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Axiom STRATUS the new player in personal air cleaning for the shop

6K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  MrRon 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Got an e-mail from Wood showing the Axiom STRATUS A unit from Axiom of CNC making background. Takes air cleaners, the type that used to hang over your head in a new direction. Takes the dust down, to the ground to be captured. 2 models, the second with a charcoal filter at 699, the other without the charcoal is 499.

I don't see number on sq/ft, which usually is huge for such devices. I am seeing it as a personal unit, you bring along as you move through the shop. Looks to be light enough to do that, the question would be do you have enough outlets to power it off it's 16' cord?

If it truly works, this is a must have for guys like me, who have already been diagnosed with COPD, or have any of a number of breathing challenges. It would be special to come out of the respirator when doing dusty chores. It's doable, but a huge PIA, worse when it's hot.

Video for it here.



FWIW I have 2 of the Griz made middle of the line air cleaners, which I use down low. Generally just on top of the bench, or some table near where I am generating dust. I can say without doubt, moving the dust DOWN, out of your face instead of up, and right past it works much better. So the concept really is headed in the right direction.

If the dust never gets higher than your chest level, it won't go into your mouth/lungs. This was provided to me by my Respiratory Doctor, and I took the old ones down, sold them, and bought the newer never hung ones I currently have. It's kinda cool to see dust from sanding, trickle down to the cleaner, but it does have to be nearby to do this. So I have 2, and I do move them to be where I am creating dust. Plus I have 2 ceiling fans, that drive it down. For myself I am not sure if this new device would offer more than I currently have, but it is pretty much the same concept.

So it's good to see someone liked the concept enough to build on it.

Just saw it, so throwing it into the pool to see if it swims. Discuss.
 
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#2 ·
It's funny to see this: Bill Pentz has had instructions on his site for years to make a DIY air cleaner that is similar. I guess it was just a matter of time before someone commercialized it.
http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyclone/air_cleaner.cfm#construction

A 0.3 micron Wynn canister filter and an 8" inline duct fan will cost close to $300, so slightly cheaper and better specs.
 
#3 ·
Probably others have "made" their own devices. Like I said my Doctor, who isn't a woodworker suggested air cleaners be used low, instead of over your head. I agree though it's the first I had seen it as a commercial unit.

I was aware Bill Pence was doing a lot of what he did for himself, having a hard time breathing is a really good motivator to do something. This I know.

Thanks for the link, if it helps one person it was worth the time.
 
#4 ·
Interesting approach. I would think a down draft table would do the same thing, maybe better since the inlet to the filter (DC) is right next to where the dust is generated.

IMO, most important thing in removing dust is getting it into a DC or filter as close to the source where it is generated as possible. Suction drops off to almost nothing once you get a few inches away from the inlet (hose or filter box). Additionally, fine dust will remain airborne throughout the entire room even if the inlet to a filter is at waist level since the fan exhaust is moving the dusty air around the entire area. Since the really fine dust doesn't need much movement to remain suspended in the air you still have airborne dust floating around.
 
#5 ·
Hi Earl

Yes, I hadn't thought about that, and I have a downdraft table. Thing with those is, you can't bring every piece to them, and other tools than sanding still leave fines often enough. Cutting sheet goods at a table saw is what I had in mind. Fuggedabout some MDF.

It probably would be illustrative if someone placed one of those really slo mo cameras and filmed every procedure in a shop setting to show you what was coming off into the air as we did everything. I have windows on opposing walls so I have great natural light coming it, and it doesn't matter what function I am doing, and even with dust collection running, if I look up after doing most anything I see fines everywhere. That is usually my clue to turn on the air handlers. They are so loud, added to the DC I can't think, even with 33Db ear muffs on. but they do knock everything down pretty good.
 
#7 ·
This is the same principal as the Jenair cooking top. A fan draws cooking fumes down through a filter or to the outdoors. Knowing the principal involved, it shouldn't be too difficult to make your own. If you presently have an air cleaner, you could remount it down closer to the floor and attach a duct to redirect exhaust air upward. I have one and will try doing this. I will mount it on a roll-a-bout stand. It will make changing filters a lot easier. At 84, I don't need to get up on a ladder. I believe Dyson did something similar in a small air cleaner. I remember seeing them in my doctors surgery clinic.
 
#9 ·
If you have a box type air cleaner, clean it up real good, and use it low for just a bit, and see if you see a difference in floaters maybe? I hope I don't result in a rash of sales if this thing is more advertising than substance. I think Manitario nailed it talking about the Pence unit. 300 bux with better specs. That's gonna be 500 or 700, and if it's not as effective?
 
#10 ·
I remember seeing them in my doctors surgery clinic.

- MrRon
I'd think in a Doctors office it was something of an Ozone exchanger. The premise with them is they drop particles of any type right out of the air. The particles are hardly ever sawdust though, more like bacteria, I used to sell them on the side, and tried one in the shop, you spend more time cleaning out the sawdust as you do woodworking.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
I remember seeing them in my doctors surgery clinic.

- MrRon

I d think in a Doctors office it was something of an Ozone exchanger. The premise with them is they drop particles of any type right out of the air. The particles are hardly ever sawdust though, more like bacteria, I used to sell them on the side, and tried one in the shop, you spend more time cleaning out the sawdust as you do woodworking.

- therealSteveN
Yes! You are correct; it was an ozone exchanger, but using the same principal of collecting at floor level, filtering and expelling up higher.
 
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