I will get straight to the point. There is no need for me to tell you why I did this install. I am sure you will figure out the benefit of this install.
Pic:1 shows items found in my house that are useful for this project.
Pic:2 fast setting adhesive. I use Liquid Nail $2.29.
Pic:3 wire mesh - 2 strainer about $4.00.
Pic:4 Web's electrostatic carbon filter from Home Depot $5.99. 3M filters are good too, but they are mostly pleated . I found the non pleated one work the best.

 

Pic:5 is the stock regular filter.
Pic:6 I have removed the filter element from the stockunit by pushing through the edge. There is no need to clean what is still stuck on the surface of the frame.the prorous surface will help hold the new filter element s better.

 

Pic:7 wire mesh cut and fitted on in the exiting/bottom side of the frame.
Pic:8 adhesive applied to the inside edge onl;y and the mesh.

 

Pic:9 while the adhesive is drying. the first layer of the new filter element(electroststic filter pad) is cut slightly bigger for a snug fit. I was able to make 12 filter out of the 20"x25'" sheet.
Pic:10 second layer(carbon element) cut to size also 12 pieces.

 

Pic:11 shows the inlet/top side of the stock regular filter frame with the new element inplace.
Pic:12 shows the outlet/bottom side of the finished install with the carbon element between the electrostatic filter pad and the wire mesh.

the end.

 

interesting...thanks for the DIY...but I'm not going to lie...

for the amount of time it takes to do this and the supplies I would have to go out and buy...I'd rather just go out and buy the Aldehyde for $45 which I just have to pop out the stock filter and pop in these. Plus Aldehyde is the newest filtering technology on the market...it was designed by a fed up Mazda engineer and will soon be in applications in homes/offices and many other cars since it performs better then any filter out there.

I **** you not...I can drive by a country dump and not smell it...it is amazing one problem though is if I'm driving by a BBQ I can't smell it either...but BY GIRLFRIEND IS BENEFITING THE MOST...NO ALLERGENS IN THE CAR!

oh wait I already did that (to bad the price has increased a bit I got it for $35 I believe)

here check it out: http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=1471

 

ok here is one of the articles...if you have allergies (like my GF) it is a must...no other car in the US has it but they will soon...it works way better then activated charcol for removing smoke and other contaminates from the air...

I'm guessing Mazda will make more money selling this filter technology then selling some of their cars...this filter has global applications! http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_51289/newsarticle.html

 

I think it's a very nice DIY, and a great contribution. Very well done, got 8! :D

 

now you should make these and sell them on the cheap!

 

How often do the Aldehyde filters have to be replaced? Or do they even have to be?

Thanks.

 

*serious question here* Are they effective against skunks?
There's an outrageous number of them in my neighbourhood and it seems they're bent on releasing their odours without provocation!

 

35,000 miles I think...maybe it was 40,000 I still have the packaging...I'll check it out

 

sorry for the late bump but I have 1 question...

being that I'm a cheap *** (and always enjoy little projects where I can tinker around), this looks like a good project to me.

My question is, why buy the wire mesh? Why not use the plastic mesh that comes with the filter (and can be seen in pic #4)?

 

the mesh came with that filter in pic 4 is heavy plastic and is not attached to the filter element itself. The reason for the wire mesh is to save space in the tray so more filter element can be packed in there. I also glued the wire mesh to the tray so that it will not come loose from vibration and just change the filter element as offen as wish.

2 weeks ago I switched the filter to 3M brand. It is much more effective. it comes with wire mesh attached to the element. It is pleated so need cut the filter slightly bigger than the tray for a snug fit.

actually I am using two filter at once. I put the carbon filter first (from previous pic#4 and #10) then the 3M.

 

Bump. I am going to try this in a couple of days. So which type of filter do you recommend since the OP tried both types? Is 3M the best?

 

I made one a while back myself... more or less followed the DIY

I just used regular pleated furnace filter type material.... didnt really see any reason to o for anything fancier

 

Holy crap! You guys were right, that filter really does work! I just finished making my own out of the 3M type filters with the wires, and could already see a huge improvement in the air quality by testing it in my garage with the car off. Thanks.

 

Nice.. those look exactly like the ones I made

 

Thanks. It was kind of a pain getting them to fit right, but in the end it was worth it.

 

thanks a million for the write up. I had a similar idea just not this thorough. Just made mine and waiting for them to dry!

 

Just made a filter using some supplies from the local pet store.
I used some elements from a fish tank filter.

Top layer was just the basic white filter mat cut to shape, bottom layer is an activated carbon pad cut to shape. Both these come in sheets, they have the same texture but the white pad is about 1/3 the thickness of the 'carbo pad'. Total cost for both was around $16

Hunted far and wide for a furnace filter kits but couldnt find any (im in Australia).
I used a bit of the cardboard packaging to make a template then cut them both with a knife.
No glue, they are just a snug fit.

 

This is awesome I was just thinking about how cool it would be for a filter like this for the cabin, and an OEM style design I am buying this for sure.

 

Awesome DIY for those penny pinchers out there.