Homemade downdraft sanding table

[3Dchief]

Not exactly a plane , but I'm building a 32" x 40" downdraft sanding table that will be perfect for sanding sheeting and other plane parts. @SleepyC or @Bartman , please move this thread if it needs to be somewhere else. I will do a build thread on here if you all are interested in seeing it. The plan was to keep the cost under $100, which I have managed to do. I have all the parts and pieces and am just starting assembly.

I do a lot of custom woodworking and sawdust is always a problem. I have a dust collection system, but still end up with a lot of dust in the air when sanding. I can't justify spending $500 plus for a commercial unit when I can build one so cheaply. I sourced all the parts at Lowe's and Harbor Freight.

Let me know if you want to see it, I'll be out in the garage assembling it!

 

[Bartman]

one word.....bring it!

 

[3Dchief]

I will start with the blower, since it is the heart of the system. I looked at inline duct fans (500 cfm), squirrel cage fans (300-750 cfm), and settled on the Harbor Freight 8" blower. For the price, it had the most airflow and least complication of installing. It has two speeds, but I will be running it at the 1590 cfm speed to maximize suction. This was the bulk of the expense of the build at $79.99. I took off the end grill/guard and put in an 8" duct with flange ($6.99) secured with some self-tapping sheet metal screws. Next up will be building the frame.

 

[SleepyC]

Great idea... I lost a 1st wife to balsa dust..... oh and she was a Wh***. But ANYWAY.... please continue! This is GREAT!

 

[Pistolera]

Yes please. Do you have to use an intrinsically safe motor to prevent sawdust booms!

 

[Bartman]

this is making me think about my need for a shop exhaust fan so i can spray stuff in the basement without damaging my lungs (or those of my family members) any further

 

[3Dchief]

The idea is that sawdust will never get to the fan itself, there will be two large filters between the work area and the fan enclosure. It is designed to use two furnace filters to clean the air before the fan, a coarse one for the big stuff and a much finer paper filter for the small stuff. Besides working as a sanding table, I can also run it while doing other work in the shop to filter the air. With that kind of airflow, it will definitely keep the space cleaner.

 

[Terryscustom]

The idea is that sawdust will never get to the fan itself, there will be two large filters between the work area and the fan enclosure. It is designed to use two furnace filters to clean the air before the fan, a coarse one for the big stuff and a much finer paper filter for the small stuff. Besides working as a sanding table, I can also run it while doing other work in the shop to filter the air. With that kind of airflow, it will definitely keep the space cleaner.

Yes, what he said. Mine runs a squirrel cage fan and I only clean the area where the fan is about once every 3-4 years and I use my table every single day in my profession.

 

[3Dchief]

I got the cabinet framed up and started on the top slats. The frame is just scrap 2x4's I had laying around and the bottom is 3/4" particle board. It will have casters so I can move it around. I'm using 1" x 3" pine for the top with 7/16" spacing for airflow. I'm putting in dowels to maintain the spacing. I need to get 2 more boards to finish the top. I will router all the edges after I get everything fitted. The slats will be removable so I can access the filters for changing/cleaning. It's the wife's birthday, so no more working on it tonight. I'll get back at it tomorrow morning!

 

[3Dchief]

I got sidetracked with errands this morning, but managed to get some work done this afternoon. I finished cutting all the top boards and ran them through the router to slightly round the edges so stuff won't catch on them. I also installed the casters so it is mobile now. Next I will start on the filter housing and internal cabinet.