Hi guys.

So my latest HT is almost finished. The walls are done, painted. The carpet is in and the furniture is in.

I am noticing that there still is a lot of dust floating around the room. Normally this would be a minor concern, but I have my Electrostatic speakers coming soon. For me the biggest downside to the electrostats is that when dust hits the panels, you can hear the dust make the panel crackle as the piece of dust gets converted into ozone or something. :)

It seems like most of the dust is drywall dust.

I would love any input as to how to eliminate this dust prior to the speakers showing up.

Thanks!!!!

We have used portable air cleaners to remove drywall dust from the air with good results. Check your local tool supply company, or a company like ServPro and ask about a portable "Media Filter". Stick in the room for a couple days and it should take care of it.

Thanks! I didn't even think about a rental unit. That is a great idea!

we used a normal box fan and put a furnace filter on the back of it. The suction will keep the filter in place and fan moves the air. The filter, and get a good one, will pick up the particles in the air.

alot of dust winds up in the ductwork and gets blown out slowly over time. Duct cleaing or at the least running a shop-vac hose as far as you can dow the ducts will help as well.

Thanks again guys! I have a box fan in my garage somewhere. That is a great idea!!!!
Yeah the ducts could be doing something too.

Change the furnace filters often. Get a humidifier and run it in the room for a couple of days with the door closed. This helps to knock the dust out of the air and allows it to settle. Vacuum the room often. If you can get a shop vac and use it to clean the room. Most support a drywall specific filter. This is like a heppa filter on steroids and blocks everything. Dust with a microfiber cloth instead of a paper towel or rag.

we used a normal box fan and put a furnace filter on the back of it. The suction will keep the filter in place and fan moves the air. The filter, and get a good one, will pick up the particles in the air.

That trick also works for when you are sanding something that is generating some dust. Bungie cords will keep the filter in place. That way it doesn't fall off after you turn the fan off.

I also used a cheap box fan with a really nice HEPA filter - in fact, I think the filter cost more than the fan! I like the idea about the bungee cords. You'll be surprised how much crap it pulls out of the air.

It works very well.

I used my box fan trick when insulating and the filter was full, and I mean full, of fiberglass when I was done.

Where did you get the HEPA filter that fit the box fan?

I also used a cheap box fan with a really nice HEPA filter - in fact, I think the filter cost more than the fan! I like the idea about the bungee cords. You'll be surprised how much crap it pulls out of the air.

It works very well.

Can't take the credit for the idea. I saw it on some woodworking show the other day.

Box fan and a filter... Sweet. Wish I would have known about this one when I was insulating my house. Excellent and inexpensive idea!!! Everyone has a box fan.

The only thing I might add (which is too late for Cameron at this point) is to clean the basement floor slab with a rented Run Doctor immediately after the drywall is done. I vacuumed like a mad man with my shop vac and high-end filter (cleaning the filter after every 20 minutes or so of vacuuming) and still had the white stuff every where. I was thinking of moping but then thought of the Rug Doctor. No chemicals needed but use a little caution around the walls as the machine will splash out the sides when you are cleaning a hard flat surface and you don't want to get the drywall wet. I have a very dry location and no water issues but threw the dehumidifier down there for a day after and now it is bone dry and clean.

$20 well spent on the rental.

That is a good idea. I might just do that on basement project phase III.

I bought one of the super duper filters for my shop vac today. I also bought a brush attachment. I am going to do the walls/ceiling and then pick up a filter for my box fan. You guys are geniuses.

i need a box fan. i got post construction dust every where. tons of it can be seen floating around in the light path of the projector when it is running. later.

Is there a standard size filter that you get for the box fan? Or do you just get some big furnace filter and cut it to size to fit? Thanks.

As long as the filter is at least as large or larger than the "box" of the fan it will work. I have a friend who has used this technique in his garage workshop for years. The fan is hung from the rafters above the work area and a simple Ace/HD style filter is attached to the intake side by stick on velcro squares. Works great for getting construction dust out of the garage.

Now for the hard part. Finding my box fan!