Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses an air filter element 18 that is partially fabricated on site wherein one or more wire frames 28 are fastened to one another using a high tensile strength adhesive tape 34 to form a structure substantially conforming to the dimensions of the original equipment manufacturers' filter housings 20. The filter media 18 is attached to the rigid wire frame 28 by selectively drawing pleats 24 around a portion of a wire member 28 and securing the pleats to each other by means of epoxy coated staples 36 thereby securing the filter media 18 to the wire frame 28. Whereupon the on-site partially fabricated filter element 18 can be inserted into the channels 30 of the appropriate original equipment manufacturers filter housing 20 wherein the skirt 38 of the on-site fabricated filter element will fill and conform to the filter housing channel 30 providing an air-seal thus forcing all airflow through the air filter 18.