Air filtration for a woodworking shop: CFM, room size and filter ratings from the makers

How are shop air filtration units rated?

WEN says air filtration systems, like dust collectors, are primarily described by their flow rates, usually given in cubic feet per minute (CFM), and that a higher-CFM system circulates a given amount of air through itself more times per minute. (WEN Products)

WEN's Dust Collection 101 describes an air filtration system as drawing air into its housing through its filters and exhausting the filtered air back into the shop, and says it complements point-source or central collection rather than replacing either. (WEN Products)

WEN also notes that these systems will not pick up dust that has already settled. (WEN Products)

Taikra doesn't rank or test tools; every figure here is from the maker's own page or manual, linked.

How much CFM for a given room? WEN's method

WEN's method starts with room volume (length x width x height), then multiplies by 7 and divides by 60 to get a minimum CFM, which it calls circulating the room's air about 7 times per hour as a rule of thumb. (WEN Products)

WEN says to multiply by 8, 9 or more instead of 7 if you want the air circulated more often. (WEN Products)

WEN's worked example is a one-car garage of 12 x 20 feet with a 10-foot ceiling: 2,400 cubic feet, which works out to 280 CFM. (WEN Products)

The same arithmetic can be run for any shop; the model statements below give each maker's own room figures.

What do the models list for speeds and room size?

WEN lists the 3410 at three speeds of 300, 350 and 400 CFM and says it circulates the air in a 400 square foot room up to 7.5 times per hour. (WEN Products)

WEN lists the 3417 at three speeds of 556, 702 and 1044 CFM and says it circulates the air in a 1000 square foot room up to 7.5 times per hour. (WEN Products)

WEN lists noise of 50 to 60 dB for the 3410 and 63 to 68 dB for the 3417. (WEN Products; WEN Products)

How are the filters rated?

WEN says its air filtration systems use a 5-micron primary filter and a 1-micron secondary filter, and that a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) number is assigned to a filter based on a standardized particle filtration test created by ASHRAE. (WEN Products)

WEN's 3410 and 3417 pages each list a 1-micron filter and a 5-micron pre-filter. (WEN Products; WEN Products)

Timers, remotes and auto modes

WEN says the 3410 and 3417 have a programmable timer that shuts the unit off after a set number of minutes, and a remote that sets the timer, changes speed and powers the unit on and off from up to 26 feet away. (WEN Products; WEN Products)

WEN says its units use one of two remote methods: infrared, which must be pointed at the unit, or radio-frequency, which does not need to be. (WEN Products)

Where do the units go?

WEN says air filtration systems circulate room air most effectively when suspended from the ceiling by chains, and that they can also be mounted to the ceiling or a wall or sit on a bench. (WEN Products)

WEN's 3410 comes with a carrying handle and eyebolts for mounting. (WEN Products)

Setup and operating instructions are in each maker's manual.