dude you can make this and even use a heap that is 99.999 ant 3 microns build the hood and ever thing in the pic for about $250
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wood chip
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: mmmmush]
#18086551 - 04/10/13 11:40 AM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Never ever ever buy a used flow hood unless you plan to replace the filters.
Vertical hoods make little sense. I have yet to see a single reason why someone would want one over a horizontal. Think about the air flow. Once it hits the ground it has to change direction. They are often used for PCR work and not recommended for tissue work. Marketing is my guess. I have researched the subject a little and can find no explanation for the vertical hood design.
I actually have one, but I never use it except as a glove box. It says PCR work station on it and is similar to the one you posted.
I would recommend getting the fungi perfecti hood. You will have close to if not zero contaminants if used properly. This has been my experience.
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fastfred
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: wood chip]
#18087250 - 04/10/13 02:09 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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> Vertical hoods make little sense. I have yet to see a single reason why someone would want one over a horizontal.
They're much cheaper and don't rely on laminar flow. The filters are cheaper and you can make your work area any size you want with minimal worries over static pressure and CFM.
It's just cheaper and more efficient design. Trying to have your opening as large as your filter and entire workspace is just not very smart from an engineering perspective and creates all sorts of problems.
I have a large laminar flow hood going up for auction in Spokane at a consignment auction. It's next weekend (April 20th I think). If anyone's interested, PM me for details. I'm sure it will go for next to nothing. It's a great deal if you want to spend the $$$ for new filters. Otherwise throw it in your shop as a nice big air filter + workbench.
I just don't have the room for it, or the money for a filter replacement. I've always built my own designs using normal (non-laminar) flow hood methods. They've always worked great and tested out perfectly.
If you want a really nice, huge, professional laminar flow hood then buy mine! Otherwise just build your own. I've always used off-the-shelf MegaMart HEPA filters and free blowers from HVAC places, thrift stores, or scrap furnaces/appliances.
Beware the MegaMart HEPA filters, some kinds will work while others will not. Some have blow-by, and even on the ones that don't seem to I usually add some hotglue or silicone to make sure.
If you build your own you can easily make far better ones than are sold commercially, at least in our price ranges.
I think I posted a few guides on the topic way back when. If anyone's interested I can dig them up and repost them.
-FF
-------------------- It drinks the alcohol and abstains from the weed or else it gets the hose again. -Chemy The difference between the substances doesn't matter. This is a war on consciousness, on our right to the very essence of what we are. With no control over that, we have no need to speak of freedom or a free society. -fireseed "If we are going to have a war on marijuana, the least we can do is pull the sick and the dying off the battlefield." -Neal Levine (MPP) I find the whole "my drug should be legal but yours should be illegal" mindset disgusting and hypocritical. It's what George Bush and company do when they drink a cocktail and debate the best way to imprison marijuana users. -Diploid
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wood chip
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: fastfred]
#18087652 - 04/10/13 03:33 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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"They're much cheaper and don't rely on laminar flow".
Why do you think they are cheaper? The type shown are much more expensive.
You absolutely want laminar flow for mushroom cultivation. The horizontal is a far better design. Except nothing less. Use a glove box if you can not achieve laminar flow.
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fastfred
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: wood chip]
#18090419 - 04/11/13 02:11 AM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yep, if you want to waste a lot of money you sure can't beat laminar flow.
If your engineering and construction skills are weak then it's really your only option. Just put a large blower and a massive, expensive filter together and you're done.
It's far cheaper to use a little common sense and logic to design an airflow system rather than brute force the design with huge and expensive filters.
I'm just speaking from professional lab experience and personal construction experience. You don't need laminar flow, there's just no point and it's a big waste of money.
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wood chip
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: fastfred]
#18097081 - 04/12/13 12:25 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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What was your experience?
A laminar flow hood is not a waste of money it is one of the most important piece of equipment a mushroom grower can have. Used correctly, with sterilized substrates contamination rate is zero.
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fastfred
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Re: Is this Flow Hood a good deal? [Re: wood chip]
#18097596 - 04/12/13 02:37 PM (11 years, 1 month ago) |
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> What was your experience?
I've built 4 non-laminar flow hoods and owned two large lab-grade laminar flow hoods.
Since I've tested my own designs by exposing agar plates in them I know for fact that laminar flow is NOT important in proper flow hood design. Thus any money you spend on laminar flow vs. a normal flow hood is a waste.
All you need is a box full of clean air. You can do that with a glove box, but if you add some airflow then you are also constantly carrying out any contams. The only things important to the flow hood are that the air is clean and is flowing out the outlet at a proper speed to prevent any dirty air coming in. It has to be even to some extent to prevent vortexes and air currents that could suck in dirty air from the exhaust port, but a little attention to designing the input and the proper blower speed easily accomplishes this.
Quote:
A laminar flow hood is not a waste of money it is one of the most important piece of equipment a mushroom grower can have.
A flow hood is convenient and saves time, but it's certainly not essential or even particularly important. It's certainly worth building one, but there's a reason they don't teach micro classes using flow hoods. It's important to learn that you can do +90% with a bunsen burner, a draft free room, and proper sterile technique.
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