In response to several pyrographers using our normal dust filters to remove the smoke when working, but the smell of burnt wood still hung around afterwards. so i designed this machine from scratch to remove any dust and the smoke fumes.
It has a two filters in a carboard cartridge that is very easy and quick to change, it contains a EU4 dust filter and a high quality activated carbon filter for fumes. The fumes from burnt wood are very unhealthy, the latest research has shown that it can cause cancer when inhaled, when you think about it it is the same as smoking a cigarette, smoke in your lungs containing harmful particles.
The filter sits on your worktable with the filter facing you, place it the other side of the work piece so it will draw the dust/fumes away from you.
The MCP is very small at 8" X 6" x 5" constructed of steel and powder coated for a long life. It has a 25 watt backward curved fan that is very quiet in use. expected life of this motor is 40,000 hours, thats 8 hours a day, 5days a week for 20 years!.
It has a 2 metre power lead and an on/off switch on the rear.
Test report in Woodturning by
Patricia Spero looks at this specially dedicated pyrography filter from Microclene, manufactured by Acrol UK. The unit is quick and effective at removing smoke and fumes from the work area.
This air filter is made by Acrol UK, a company that has been designing and manufacturing Microclene air filters for 18 years.
Microlene filters are assembled in England and sold in 14 countries around the world.
Wood smoke is very harmful to the lungs and the MCP pyrography air filter is specifically designed to absorb the smoke from pyrography and the fumes from any solvents you may use. It can also be used when soldering to take
away the fumes produced by the flux.
There are two sandwiched filter elements in the filter cartridge: a G4 dust filter white and an activated carbon filter black to remove fumes.
It is designed to be used with the filter facing towards you – about 300-500mmaway – so the work is between you and
the filter.
The filter has an airflow label on the top which, when correctly installed, should have the arrow pointing to the rear, so that the white filter is at the front. It is very easy and quick to replace the filter cartridge; you only need to pull it upwards out of the slot, and push in the new one.
The unit is very compact at 200 x 130 x
165mm (8 x 51/8 x 61/2in), uses only 35W, but will filter 120m³/per hour. It stands very easily on the work surface and can be placed very near to your work. The unit is nicely designed, has a pleasing appearance and is finished in a durable black paint.
In use
I used it whilst I was pyrographing some leaf designs onto the outside of a wooden bowl. I held it quite close to the filter unit, and although I was very near to the burning tip, the smoke was very effectively drawn to and absorbed by the air filter, and I did not breathe in any fumes.
I also tried it with my Presto dental handpiece, which actually burns holes through the wood, and generates a lot of smoke. I was pleasantly surprised that it coped very easily with the fumes from this, and drew them away from the bowl.
Verdict
This air filter unit from Microclene is more effective at removing smoke and fumes than any unit I have tried before.
In fact, I liked it so much that I would probably buy one.
