This is not about a real flow bench, but one that I was tinkering about. Superflow Flow Bench shown to catch your attention mainly.

Their are a few books and places on line where you can make up your own flow bench. I made this one to see the effects of clogged air filters and how much restriction it causes and if cleaning them by various means makes any difference.

In all its glory a used Kodak Printer box was converted into an Air Filter Flow Bench, or poor man’s filter tester since the number are really relative based on clean new filters. Good luck in finding your own airflow box as I am pretty sure Kodak is out of the printer business.

Basically the box was used to test the rectangular flat air filters that are used on my Ford 2003 Power Stroke Excursion.

At the end is a fun video I did in a different time…

The overall idea of the video was to show you can make your own test equipment with some minimal investment, and then we show relative to each other how the filters flow. Three filters were used, a new stock Fram filter, the same Fram filter that the Filter Minder showed as very clogged and in need of replacement and a Spectre gauze filter.

Also the idea was shot out to see if we could clean the old clogged filter like the old days by blowing it out. See the results for yourself… And enjoy the wacky professor doing his thing.

The ‘Digital Vacuum’ gauge is actually a Manometer but that seems way to scientific to say. Read all about it on Amazon as that’s where I picked it up at – Extech HD750 Differential Pressure Manometer, You can find less expensive ones as well. They come in a couple of different measurment ranges. I chose the 5psi one, they have one that is more sensitive at full scale 2psi. It must be HEAVY DUTY as it has HD in the part number (note sarcasm), but it’s actually a well built tool with some really nice features if you have a use for one this is a good product.

Possible mods would include a second pick up for an additional shop vac.  I used a large shop vac and seems to have enough pull to registers and show some results.

Remember the idea here is to make and test things with mostly stuff you can make yourself, if you didn’t have a high tech digital manometer you could have made one with a clear piece of tubing and some water. If you look around on the web you can find many ingenious and simple tools that you can make for next to nothing so have at it and start ‘Garage Professoring’!

Image Gallery Below

Click images for larger size (If available)

Kodak to the rescue??

The project for a DIY Air Filter Flow bench started with an old Kodak Printer Box. You can see where this is going.

Vacuum Intake

A spare cleaning attachment worked for the hose intake. Nice and easy. Made for easy duct tape work.  Note all corners of the box were taped up to prevent leaks. A large square hole cut under the attachment, and then later taped up to seal.

Closer Details

Closer Details on how the intake is going to go. It’s not like you didn’t get it from the first picture, but what the heck.

Extech HD750

Extech HD750 Differential Pressure Manometer That I picked up from Amazon. It is a very sensitive unit. For the work here I didn’t use the differential part, basically put one end of the sensors line through a small hole in the box. That was it. When you put a filter on it you can see the restriction it causes by the negative pressure created in the box.

Old VidEO From CarCast

 This was an old video I had done from CarCast, I think with Alan Carona? Can’t exactly remember but at least it will show some of the testing. Remember all in fun but still interesting.