Am I crazy to be considering spending ~$90 on a fan?

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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Long story short, I have this old 20" box fan from Air King that was my parents before I was born. The thing is all steel, aluminum blade, reversable and it ruled. It was made in like 1960 though, and after all these years the bearing seems to be going south, and no amount of cleaning/lubricating will keep it from making awful screeching noises.

I love this fan because it moves a ton of air, and I can put it in a window on the 2nd floor of my condo blowing out and have it create a artificial breeze through the whole house. I went to a few local stores, but any fans they have nowadays seem to all be 100% plastic made in china dealios with weak motors.

Well, I decided to look into fans online, and it looks like Air King still makes some serious fans, but they are pricey.

Their best box fan now is in a metal housing, but the blade and grille is plastic. It does move a decent amount of air..2200CFM on high, but I'm just not a "fan" of plastic fans. ;)

Anywho...I've been looking at this industrial air circulator they make...looks awesome..all powder coated steel, including the blade, and has a high end motor, 20" blade, but it's like 24lbs, and costs about $85.

The fan in question

Specs:

3670CFM on high, 3330CFM on medium, 2940CFM on low.

Motor: 3-speed, 1/6 HP, 120V, 1 phase, totally enclosed, ball bearing, permanently lubricated, permanent split capacitor

Now, I realize this won't fit in my window quite as well as a box fan, but I also would use it as a floor fan.

Now, I know it's pricey, but I want a fan that will last for many many years like the one I have...

So....worth it?
 
oogabooga

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,806
3
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I don't know man, maybe if iy's for a house you might want to look at a different solution like having an attic fan installed.

If you have the cash to spend and you think you'll use it regularly go for it. My roommate had a pretty insane fan that could circulate air in the upper story of our townhouse. The problem was that ah heck was LOUD as hell and we could no longer bear to use it in any way shape or form.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: mchammer
doit. Build something to get it to stay in your window.
Click to expand...

I thought about the fact it wouldn't be quite as efficient as a box fan exhausting air out the window because of it's round shape, but I was also thinking the higher CFM would overcome some of that inefficieny.

I suppose I could make something out of plywood or something to keep it in the window better, but I would still use it as a floor fan when I have the house closed up and the A/C's on.

I have an attic in this condo, but there is really no way to install one of those exhaust type fans up there, and they are too pricey as well. Plus, I wouldn't want to have the attic open for the fan...
 
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EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
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The plastic and weaker motor won't make a difference unless it's fighting wind. It's still rated at 2200CFM. And if it's fighting wind, why do you need a fan to circulate air? I personally have 3 of that very fan, they're good stuff.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: EyeMWing
The plastic and weaker motor won't make a difference unless it's fighting wind. It's still rated at 2200CFM. And if it's fighting wind, why do you need a fan to circulate air? I personally have 3 of that very fan, they're good stuff.
Click to expand...

I agree, but you must admit the heavier duty one in freakin sweet, and powerful. I want a freakin WIND going through my place...heh.

A lot of days it's cool when I get home in the morning, so I can have it circulate cool air through the house, and then shut it down and close the house up before it get's hot.

I'm sure their box fan is awesome...just like the much heavier duty model. Better motor, better blade, close to twice the airflow...
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
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Get it, it will be money well spent.

I'd be willing to bet that when your family bought the old one in the 60s, it was also quite expensive. :)
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just not used to spending $100 on something like a fan...
 
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EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
The plastic and weaker motor won't make a difference unless it's fighting wind. It's still rated at 2200CFM. And if it's fighting wind, why do you need a fan to circulate air? I personally have 3 of that very fan, they're good stuff.
Click to expand...

I agree, but you must admit the heavier duty one in freakin sweet, and powerful. I want a freakin WIND going through my place...heh.

A lot of days it's cool when I get home in the morning, so I can have it circulate cool air through the house, and then shut it down and close the house up before it get's hot.

I'm sure their box fan is awesome...just like the much heavier duty model. Better motor, better blade, close to twice the airflow...
Click to expand...

Ahh, I read your post as the big fan having 2200CFM as well as the little one. Duhhhh
 
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Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just not used to spending $100 on something like a fan...
Click to expand...
Yeah, it does seem a little weird.... but I think Wal-Mart has corrupted us with ultra cheap Chinese junk.

Most consumers are too stupid. They'll see a 10$ fan and buy it. It will last for 2 or 3 years. By that time they've forgotten that they even bough it, it's just another piece of furniture. So instead of reacting with fury because it didn't last 25 years like it should've, they just go buy another 10$ fan.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
The plastic and weaker motor won't make a difference unless it's fighting wind. It's still rated at 2200CFM. And if it's fighting wind, why do you need a fan to circulate air? I personally have 3 of that very fan, they're good stuff.
Click to expand...

I agree, but you must admit the heavier duty one in freakin sweet, and powerful. I want a freakin WIND going through my place...heh.

A lot of days it's cool when I get home in the morning, so I can have it circulate cool air through the house, and then shut it down and close the house up before it get's hot.

I'm sure their box fan is awesome...just like the much heavier duty model. Better motor, better blade, close to twice the airflow...
Click to expand...

Ahh, I read your post as the big fan having 2200CFM as well as the little one. Duhhhh
Click to expand...

*makes grunting noises*

;)
 
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Willoughbyva

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2001
3,267
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We used to have a fan with medal blades. It even had a thermostat on it. The bearings went bad init and we had to through it away.:(
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Yeah, it's hard to find them made solid these days...everything is all plastic and made in china...
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Originally posted by: biostud
what HSF supports that kind of fan?
Click to expand...

LMAO! :D

"What ya got on that Thermalright HS?"

"Ohhh...nothing crazy...just 1/3HP 30" 8000CFM unit."

:D

Can you connect that to the motherboard's fan headers?

;)
 
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Wonderful Pork

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2005
1,531
1
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I say go for it, as long as you dont mind the sound. That sucker is going to be LOUD! I had a fan that could produce hurricane force winds in my little apartment but the sucker was too loud to do anything other than marvel at its ferocity.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Yeah, the noise wouldn't bother me...it will mostly be the sound of the air it's moving more than motor noise anyhow.
 
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Raincity

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2000
4,477
12
81
I had some old box fan that was all metal gray that I dont know how I aquired it for the life of me. It ran without issue for over twenty years. Two years ago it started to make noise and needed new bearings so to the trash it went. I went out an bought one those $10 Lakeland box fans. I had to return the first four due to faulty switches. The fith one ran but the front cover was broken. What a bunch of junk Lakeland makes.
 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
My parents are still using their old fan which is pushing 40 years old. Nothing can blow like that one.

Have you tried to replace the bearings in the old one?
 
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