case filter

[CU]

I am trying to put a filter on my aluminum case. The hole I need to cover is about 5.5 x 7.25 inches. DEMCiflex has a 5 bay filter that would work, but it is $20+ shipped. The shipping is what kills it on their website, so I have looked on various US sites for it. However, I can only find their more standard filters like 120mm, 140mm, duel 120mm, etc. Does anyone know where I can find it in the US to avoid the high shipping charges?

I have also considered buying some filter material and just making my own, but I am not sure how to attach it to my case. I like the idea of using magnets, so I can remove it for cleaning easily. DEMCiflex offers magnetic tape for use with non steel cases, but I assume their tape is the opposite pole of the magnetic side of the filter so it would stick. From the reading I have done on magnetic tap like 3M makes it has both poles to stick to metal better, but it won't stick to itself very well. Does anyone have any experience with this?

I also thought about using some small rare earth magnets. I would glue one at each corner on the inside of the hole. Then put one on each corner of the filter material. They should be strong enough to stick to each other through the aluminum case. But, would they be to strong to use in a computer?

 

[jaedaliu]

easiest would be to buy some velcro tape, and use that with a cheap filter purchased at ?home depot? and cut to size.

Probably not very pretty, though.

 

[CU]

I though about using velcro. Looks isn't that important as it will be behind the front bezel on the case. However, if I use velcro I would have to remove the front bezel every time I need to clean it. With magnets I can grab it and slide it straight out of the bottom.without having to remove the bezel. Then just slide it backup in there after I clean it.

 

[Alan G]

High quality filter material is HERE.

 

[bononos]

I though about using velcro. Looks isn't that important as it will be behind the front bezel on the case. However, if I use velcro I would have to remove the front bezel every time I need to clean it. With magnets I can grab it and slide it straight out of the bottom.without having to remove the bezel. Then just slide it backup in there after I clean it.

If you use magnets, it will stick when you try to slide it back up wouldn't it? Why not just stick a layer of tape magnet on the outside of the bezel and stick the filter outside the case? You have to tape up the bottom hole but thats easy.

Or are you saying that you already have some sort of hard plastic cover which you can use as a frame for the filter which makes it easier to slide?

 

[CU]

Yes, it will stick but I should still be able to push it up or pull it down if it is framed. I don't really want to cover the bezel on the front of the case. Also covering the hole in the case will filter more air than putting it on the bezel. I am sure there are other paths for air to get pulled in from beside the hole in the bottom that would have to be taped up.

I don't have a frame for a filter yet. But I have some 1/8in. or 1/4in. wood I could make one from.

 

[CU]

Really leaning toward making my own filter, using a custom build frame with countersunk magnets. Does anyone know the diameter and thickness of the magnets used on the Silverstone magnetic filters?

 

[aigomorla]

careful with magnets inside the case.
Especially powerful ones like neo's

a magnetic field inside a case is one of the last things u want.

 

[CU]

careful with magnets inside the case.
Especially powerful ones like neo's

a magnetic field inside a case is one of the last things u want.

That is why I am asking for the size that is in the Silverstone filters. Figure theirs are a safe size.


accidentally hit edit..
CnC Mod Aigo

 

[aigomorla]

just use the smallest ones u can find... and DONT PUT them ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR SSD/HDD, or even near your RAM/Board Bios chip.

it should hold if u have one on each side of the case if the shell is made of ALU.

If your case is steel, then you dont need to worry.



Honestly tho.. it wont be clean like a DECM.
Ive tried to replicate them, and failed horribly.... just ended up buying DECM.

Have you tried Performance-PCs.com? i also find 20 dollar shipping a bit ridiculous.

 

[CU]

You can get 50 3mm dia. x 1mm thick N35 disks on ebay for $2. That is pretty cheap and small. Would it be two small? Yeah and about my HD, it will be about 1 inches above it. I could move it up 2 3.5in. bays though.

Performance-PCs.com has every bay cover listed but the 5 bay. They do list a customer oder where you tell them which one you want and they will get you a price. I think I will email them and see what they can get the 5 bay version for.

Oh and the shipping wasn't $20. It was the filter + shipping that was $20+. Actually I think it came out to $24 with the shipping being more than the filter from DEMC's website. But if I can find it in the US I would think shipping would only be $3-$4.

 

[aigomorla]

if you were to piece out that micro mesh, it would cost you about 75% of cost price.
That micro mesh when i was investigating is expensive stuff unless u buy in bulk which then its expensive cuz its bulk.

 

[CU]

I was just going to use the 3mm stuff that Alan linked to above or see what home depot had if I built it myself.

 

[Micrornd]

If you want cheap and good filter material, simply buy an AC pleated filter at the home supply store and cut whatever size you need out of it.
The pleated material flattens easily.
Even the $.99 in the discount stores are as good or better than the material sold by PC parts vendors.
They also have washable, reusable filter material at the home supply stores much cheaper than PC parts vendors.
The only caveat is that these materials are designed to actually filter the air, rather than just remove the larger chunks, like the material sold by PC vendors, so your fans may need to work harder.
I.E., if you can see through an air filter, it isn't an air filter.

 

[CU]

Waiting on ETA and shipping cost from Performance-PCs.com. But in the mean time I went looking for HVAC filters and found this. Looking at reviews I am not the first to want to use it on a case fan. And the price is right.

http://www.amazon.com/Thermwell-Prod...pr_product_top

 

[aigomorla]

i have used those a lot

see in the lower bays...

they get clogged quickly tho in high dust enviorments... and when u wash them a few times, they stretch out and require replacing.

 

[Soulkeeper]

After using those vent filters for years,
I used one of these to make the filter in my current system
http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Pack-EZ...ndow+sun+shade

It works pretty good, just cut with scissors and glue onto a frame.
Or in my case I just wrapped it onto the wood frame while the paint was still wet and it all bonded.

 

[CU]

i have used those a lot
they get clogged quickly tho in high dust enviorments... and when u wash them a few times, they stretch out and require replacing.

How often do you have to clean them out?

 

[Agenesis]

Try your local hardware store or Amazon industrial. You can either get some really fine plastic mesh like what coolermaster/corsair uses or you can get some similarly sized steel mesh. I did the same a while back and a massive sheet was only $7. I forgot what sizing the mesh was though, they used some sort of terminology. (Such as "grit" with sandpaper fineness)

 

[bononos]

If you want cheap and good filter material, simply buy an AC pleated filter at the home supply store and cut whatever size you need out of it.
The pleated material flattens easily.
Even the $.99 in the discount stores are as good or better than the material sold by PC parts vendors.
They also have washable, reusable filter material at the home supply stores much cheaper than PC parts vendors.
.......

Its going to be too thick to slip into the front bezel.

A cheap and nasty fix would be to use pantyhose. Or look into discount dollar or party stores for cheap decorations/costumes with very fine see through plastic type material.