Plans for a downdraft sanding table?

[dennis thompson]

Can anyone suggest where I might get plans for a simple downdraft sanding table to be hooked up to my dust collector or shop vac (I'm a hobbiest not a pro)
Thanks
Dennis

[Gene Howe]

The easiest one I've seen is a frame of a size to fit your need and 4" in depth. There was a hole on one side for the vac hose. The top was 1/4" peg board. I suppose if you build it fairly large, you'd want to put in some 3/4X3/4 stiffiners.

[Steve Southwood]

I built the same style. Just figured out the size I wanted. Bought a shop vac reducer and cut off to the size I needed. I actually use a 1hp/ 1 gal vaccum on this. Have since built a smaller one for smaller projects. I have the top remavable (screws) so I can tape off the holes I don't need. Creates better suction.

[Joe Chritz]

PM me if I don't post any pics since I can't find my old thread with my downdraft.

It is built from 2x12's and some 2x4's with a MDF top. I have access to a CNC router so the top was made with slots instead of holes. It essentially has hardboard all on an angle to a hook up at the bottom. A joints are sealed with silicone. Ugly but funtional.

With a 5" run to the table it gets enough airflow to keep sanding dust to a minimum. Add that to a vac on the ROS and it works fantastic.

A shop vac won't give enough pull do any good without some serious CFM.

Joe

[Dewey Torres]

PM me if I don't post any pics since I can't find my old thread with my downdraft.



Joe,
Is this it???

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=29795&highlight=downdraft

[Dave Cohen]

I build this one with some coaching from Bob Dodge a veritable dust expert over on wood net:

http://picasaweb.google.com/alhenex/OutfeedDownDraftTable#5157770894934479778

http://picasaweb.google.com/alhenex/OutfeedDownDraftTable#5157770907819381682

http://picasaweb.google.com/alhenex/OutfeedDownDraftTable#5157770929294218210

sucks the air down, large pieces collect at the bottom and fine particles are pulled back up the outer side to the hose outlets on each side...works great.

also doubles as an assembly table:

http://picasaweb.google.com/alhenex/OutfeedDownDraftTable#5157770920704283602

and out feed table:

http://picasaweb.google.com/alhenex/OutfeedDownDraftTable#5157770504092455794

http://picasaweb.google.com/alhenex/OutfeedDownDraftTable#5157770521272325010

[Joe Chritz]

Dewey is the search master. I was on a break at work and apparently left my Googlefu at home.

The one I have works well but you still need something attached to the ROS since it doesn't suck enough to catch anything spinning off a disk. For that you need a powerful downdraft with cross ventilation.

Joe

[Mike Cornelsen]

Way fancier than what I think Dennis was asking for but I like the idea of a combination downdraft table/whole shop air cleaner.

http://www.whitemountdesign.com/DowndraftTable.htm

[Steve Southwood]

Forgot to add that mine are small. One is 1'x3' and the other is 9"x18", as shop is small and I do mostly small projects.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

A fellow SMC member Terry Hatfield has a nice website on a DIY benchtop downdraft table over at Woodcentral. Sorry, can not post a direct linky.

-Jeff :)

[glenn bradley]

Lotsa good stuff here. Just to share an evolutional experience; I found an appropriate adapter on a good ROS hooked to the shop vac to exceed a downdraft table in dust collection and so have moved on to that. Now, I wish I hadn't scrapped the table out as I do more hand sanding than I used to and a downdraft would be helpful.

[Jim W. White]

If you consider going to the next step and building a deticated downdraft table this old thread has some good info:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=29160&highlight=downdraft

I've built one which has served me well and documented some of the details here:

http://myweb.cableone.net/jimnbeck/downdraft.htm


Jim in Idaho

[Ed Sallee]

I ordered this one from Grizzly.com and built it right in to my bench top. Gave me some extra storage too. The 4" duct runs down the middle. I cover it with 1/8" hardboard when not in use. Don't really need a blast gate, but I have one. The hardboard shuts it down when it's covered.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn88/evsallee/Shop4.jpg

[glenn bradley]

Can anyone suggest where I might get plans for a simple downdraft sanding table to be hooked up to my dust collector or shop vac (I'm a hobbiest not a pro)
Thanks
Dennis

If you want to keep it simple, I just drew this up with SU:

103770

Although I didn't have quick access to a good pegboard pattern I think you get the idea. This one is 24" x 36" x 5".

[Jim W. White]

I would modify it such that the collection hose comes into the middle and the bottom is ramped for better air flow as follows:

[dennis thompson]

Thanks to everyone for their very helpful suggestions. The one I made was a combination of the plans from Glenn Bradley & Jim White. It's 2' x 4' with a pegboard top, 1/4 inch MDF bottom which I slanted from top to bottom, I used MDF for its smooth surface (I thought the resistance would be lower than plywood.) The sides were simply 2"x4"s rabbeted to accept the pegboard. I left the pegboard top loose so I can remove it to clean it out if necessary. Cost was less than $20 & it works pretty well
Thanks again
Dennis