Replies

1. 
   mvflaim | Aug 17, 2007 02:37pm | #1

   I've seen small down draft tables made out of good ole' fashion 1/4" pegboard. I think it's pretty much a box with the bottom sloping to one side and an exhaust hole to stick a vaccuum hose into. I know Shop Notes has plans for one. I'm sure there are more out on the internet.

    

1. 
   Jimma | Aug 17, 2007 08:28pm | #3

   Thanks to you and Forestgirl for the suggestions. Early FWW issues have some nice ideas for shop-built downdraft boxes similar to thosee you've mentioned, but I wanted something more open than pegboard. I'll keep looking. Jim

1. 
   forestgirl | Aug 18, 2007 05:42pm | #7

   The plastic grid-type materials seem attractive for such a purpose, but I would be concerned about the grid edges causing compression that would end up showing through the finish.  When you're sanding, even if you use a gentle touch, you're pressing on the material.  It wouldn't take much compression of fibers, especially in a softer wood, to make vague impressions on the surface.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   Jimma | Aug 18, 2007 05:57pm | #9

   You're probably right, but one reason I want to use an open grid rather than pegboard is because I always use a perforated rubber pad under the work piece to keep it from moving around -- which ROS tend to do.

2. 
   forestgirl | Aug 17, 2007 06:12pm | #2

   Ditto to mvflaim's post.  Most I've seen have 1/4" hardboard, including the huge unit I bought at an estate auction.  The gentleman who built it actually ran a countersink in each hole to give them a bevelled edge!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
3. 
   dtraversi | Aug 18, 2007 04:39am | #4

   I just got back from Home depot and your post got me thinking- I was looking at a plastic grating material in the lighting dept.
   Comes in 2'x3' sections and could be cut to size- used as a cover for flourecent light fixtures like you might find in a kitchen-
   it was light but stiff- ridgid approx 5/8" thick-
   When you look straight at it it is mostly empty space-

   I'm not expert- it just seemed like it might be worth a look if a HD is down the street from you

   cheers,
   Dave

   Settle Down People... Settle Down
1. 
   Jimma | Aug 18, 2007 04:55am | #5

   Good idea. I'll check it out tomorrow.

4. 
   mapleman | Aug 18, 2007 05:52am | #6

   Jimma,

   try grower's supply (growerssupply.com?)

   they have black plastic grating for using as greenhouse shelving - I bought a few 24"X 48" pieces. They are in the neighborhood of 1/2" thick and very ridgid, and the holes are 1/2" square, if I remember correctly. The edges are rounded over as well.

   Lee

5. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Aug 18, 2007 05:46pm | #8

   How 'bout making your own?  You are a woodworker, right?   Use solid lumber with lap joints.  By making the slats tall, you can make the grid as stiff as you like.

1. 
   Jimma | Aug 18, 2007 06:02pm | #10

   I dunno, there was one guy who said I was one of those, but he owned the lumberyard. As for a lapjoint kind of grid, that is my backup plan. It was shown in an early issue of FWW, Number 148 I think. Anyhow, I'm headed out to Lowe's or Home Depot in a few minutes to look for one of the plastic grates to save time. I'll send an update...

2. 
   byhammerandhand | Aug 19, 2007 01:01am | #11

   Make your own is my choice, too. 1.Determine the width you want the grid elements to be, say 1/4". 2. Get a 1/4" dado blade on your table saw, and cut a dado half the depth of the stock. Evenly space the grooves.3. Rip strips 1/4" wide. Verify your measurement to a dado and adjust if needed. Just in case you did not space evenly enough, keep the same orientation on the strips and it won't make any difference.4. Add a drop of glue at each intersection and make your egg-crate.I made one of these for my laptop to ventilate it and had it together in about 20 minutes. (but I made the depth 1/3 the thickness to allow air channels.) It takes longer than that to get help at HD.The plastic (styrene) light grids are very brittle and crack easily. Look at the bin in the store and see how many of them have chipped off corners and edges.

   Edited 8/18/2007 6:02 pm ET by byhammerandhand

6. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Aug 19, 2007 02:27pm | #12

   Jim,

   I recall an article on the WEB where a guy made a downdraft table out of his outfeed table for his TS.  He drilled a series of holes into the table and then beveled each one with a countersink bit to make for better suction.  Connected it to his DC through a sloped underside.

   Worked great for a small shop.  As mine is small, I'm in the process of doing the same thing.  I'll try to find it and post the link.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/19/2007 7:28 am ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   Jimma | Aug 19, 2007 04:10pm | #13

   Interesting idea and I appreciate your telling me about it. My outfeed "table", however, is a series of rollers. On the other hand, one of the early FWW articles I mentioned above shows a fold-down sanding table that could be attached most anywhere there's a solid top and a dust-control source. My work table which is adjacent to the table saw would work OK and may be the way to go. Yesterday I couldn't find a plastic grate at Lowe's, so it may come to the pegboard method. Thanks for the suggestion. Jim

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Aug 20, 2007 03:39am | #14

   Hi Jim,

   Since my small woodshop has most of my power tools located in an island in the middle of the shop, I've devised what I hope will be a successful centralized DC system.  I'm planning on a 1.5 HP collector.

   I'm constructing a plenum that will collect dust from all my power tools, controlled by blast gates down to a DC on the first floor. 

   Gravity is my friend.

   Regards,

    Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!