A Reasonably Priced And Sized Downdraft Table
By Eric Dykstra
Most downdraft work tables are huge industrial installations that cost big bucks, but the Shop Fox downdraft table is better suited for a home shop environment. This thing really sucks – and I mean that in the best possible way. Just attach it to your dust collection system — or just a shot vacuum — and it creates a powerful downdraft around your work, keeping your work area dust-free.
Shop Fox offers a 15″ X 25″ as well as a 20″ X 40″ version, but it’s the smaller one that features a 2-1/2′ hookup common to shop vacuums. Once it’s hooked up, any dust, smoke, or fumes are drawn out through the slits in the nonslip feet and work surface; internal baffles maximize air outflow. I’ve been sharpening my soldering skills this week and wish i had one of these - breathing solder fumes is bad.
I can’t help but feel that I could make something similar to this, but for around $130 it’s tempting to just buy one.
Note: Google products only has one listing so below is a link to a Google search with a many more results.
Fox Downdraft table [Woodstock International]
Google Search [Google]
Link to PDF Manual [Woodstock International]
September 24th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
You are right, it is probably not hard to build one. A quick google search came up with this pretty sweet (but more than 1 weekend?) DIY:
http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/plansshare/air_filter_downdraft_sanding_table.htm