You’re not guaranteed to get the Compact nor if picked, to get it earlier than Sept. The order form is just a way for you to get on the wait list for the compact filter.
However, it seems those may ship sooner than the GF filter. At least some have been in beta testers’ hands already. I don’t know that anyone has seen a GF filter in the wild (at least none have been reported on the forum).
Hey guys, long time no see…
I’ve been spending my time making things, working overtime at day job and sitting here in the Minnesota cold and breaking a little inside my soul as I haven’t been able to laser. Even considering a blast gate, can’t chance running it with high winds and negative temps(last week was negative 60s). I’m crossing my fingers I can get a compact filter, and while I know I’m competing against everyone else here for one, I hope a few would send some good luck my way, and I hope GF might choose compact filters to go to people who can’t otherwise use their glowforge without it.
I just mean to say that I strongly hope they don’t use the criteria of “who used their glow forge the most over the last 3 months” as determining criteria for who gets a compact filter and who doesn’t, because I would run mine every day if I had a filter, and can’t until I do or temps get at least above 30degrees, is where I start feeling comfortable running it.
Hello James, I appreciate your response to my request to get a Glow Forge substitute or "Compact Filter " Dan called it. I can not wait so long as it will take for Glow Forge to complete the design, manufacture, testing, and production of the Glow Forge manufactured system. I would appreciate if you could tell me how to initiate a request a $995.00 credit to my charge card so I may seek alternative solutions. There are ones available, I just need to have money to purchase one. Thanks for the help. I look forward to getting your response. John
I have this one and while I have not yet connected it directly it will clear a room of smoke even not connected. The 10 inches inside 12inch outside intake at 500CFM moves a lot of air. I am working on just making an 18"x14" x 5’ box with the 12" hole in the side and the 4" hole front or top with the box up against the Blue monster and the 4" connected to the Glowforge.
It then exhausts out a 6" that I am just running into the room ATM. Obviously, the box is a bit big to do at once on the Glowforge, and the exhaust out the Window is working for the moment but I can definitely say the Blue monster does do an awesome job, and I may get the box done before seeing the Unicorn filters.
If you email your request to the support email, OR post it here in Problems and Support, you’ll open a support ticket that will get the attention of someone who can actually help with your refund. Staff/support members don’t routinely monitor other areas of the forum. Oh, and @jamesdhatch isn’t a Glowforge employee (neither am I). 
The new compact filter option is very odd. You can sign up for them to possibly pick you to get on a waiting list for the “more available” filter. Not sure how it’s going to work and except for the beta testers haven’t seen anyone say they’ve gotten picked for a place in line or that they’ve then gotten one (or even a date for one).
To get a refund, just send Support a request to cancel your GF filter order and they’ll process a refund to your credit card. Then you can buy one of the other options people have gone with in its place.
BTW, here’s a new thread on a link to an article on laser filters
Hi! Good to see you again. Hope you get your wish…you certainly deserve it.
I second the thought.
I choose the CF filter option, as I started thinking about having to lifting the forge off to PM the filter. In my case, I decided that a floor unit was the easier option.
I packed everything up in October as we were closing on a new house. At the old house, I ran the laser from my upstairs office out through the window. Nice single hung so I was able to make a neat little shield that I could port out the exhaust.
The new house has 5’ tall swing out casement windows, so it is not as easy to make a shield. The temperatures have dropped but the basement has maintained 53°F. To cool for the forge, so it has been sitting in the office since mid-November.
I have a job I have to run this weekend, so the heck with the 34° temperatures. I cranked open the window and dropped the vent hose outside. The room is cooling down, but hopefully I’ll have everything done before the cooler temperature works it’s way into the forge. /fingers crossed/
K
I am absolutely LOVING the Compact Air Filter. At least for my setup, it is so much better than venting (I don’t really have the best venting setup… going out a window). I switched back temporarily to the venting system so I could cut some PG plywood (fills up the filter faster) and I detected a ton of odors compared to filter.
Were you a beta tester or did you get one via the form?
I was a beta tester. I’ve been using it since late Dec.
Based on my testing, I think it is a really good option for filtering. The noise reduction and odor reduction is worth it and it gives me the freedom to put my laser cutter anywhere.
FYI, I also paid full price for the filter just like everyone else, I just got mine a little sooner.
I am currently experimenting with adding a DIY “pre-filter” so it takes care of some of the bigger particles. I think the biggest weakness of the design is that it doesn’t have a pre-filter in it, so you are filling up the filter without having an option to buy a cheaper pre-filter.
Between engraving and cutting I have about 7 hours of use on mine, and I’m still on a setting of “2”. Most of what I have been cutting so far is hard wood, though I’ve also cut acrylic and plywood.
are we getting refunds for not getting the air filter how do I run a machine in a studio apartment with no windows and no air filter !
No. There is no incentive being offered for the filters. (If you want to switch out your filter order for this one, you won’t lose anything by it.)
are we getting refunds for not getting the air filter how do I run a machine in a studio apartment with no windows and no air filter !
If you want a refund (by cancelling your order for the Glowforge filter) you would need to send an email to support@glowforge.com.
Or you can continue to wait for the Glowforge filter to be finished, or, if you are in a hurry, you can sign up for the Compact Filter now, and the purchase price you paid for the Glowforge filter will be used to purchase it. It is not going to cost you extra to buy the Compact Filter.
So you have three choices now.
and long do I have to wait for compact filter ? I want a time and date !
I waited a long time to save for this I want to use my machine !
They don’t know yet. You can ask, but you won’t get anything meaningful.
I’m sure you do. I would suggest switching over to the Compact Filter, and to do that you have to sign up in the first post in the thread. I believe those are going to be available before the Glowforge filters will. (But I don’t have a fixed date for you either.)