verum subsequentis said:

Well then. I'll have to look into the construction of these things a bit. If they work and are that cheap, why aren't we all using them?

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PnwCyAzurescens said:

Another option would be to order all the parts, measure it out and design what you need on paper.  Then hit a hardware store and have them cut everything per your measurements, this way all you might need is a drill and screws or a hammer and finish nails.  Add caulking to the list and you should be good to go.

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SHROOMSISAY01 said:

PnwCyAzurescens said:

Another option would be to order all the parts, measure it out and design what you need on paper.  Then hit a hardware store and have them cut everything per your measurements, this way all you might need is a drill and screws or a hammer and finish nails.  Add caulking to the list and you should be good to go.

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Yea then all you will have to do is go back to the store and buy more plywood so you can cut it right this time.

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  I got mine cut at the store, because well, I don't have a saw good for plywood and they have those cool vertical (sure it has an official name) saws that should make a perfectly straight cut.  First thing he did for  2 24"x24" panels was rip the plywood in half   Made 23 7/8 squares.  Had to tell him that doesn't work, he got pissed, so just went and got a new board and left.  Cut it with a jigsaw at home

SHROOMSISAY01 said:

OK since everyone is sharing their builds I guess I will join in the fun. I am making my lab bigger so it is in my temporary lab at the moment and I never finished staining it but here it is...

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van hatton said:

inski said:

verum subsequentis said:

It is my understanding that those fan filter units will not achieve laminar flow due to the lack of a pressurized plenum. I have not worked with one and tested it out but i can absolutely see how LAMINAR flow is very beneficial in this hobby. I'll gladly explain my thinking more if ya'll desire but I'd go with a legit flow hood over one of those units.

I like dewalt tools but, as bodhi said, it really doesn't matter. You are just building a hood. If you're asking for advise on what tools to go and buy.... that's another story.

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Mine produces excellent laminar flow over the entire surface of the filter, the original plenum was discarded and a new one constructed from wood for reasons that would take me too long to explain here but the dimensions are the same as the original plenum and a hood was constructed for the work space, I believe the elaborate baffle system employed by these fan filter units is essential for proper laminar flow.
I can vouch for them, if set up properly they work perfectly.

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I no you said its too long..... But could you elaborate I've been looking to getting one but I don't know why you'd need to re contruct it.

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My unit was an old one that was used in a tissue culture lab, the filter was recessed in from the edge of the plenum which was ugly and hard to work with, this image shows the back of the plenum without the blower and baffle assembly.


Here is the baffle assembly.


...and the back of the baffle assembly with the blower.


The whole inside of the baffle assembly was coated with a thick black foam for silencing and possibly to seal the components of the baffle I guess, all of the foam was completely deteriorated and turning to dust which would have ruined the inside face of my new filter so I stripped it all and applied new foam.

These two images show two parts of the baffle assembly with the original foam which I removed and replaced.


Here is the plenum I built with the old filter sitting in it.


...and the plenum without the filter showing the baffle inside.


Here is the back of the plenum with the back of the baffle assembly showing where the blower is mounted.


This is the work space at the front of the unit with the stainless steel work surface still covered in it's protective wrap, white acrylic sides and clear perspex top so I could mount the light outside the hood.


I could have used it as it was with some minor mods but it really needed a complete rebuild to be a good solid unit.
It was a long term project of mine and I wanted to turn it into a nice unit which I could use for plant micropropagation as well as fungal cultures.

Here is a couple of images showing some micropropagation media in test tubes and some tools set up in the hood.


...and some of the Echeveria elegans culture I multiplied in-vitro.


I'm very happy with it, especially for someone who's not particularly good at wood work

SHROOMSISAY01 said:

PnwCyAzurescens said:

Another option would be to order all the parts, measure it out and design what you need on paper.  Then hit a hardware store and have them cut everything per your measurements, this way all you might need is a drill and screws or a hammer and finish nails.  Add caulking to the list and you should be good to go.

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Yea then all you will have to do is go back to the store and buy more plywood so you can cut it right this time.

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Went to a Big Box store and told them what I wanted.  I told the guy that the cuts needed to be accurate and that I wouldn’t buy it if they weren’t.  I gave him the measurements and he cut them close enough.  Took the supplies home and built my laminar flowhood with ease. 

Now, I have all the tools to do the job but no place to work.  So I opted for store cut.  I could’ve done a better job cutting it up myself but like I said, no place to work.

It’s a pretty basic build/assembly with some, wood glue, caulk, screws, nails, hammer, drill and jig saw.  Could leave the jig saw out if you’re creative and are handy.  I spent under $700 on mine.

Of course your mileage may vary.