Great post Dave. I am getting ready to build a sanding table also. I want to put mine under a work bench and have it slide out using drawer slides. I also may use "T-tracks" in the top so I can hold things I sand down. That would mean I would have to use 3/4" ply for the top. That would add more weight so I am not sure.
Making a downdraft sanding box
I'm guessing dust control goes under the heading of 'Shop Safety'...
Every time we sand anything at all we find that the dust is just too much to deal with and takes hours to clean the shop. So I decided a downdraft sanding box is needed. I've read how some say they don't work very well but I see plenty of how-to videos so someone must like them. Even if it only helped 25% it would be better but after building it and using it I can safely say it is catching at least 75% of the dust, if not more.
So nothing new or secret here, just a video documentation of how I built mine plus the slightly entertaining value of watching us work with a 4x8 sheet in a small shop.
Every time we sand anything at all we find that the dust is just too much to deal with and takes hours to clean the shop. So I decided a downdraft sanding box is needed. I've read how some say they don't work very well but I see plenty of how-to videos so someone must like them. Even if it only helped 25% it would be better but after building it and using it I can safely say it is catching at least 75% of the dust, if not more.
So nothing new or secret here, just a video documentation of how I built mine plus the slightly entertaining value of watching us work with a 4x8 sheet in a small shop.
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Dave is yours hooked up to a shop vac. or a big dust collector? I would like to use my shop vac. but I don't know it I will get enough suction. If I use my big dust collector I will have to roll it closer to use it. I really don't want to have to do that because my shop is small "like yours" and it can be a hassle.Thanks, Mike! I am actually considering suspending it from the ceiling and lowering it via pulleys and a rope. Then I can raise/lower it as needed.
Mike this is how I am going to build mine so storage will not be a problem. I also think I will put T-tracks in the top so I can hold thing in place when sanding or doing something else.Good job, David. I need one of those in the worst way. Like you, I keep the door shut. I like it cool in the shop and the mini split does a great job of that.
I have thought about it in the past but never put out the effort to build one. The biggest problem is storage. I just don't have the room to store it. I guess I need to look around and see what I can do to make room for one.
This video shows the top I want to put on it. Comments good or bad needed.
Mike I thought I would just sit and sand. The bench I sand on now I sit and sand sometimes. I am lazy like that. :grin:Don the problem I see with mounting it on drawer slides is the working height of the top. I have enough problem with working on the top of a normal workbench but it could be on a drawer mounded shelf where it could be pulled out and raised up onto the top of the workbench. Problem there would be the top of the workbench would need to be cleaned off before you could use the table.
Oh one more possibility it could be hinged to your workbench on the end or back if your bench is not against a wall and mounted right would be higher than the top of the bench when in use or could be mounted where it is flush with the top. with the addition of the T-track it could be used to assist with glue ups. I kind of like this idea because both of my workbenches are on rollers and are usually never against a wall.
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