Best Woodshop Air Filtration System (Guide for 2024)

Published on: April 9, 2022
Written by David Rowan / Fact-checked by Eric Devin

Maybe you manage your living by woodworking, or perhaps you are just a hobbyist who occasionally carves wood; in both cases, an air filtration system for woodshop is mandatory. You want to risk your life and respiratory organ due to dealing with wood manipulation in no way. 

The air filters meant for woodshops are different from those we use at home for air purification. In woodshops, the shop vac is the primary dust collector to catch wood chips and large dust particles, but what about the fine dust particles? These are even more dangerous and difficult to get rid of. 

If effectively used and perfectly placed, an air filter can improve your wood shop indoor air quality like a miracle. It not only enhances the air quality but also lifts your and your carpenter and handyman’s mood so that you can go a long way.

Benefits Of Using Woodshop Air Filtration System

Keeps Your Lungs Healthy

As a knowledgeable carpenter or a DIY enthusiast, an unavoidable issue is handling wood specks of debris. Specifically, artificial wood can contain various chemicals that cause severe damage to your lungs and nasal passage.

Inhaling wood dust has been connected to various diseases, like Dermatitis, Asthma, multiple allergies, and Cancer. However, merely keeping a dust collector in your workshop won’t provide sufficient protection against such serious consequences.

Air Filtration systems designed to be utilized in woodshops can purify the air quality by catching particles as tiny as 0.001-millimeter. A dust collector isn’t ready to capture particles of this size. Thus, without using an air cleaner, you’ll expose yourself to life-threatening specks of wood too tiny to be captured by other purification systems.

Cleans Your Workshop Even When You’re Not Around

The majority of the air filters have an adjustable timer built into them. The aim is to permit the system to shut itself down after a particular period of your time, which will be pre-programmed by you.

This way, you’ll, for instance, set the timer at 2 hours and leave the workshop. The filter will purify your workspace’s air for two hours then automatically turn itself off. As a result, apart from saving a piece on electricity bills, you furthermore may get to return to your workshop the following day, already cleaned and prepared to be used.

Offers Easy Installation, Simple Operating, And Low Maintenance

Air filters are relatively easy to put in. they are available preassembled; you merely need to decide where you’ll hang/set the device.

They even have a reasonably simple operating mechanism, which doesn’t require much time to find out. And, in terms of maintenance, aside from a couple of occasional filter replacements and weekly cleaning, the system doesn’t require much attention.

View Our Top 9 Woodshop Air Filtration System Reviews

1. WEN 3416T Strength Air Filtration System

• Programmable timer;
• Powerful 4.2-amp motor;
• 750, 750, and 1270 CFM airflow.

For light to moderate woodworking, this air filter is enough. The inner filter and the pre-filter catch particles start from 5 up to 1 micron. The amount of particles cleaned by the shop air filtration system depends on the placement of the system itself. However, for light woodworking at home or the garage or workshop.

The programmable timer lets you select the shut-down time of the system. You can use the included remote to choose between 1, 2, and 4 hours to clean the air and then shut the system independently. Needless to say, the timing depends on how filthy the air is. This system also works well in offices, homes, and a similar environment to purify the air after renovation or painting.

Pros

• Low noise;
• Auto shut off;
• Programmable timer. 

Cons

• Nothing to mention.

2. WEN Industrial Grade Shop Air Filtration System

• 556, 702, or 1044 cubic feet per minute airflow;
• Available in basic grade as well.

For a large and busy woodshop, only one basic grade air filtration system is never enough. In fact, people also install several air filters, but controlling two machines at a time is a hassle. So, bring this industrial-grade air filtration system that is able to clean a 1000 square ft room up to seven times in an hour. The wen air filtration system accumulates and releases the pure air in your workshop after filtering it through with a 5-micron outer filter and a 1-micron inner filter. 

This machine has three-speed settings, a timer, and an auto shut-off mechanism. All the air filters meant for woodshops have these features. The remote included with this unit works even 26 ft far. This is a powerful unit, so pricey as well. Don’t buy it unless you earn your living by working in a woodshop. Another less powerful version is available from WEN, which suits lighter use in a smaller space.

Pros

• Suits for a large room;
• For industrial use;
• Auto shut off.

Cons

• Not found.

3. WEN Basic Air Filtration System

• 300, 350, and 400 CFM airflow;
• Remote operation from 26 ft away.

Yes, this remote works more than 26ft away, but the air filter itself will not be enough for a room that is larger than 20×20 square ft. If you are working in a room that is smaller than that, then you can rely on this air filter for WEN with your eyes closed. It is cheap, does the job, doesn’t make annoying noise so why not? Besides, it has adjustable airflow and timer options, just like the pricey air filters. 

