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I'm trying to get a handle on the dust in my shop so after viewing a number of shop made air filters on this site I decided to build one myself. I've had the fan and motor just siting in the basement for years so that was free, I think the only thing I bought for this project was a couple sheets of OSB and a box for the on/off switch. It started as just an air filter that was going to be mounted in the air but because the fan & motor were so big it would just be to big to mount in the ceiling ( I found this out after building the box to fit). Well I used it as a floor air filter for a few months and realized with a little addition to the top I could turn it into a downdraft table. I enclosed the top and intake sides and put some pegboard on the top. I also made a sliding door for the intake side in case I want to use it as just a plain old air filter, just pull up the door. I made it the same height as my table saw so I just parked it behind the saw and use it as an out feed table. If I have to I'll change the table saw height and screw a removable sheet of hardboard on the top if it needs it for the out feed. Now I can justify having this big thing taking up a large amount of precious real estate in my shop. So far it seems to be working great. Thanks for looking.

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Obviously not one of your prettier projects.

Nice job, Paul.

Lee
 

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Karma is on your side. From a single purpose machine to a 3-in-1 multitasking shop essential!!! Serendipity strikes again!

Nice job. You can breathe easier & clean less. That is truely a win-win!!!
 

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That's a good way to kill 3 birds with one stone. Looks great.
 

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When you're sanding on the top , where does the dust get collected and when you open the side door , do you cover the top pegboard ? I'm just a little confused as to how it functions.
Thanks : )
 

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Dusty 56, the dust is collected in a series of filters in the box on either side of the fan. I only open the side door when I want to use it as just an air filter then it draws air only from the intake side and not the top, I guess it would still draw air from the top if I left the door down but it seems to pull more air with the door up,also I needed a way to get at the filter to replace it when it needs it.
 

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O'k , so I'll assume that the dust gets funneled from the top to the intake filter on the door side of the cabinet , and then goes through more filters before reaching the squirrel cage and exiting through another filter as clean air. Also assuming the "door" filter is the main filter unless you have some type of diverter to direct the airflow from the top to the side filters.
 

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Keep innovating ,you are doing great .
I need to build one for all the fine dust .
 

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I like your planning I was thinking about something along the same lines since dust in small areas is a major drawback. But i may have to endorse your idea to fit myown set of problems. Great Idea send it in to Family Handyman if the publish it you get 100 bucks :D
 

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Using it to double up as an outfeedtable would be the way to go. You won't use it all the time as a sanding table but near the TS will be a great addition to the shop.

With all the flat sides you could even mount tools and accesories used with sanding to it and also the accesories for your saw.

Well done
 

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Nice! 3 for the real estate of 1 is just what I need for my two-car shop! I am already thinking a hinged door covering the filter would eliminate the large piece of wood sticking up in the air and let the down-draft table be sealed better.
Thanks for sharing.
Well done!
 
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