DIY Cleanroom
A cleanroom is an environment, typically used in manufacturing or scientific research, that has a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. This isn't an easy task, and isn't completely possible inside a house. But, you can set up a make-shift cleanroom in an extra bedroom or even your own bedroom that will get you by.
Why set up a cleanroom? To keep dust out of your electronic projects, or from ruining all your collectible action figures, or simply to travel through time. OK, maybe the the last one is a stretch, but who knows what you could discover in this room of solitude?
not responsible for broken or destroyed things, sneezing, death, explosive diarrea, or anything else. If you don't do this on your own free will, don't do it.
Why set up a cleanroom? To keep dust out of your electronic projects, or from ruining all your collectible action figures, or simply to travel through time. OK, maybe the the last one is a stretch, but who knows what you could discover in this room of solitude?
not responsible for broken or destroyed things, sneezing, death, explosive diarrea, or anything else. If you don't do this on your own free will, don't do it.
Bad Air Out
take down the fan, if any, and replace with CFL lighting. or at least NEVER use your ceiling fan!! This is the worst dust collector ever created. Next, you'll want to take off your vent cover from the A/C duct, and affix a piece of plexiglass with weathproffing seal around the edge. You can drill the plexiglass to match the holes in the vent cover for easy insulation.
Take a minute to look around and find any air leaks, like the cracks around the door, or windows, and seal them. Weather stripping works great. Leave the bottom of the door open for step two.
IMPORTANT! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE SORCE OF FRESH AIR COMING IN! If you spend hours in this room, you don't want to suffocate, so give yourself at least some inlet for new air. If you are going to solder anything, keep in mind the fumes can be deadly. Never take them for granted!
Take a minute to look around and find any air leaks, like the cracks around the door, or windows, and seal them. Weather stripping works great. Leave the bottom of the door open for step two.
IMPORTANT! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE SORCE OF FRESH AIR COMING IN! If you spend hours in this room, you don't want to suffocate, so give yourself at least some inlet for new air. If you are going to solder anything, keep in mind the fumes can be deadly. Never take them for granted!
Good Air In
if your room has a window, install a double window fan pulling air OUT.
Buy a A/C filter that is as wide as your door. You may end up using two good ones side by side, or buy a roll of the cheap blue filter media and cut it to fit. The former will filter nicely, the later will only catch dust.
If you are going to solder, place your soldering desk right in front of the window for ventilation.
Buy a HEPA air filter and run it in the room 24/7. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT EVER run a ionizer in this room! the ionizer will make the dust left in the room stick to EVERYTHING! plus, it could charge the air and create a static risk to electronics.
If your room does not have a window, I would not recommend soldering unless you sacrifice some air purity for fresh air. NEVER take a risk with lead solder! always vent correctly.
Buy a A/C filter that is as wide as your door. You may end up using two good ones side by side, or buy a roll of the cheap blue filter media and cut it to fit. The former will filter nicely, the later will only catch dust.
If you are going to solder, place your soldering desk right in front of the window for ventilation.
Buy a HEPA air filter and run it in the room 24/7. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT EVER run a ionizer in this room! the ionizer will make the dust left in the room stick to EVERYTHING! plus, it could charge the air and create a static risk to electronics.
If your room does not have a window, I would not recommend soldering unless you sacrifice some air purity for fresh air. NEVER take a risk with lead solder! always vent correctly.
Some Improvments, Tips, and Hints
I left a lot of room for creativity, maybe some other instructible mods for ventalation. Here are a few suggestions
1. make a plexiglass holder for the door filter so you don't have to reset it every time you leave the room.
2. This room will get hot in the summer and cold in the winter, so investing in portable heater plus an a/c is well worth it, just make sure they are HEPA filtered!
3. If you are serious, you could take out your biggest dust problem. Your carpet. Commercial tile works great, but looks bad. wood floors are second best. Also lining the walls with plastic sheeting will help greatly.
4. Closets can seep in a lot of air, so don't forget to filter them too.
5. an insense stick is a great way to check drafts.
6. weatherstripping the window fan is a great plus. foam sealant isn't recommended for this instructable.
7 Remember your goals. Stop all unfiltered air from entering, flow a steady stream of fresh air into the room, and clean the stagnant air inside the room as well.
8. saftey first! always vent harmful fumes. I've seen may good 120mm vent fan instructables that will get the fumes away from you. But inside a almost sealed room, you need to vent outside. Never trust a HEPA air filter! You need new air, not filtered.
Welp, that's it. My first instructabe. I'll add images when I can, and update with new ideas. Please post your ideas too!
1. make a plexiglass holder for the door filter so you don't have to reset it every time you leave the room.
2. This room will get hot in the summer and cold in the winter, so investing in portable heater plus an a/c is well worth it, just make sure they are HEPA filtered!
3. If you are serious, you could take out your biggest dust problem. Your carpet. Commercial tile works great, but looks bad. wood floors are second best. Also lining the walls with plastic sheeting will help greatly.
4. Closets can seep in a lot of air, so don't forget to filter them too.
5. an insense stick is a great way to check drafts.
6. weatherstripping the window fan is a great plus. foam sealant isn't recommended for this instructable.
7 Remember your goals. Stop all unfiltered air from entering, flow a steady stream of fresh air into the room, and clean the stagnant air inside the room as well.
8. saftey first! always vent harmful fumes. I've seen may good 120mm vent fan instructables that will get the fumes away from you. But inside a almost sealed room, you need to vent outside. Never trust a HEPA air filter! You need new air, not filtered.
Welp, that's it. My first instructabe. I'll add images when I can, and update with new ideas. Please post your ideas too!