After purchasing, if you feel that one is not enough, then you can also set another air filter and control both units with the same remote. Even the collective cost of these two units will be less than the pricey unit we have reviewed here. 

Pros

• Budget-friendly price;
• Suitable for small woodshops.

Cons

• Not for professional use.

4. JET Air Filtration System with Electrostatic Pre-Filter

• 550, 702, and 1044 CFM airflow;
• Two-Filter System.

You know about JET, right? We all know how innovative they are in making quality power tools, like Sanders. This air filter is no different. It is powerful, tough, and efficient. Two separate filters catch large and small dust separately, blowing the air in a broader pattern. This is an industrial-grade air filter, but it should not be used in a room larger than 20 x 20 square feet. 

This system is so efficient that an extended warranty also backs it. If it gives out before that, responsive customer service will be there by your side to fix or replace the unit. So, I guess now you will consider spending a fortune on this unit. For a small to medium home shop or a small woodworking shop, this unit must keep the air clean of any fine particles.

Pros

• Fast shop air filtration system;
• A long warranty offered;
• Catches 95% of the dust. 

Cons

• Expensive.

5. Jet 708615 Air Filtration System for Industrial Woodshop

• 800, 1200 and 1700 CFM airflow;
• 2, 4 and 8 hours timer.

Formerly, we have reviewed another JET air filtration system for small woodshops. This is a bigger and more powerful version of that air filtration system that is built to serve and last. This unit has an impressive 800, 1200, and 1700 CFM airflow that will fit industrial grade woodworking daily. 

You can set the timer or set the speed depending on your needs. It will suck in 99 percent of 5-micron particles and up to 85 percent of 1-micron particles. Keep the air inside the woodshop clean, no matter how hard you work. A clean environment motivates us to push ourselves further and to work even harder.

Pros

• Removes 95-99% particles;
• Backed by a long warranty.

Cons

• Very expensive.

6. Grizzly Industrial Heavy-Duty Air Filter with Remote Control

• 1400 CFM airflow;
• Remote controls the unit up to 45 ft afar.

When you have workers in the woodshop, then one basic air filter is not enough. Multiple machines like a miter saw, sander and alike tools make dust particles more than the air filter can clean. So, the air becomes unhealthy inside the shop. This air filter from Grizzly is vast and so powerful that it changes the air in a standard room about 26 times. So, there is no chance that your workshop will be foggy anymore if you install this to purify the air. 

There is only a one-speed setting, which is pretty high, and the remote control sets the timer. Thanks to the remote that works even from a long 45 ft distance. I know this is a somewhat basic air filtration system without any timer or auto shut off features. But hey, as long as it runs at a 1400 CFM speed, who needs an air filter to clean the air after leaving it? 

Pros

• Highly powerful;
• Suitable for heavy and professional use; 
• Fast-acting and swift filtration of air.

Cons

• Costly;
• Only one speed. 

7. Purisystems Air Filtration System for Woodworking

• Runs on 3 airflow speeds: 350, 450, and 500 CFM;
• Approximate shipping weight: 30.2 lbs;
• Setting timer.

Don’t let the fly away wood chips and fine particle counters come in between you and your artworks. Wood carving can be bothersome if the woodshop becomes messy and you struggle to breathe. This air filter from Purisystems is specially made for small and enclosed spaces and is available at an affordable price.

The three-speed setting and auto timer are common in almost all basic air filters for woodworking shops. What makes it different from others is its super quiet motos. You will barely hear the buzz. If you love listening to music while working on your art piece, then this is the unit you need. It won’t interrupt your concentration with annoying noise or leftover particles. For use in DIY woodworking projects, you will still need a vacuum to catch the larger wood chips. The air filter is just to clean the finer particles. 

Pros

• Shut off automatically;
• Reasonable price;
• Suitable for small shops;
• Decent quality.

Cons

• Not for heavy use.

8. Shop Fox Hanging Air Filter

• 260, 362, and 409 CFM airflow;
• Includes infrared remote control.

If you want to cut costs, you should spend on air filter systems with a good quality filter with a dust collection system in place that you can clean and reuse numerous times. This model of the air filtration system from ShopFox has a filter that is easy to detach, clean, and reusable for innumerable times. Unlike other models that need to replace the filter from time to time. 

This unit will suit a small size woodshop or home shop. The air circulation is decent to clear up moderate to heavy mess in a congested space. The unit is so lightweight that you don’t need to hang it up high. You can move it around with the handle on top and place it on any nearby workbench to clean up the air as you work.

Pros

• Reusable and easily replaceable filters;
• Lightweight;
• Long-lasting.

Cons

• Nothing to mention.

