Ceiling-mounted air filters can
help control airborne dust, but
the microscopic particles posing
the greatest risk to your health
reach your lungs before the ceiling.
Axiom’s freestanding Stratus air
filter reduces dust at the source.
Unlike wall or ceiling mounted
units, this portable, 3-foot tall
chimney-looking device slides
where it’s needed. A 360° filter
draws in dust from all directions
and then a central fan propels
clean air upward into the shop.The Stratus stands tall in the
dust-busting arena with its two-stage
filter. A ½"-thick open-cell foam
pre-filter catches larger particles.
(Clean this sleeve with a vacuum or a
quick water rinse.) The second filter
is a 1-micron cylindrical-pleated
canister offering 15x more surface
area than a standard box-style air
filter. When this filter eventually
clogs, clean out the caked-in dust
with a blast of compressed air.
This unit proved its worth in
the warehouse shop that I sharewith several woodworkers. Even
though the 66-pound unit was
sturdy enough to withstand an
accidental bump, the wide poly-
ethylene base was easy to slide
around. The 3-speed fan-generated
less noise than a sander, even at
its highest setting. My shopmates
enjoyed the one-button control
but missed having a remote with
an auto-stop timer for scrubbing
the air at the end of a workday.
Shipped fully assembled, the Stra-
tus Air is available in two models.
We tested the Stratus
which has a powder-
coated steel body and
the pleated canister
filter. The Stratus Pro
features a stainless-steel
body and active charcoal
filter for more chal-
lenging applications.
—Tester, Joe Hurst-
WajszczukHot New Tools
Photos: Ralph Lee AndersonAt-the-ready air filtration
Axiom Stratus Ambient Air Cleaner
Overview
- Snags airborne
dust at source - 2-stage filter;
360° filtration - Overall Dimensions:
16" D × 39" H;
Weight: 66 lbs. - Stratus: $499;
Stratus Pro: $ - Visit axiomstratus.com
for more info.