Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=30929		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Gregg C [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Hi Guys,
Well the dust and coughing finally became too much, I got the idea for
this from you guys here !! Thanks !!

Dimensions are 4' X 8' X 46" (I'm 6'4" and like a tall work bench)
Starting the basic frame,
Image

Image

Image

Fan installation, its a 110V, 4 spd, 1/3hp, 1075rpm, approx 1100cfm purchased on ebay.
Image

Building the box around the fan,
Image

All seams have been sealed with a bead silicone to prevent any "leakage"
Image

Rotary switch, purchased on ebay
Image

Hood and filter, my primary work area is going to be in front of the hood,
I wanted the hood to help direct air flow, it works very well.
The filter was the best that lowes had in stock,
I'm thinking the filter is not the place to skimp.
Image

Total cost as you see it was just under $300
Image

Gregg
Author:  jackwilliams [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Nice design Gregg! I've got to build one of those soon ! Thanks for sharing,
regards,
jack
Author:  Quine [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
nice. That would fit right into my shop. Send it on over
Author:  Shane Neifer [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Looks good Gregg! Does the fan vent out the bottom of your bench then?

Shane
Author:  Stephen Boone [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Very nice. Thanks for showing.
Author:  Gregg C [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Shane,
Yes it vents out the bottom.

Gregg
Author:  timoM [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Denray has nothing on you. Good work. T
Author:  Robbie_McD [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Definitely interested!
I have been struggling a bit with the fact that - like many of us - we have a little downstairs workroom and manage dust the best we can without the luxury of a full-blown 5hp 220v 3-phase cyclonic dust collection system.
And yes - I wear a very decent mask when doing dusty work - try to use planes and scrapers as much as possible vs sandpaper....
I have been a little freaked out by recent posts from guys that have air-quality meters that show the air actually improves with the band-saw and filtration on... :shock:
I tried one of those Lee Valley fan-bags......uh....nope.
Anyway, this concept would make a nice addition to my routine of work-vacuum, work-vacuum.

Thanks Gregg!
Author:  Gregg C [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
I used it today several times along with keeping it on medium speed while I cleaned my shop,
No coughing, no wheezing, and as the sun came through the windows this evening there were
no noticable airborne particles !! I am very pleased with the results.
Working in front of the hood I could see the dust from my sanding being pulled into the filter.
I highly recommend building a hood.

Gregg
Author:  nickton [ Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
I made one that consists of holes drilled into my bench top, going to my cheap harbor freight dust remover, which does not seem to have enough sucking power, but it kind of works. The problem seems to be my bag doesn't filter really fine dust and I've been coughing up a storm lately. I don't quite understand how that filter works on yours.
Author:  Gregg C [ Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Nick,
The filter is 24" X 30", The filter has a 1" border around the parameter, a cardboard frame,
filtering area is 22" X 28", under the filter is a 22" X 28" square hole cut into the top of the bench.
This hole is sized to allow that 1" cardboard frame border to be siliconed to the top of the bench.
The fan is mounted to the lower shelf as you can see in picture #4, there is a hole cut in the
bottom of the shelf matching the outlet of the fan, turning on the fan forces huge amounts
of air to be sucked through the filter into the airbox through the fan and exhausted out the bottom.
I purchased the filter at lowes, its a furnance filter. They had a chart showing all the filters and there
filtering ability including allergens, dust particle size...ect
I just bought the filter at the top of the list, $20
Works like a charm !!

Gregg
Author:  Cecil [ Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Nice job Gregg. I like your design.
I built one recently and it really cleaned up my shop. For filters I use three progressively finer pleated filters topped with tow of the cheap fiber furnace filters. The finer filter is only required to handle the very small particles. The initial purchase is greater but the service life is extended enough to compensate for the additional cost and you don"t have to clean the filters as often. The blower you have has enough air flow the handle the additional restriction without any problem.

Another use for a table of this type is as a downdraft spray booth base. Enclose three sides and replace your filters with a three or four fiber furnace filter stack and over spray is eliminated. It is a life saver if you are like me and don't have space for a dedicated spray booth.

Cecil
Author:  Gregg C [ Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
I never thought to stack the filters,
Excellent idea,
Thank You !!

Gregg
Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
[:Y:] Nice design Gregg , One of the few things we can build where "it sucks" is a compliment ! laughing6-hehe
Author:  Mark Groza [ Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Nice looking unit Gregg. Is it pretty quiet?
Author:  Gregg C [ Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Mark,
The noise is not bad at all,
The few time I've used it I kept it on Medium speed,
I can hear the radio just fine.

Gregg
Author:  kenjeffs [ Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Gregg,

That looks very nice. I have a squirrel cage unit on my shop floor right now. You have inspired me to do something with it. My only problem is stealing the time away from my guitar builds :D

For those, like me - cheap, I have this hanging in my shop. The idea came from a woodworking magazine somewhere. It is a box fan with a filter on the intake side of the unit. It was designed for the floor but when hung from the floor joist it works well. I have mine wired to a timer switch so that it shuts off on its own. It is not a Jet but more like a Cessna (you would build yourself of course).

Oh, one note when hanging this, use a rubber bushing of some sort at the contact point with the joist. If not, it creates a hum upstairs that can get irritating over time.
Author:  Gregg C [ Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: My new Downdraft Table (If anyone is interested)
Yeah, it took me 4 days on and off to build this thing,
That was 4 days of not working on my guitars :(
I tell you though, it was worth it, the difference in air quality
in my shop is like night & day !!
Also this thing works wonders when using CA glue.

Gregg
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/