9. WEN 3417 Strength Air Filtration System

• Includes a 5-micron pre-filter & 1-micron filter;
• Airflow: 556, 702, &1044;

This one falls among those air filters that are excellent in quality but available at a surprisingly low price. All in all, it is also backed by a satisfaction guarantee. This air filter has all the bells and whistles that a modern air filtration must have to clean a woodshop. The size is decent and if you set the timer, it will take up to 4 hours maximum to clean the air thoroughly. 

One thing I am amazed about about this air filter is, it runs quietly. I wonder why other models I have reviewed make the humming and buzzing noise. It arrives with all the mounting gear, and you wouldn’t need to purchase anything separately to hang it from the ceiling.

Pros

• Allow RF remote system;
• Low noise level;
• Energy-efficient.

Cons

• Not any.

How to Choose Air Filtration System for Woodshops

Size of the Woodshop

This should be your primary concern before settling onto an air filter to use in your woodshop. Is the woodshop larger than 400 square meters? Then you should invest in a large and powerful filter with high airflow. So, the filter can effectively keep the air cleaner. 

View the Best Benchtop Belt Sanders, Top picks analysis

The Intensity of the Woodworking

Even if you work in a small, congested woodshop, do you have multiple workers working simultaneously? Then maybe you are producing dust that a basic air filter can’t clean on time. In that case, even if your room is small, you should set a big, high air flow air filtration system so that it can clean the air faster than you make it dusty.

Things to Consider While Installing Air Filtration System in Woodshops

Placement

There are two ways to place an air filter in the woodshop, one is hanging from the roof and another one is placed on a workbench. I personally like the second one, because it makes air filtering more effective. In a small room, while working on DIY projects, keeping the air filter close by is a smarter choice. 

On the other hand, for large industrial-grade woodworking shops, where multiple wood cutting machines are running, keeping the air purifier hanging is more convenient. In that case, it should be used as a secondary dust extractor source. A vacuum must be used to collect most of the produced dust particles.

How Can You Best Sanders for Hardwood Floors with Minimal Budget?

Maintenance

• Cleaning the Machine

You can tell when the filter needs a clean-up by the time it takes to clean the air. If it takes a longer time to filter, then simply remove the filters, dust off the dirt, and clean both filters. This way, you can use the same filters several times. 

• Cleaning/Replacing the Filters

The entire unit also needs occasional cleaning. Just open up the hard casing and run a leaf blower. It lengthens the life of the air filter. 

People’s Most Asked Questionnaire 

Where Does the Air Cleaner Enter a Woodshop?

As crucial because the air filter size is how and where you mount it. Attempt to climb at about 8-10 feet above the ground (no but 6’or 2/3 of the ground to ceiling distance if less than 8′ ceiling). Mount along the longest wall; therefore, the intake is approximately 1/3 of the shorter wall space.

What Is an Air Filtration System?

Air filtration is the most generally used technology to eliminate particles from an air stream, thanks to its relative ease and adaptability. Both the fabric and fibrous filters are used for airborne particle control. Fabric filters are made up of woven and felted fabrics that collect particles totally on their surface.

Where Should a Shop Air Filtration System or an Air Purifier Be Placed in a Room?

It’s generally a simple rule to ensure that the air purifier has a minimum of a foot of space on the front, back, and sides of it, so it’ll clean the air within the entire room rather than just a little corner. In fact, the fewer obstacles within the room, the higher the purifier will be ready to keep the air clean.

Is a Furnace Filter Similar to an Air Filter?

While many of us ask air-con and furnace filters as if they’re different, this is often not the case. Your furnace blower and your air-con system use the precise same filter, so there is no need to be concerned about purchasing separate filters for every piece of apparatus.

Can a Conveyable Air Cleaner Protect You From COVID?

“A portable air cleaner, with a HEPA filter (High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA), also called high-efficiency particulate absorbing and high-efficiency particulate arrestance, is an efficiency standard of the air cleaner.), can absolutely help reduce the chance of airborne dust transmission of COVID-19,” said by Joseph Allen, DSc, an assistant professor of exposure assessment science and director of the Healthy Buildings Program at Harvard University.

For a couple of hundred dollars, you’ll purchase a high-quality home unit that will remove 99.97% of contaminants from the air, including the respiratory droplets that spread the virus.

But before rushing out to buy one, here are a couple of stuff you gotta know:

Not all air cleaners work similarly.

The size of the space matters, when it involves air cleaner efficiency.

No single strategy — including a top-rated air cleaner — may be a foolproof silver-bullet solution for combating the spread of the virus.

Conclusion

As air filters are a must-have in woodshops, you must pay close attention while purchasing them. There is no drastic difference among those in terms of the quality of the air filters we have reviewed here. But we considered different budget ranges and requirements. So, choose yours from the items we have reviewed for more assurance experience with the air filter.

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