Comment on My recent modifications to an old industrial(?) air filter (and a brief rant about appliance design)
curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 3 days ago
I feel like this is a huge problem specifically with Honeywell tbh. I have one of their air filters, and had to take it apart over the weekend - my youngest had shoved any random thing possible in there, from magnets (learning letters sort of thing) to a metal ruler he nabbed from my office.
The screw holes were obvious, but set back around 4” or so. Checking in with a flashlight, I thought “Oh, that looks about a T20, this should be easy peasy”. About 10 minutes and a bunch of random expletives later, I realized that they were security t20s. Seriously. Wtf Honeywell? Its an air filter. AN AIR FILTER. Why the hell would you use security screws???
I have those bits of course, but aside from me (and my dad before he passed away, though the bits are still in his toolbox in the same spot) I don’t know anyone else who does. Maybe a couple folks I work with, but its a short, short list.
And why? No one is calling Honeywell for repairs on this unit. It was a fairly cheap HEPA system. It would just end up in a landfill rather than be repaired.
So now written on the inside under the vent cover that’s removable to replace the filters, it just says “T20S” so I don’t waste my time if I need to reopen it and I forget.
Sorry, needed to vent/commiserate on the very stupid designs of Honeywell products.
I think you did some solid adjustments to make it easier for next time - and yeah, it looks fine, its no less attractive IMO because its just a filter. Its not a center piece and it should not be.
JacobCoffinWrites@slrpnk.net 3 days ago
Security bits are a whole other level of irritating - especially on something like this. Thats just them being dicks. I probably have a set (more or less) put together from previous projects but I’d lose an hour easy just trying to find one that’ll work. Very glad they didn’t include that bright idea on this model.
I remember one project we didn’t have a security bit but found we could use something, maybe a small standard screwdriver? to chip the security pin out well enough for a regular bit. We definitely replaced those screws with regular philips ones from some other electronics.
curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 3 days ago
I have a full set of security bits, not just torx, but the really annoying part was that its a mini set (I mostly work with smaller electronics), and the shaft isnt very long. That 4” depth I mentioned? I had to chain adapters because even my flex extension was too thick to fit.
What a pain in the ass.
That said, now I can save myself the headache of remembering what I need for when I have to go in there again. I’m just waiting for the stupid and completely unnecessary touch control panel to die, and its going to get some physical buttons instead I guarantee it.
Ridiculous Honeywell crap. At least it does a good job of filtering the air.