Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Down Draft Table

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Zimmerman, MN
    Posts
    164

    Down Draft Table

    Hi all. I am incorporating a 24" by 36" down draft table into my table saw out feed table. I will use my 3hp Super Dust gorilla for the suction. My question is should I use 1/2" or 3/4" holes? Does it matter? Not sure it matters but fyi the table is about 20' from collector. Thanks for the input.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    22,494
    Blog Entries
    1
    Take the area of your duct (4", 6" whatever), your holes should exceed that area by about 20% in my experience with my router enclosure. Any less and I was not getting good airflow.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Mountainburg, AR
    Posts
    3,031
    Blog Entries
    2
    I've been banging around the idea of a downdraft table for quite some time now and I can't decide anything. What made you decide to use the DC to provide the suction rather than a separate squirrel cage type arrangement?
    I have been leaning toward that route, but I was wondering what made you decide to use your existing DC. I can still be influenced by sound reasoning.
    Larry J Browning
    There are 10 kinds of people in this world; Those who understand binary and those who don't.

  4. #4

    tuneable vacuum?

    What about a table that you can tune the suction for any given application by making the holes into little valves??

    Use two layers of sheet stock for the top, one on top of the other.
    Clamp 'em together and drill 3/4 holes through the layers.
    Build the table top so the lower sheet can be shifted laterally with respect to the upper. Can do this by moving the lower layer with a jack screw sliding it in a dado or just let part of it stick out so you can tap it..

    It only needs to have enough room to slide as the diameter of your holes plus a scoosh for good measure. so 7/8" would be plenty for a 3/4" hole. It is important that the layers must be in contact with each other.

    Can build it so that the lower sliding layer is composed of more than one unit giving you the ability to shut off parts of the table raising the air flow elsewhere.

    Haven't done this but it sounds good.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Round Rock, Texas
    Posts
    351
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Kinneberg
    Hi all. I am incorporating a 24" by 36" down draft table into my table saw out feed table. I will use my 3hp Super Dust gorilla for the suction. My question is should I use 1/2" or 3/4" holes? Does it matter? Not sure it matters but fyi the table is about 20' from collector. Thanks for the input.
    Paul: Post a picture when your done. I think this is a great idea for saving space.
    Mike
    Mike Hill

    Form Follows Function

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Zimmerman, MN
    Posts
    164
    Larry not so much sound reasoning as economics. I have been working on my new shop for about 18 months just now starting to get things set up and thought it would be a good idea. Since I am also installing the dust collector i figured there wouldn't be much additional expense. I will let you know how it works. Mike I will also post pictures when complete. Thanks.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Zimmerman, MN
    Posts
    164
    Here are some Pics. Just need to finnish the manifold for my dust collector next weekend and pick up the metal legs my brother fabricated for me.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Lancaster, PA
    Posts
    1,363
    Paul,
    That looks outstanding! Not only from a functional standpoint, but from an aestetic one as well! I will say black and white wouldn't stay that way for long in my shop!

    Great design!
    Wes

  9. #9
    Wow Paul! How inspiring! I have been working on my "island" which includes TS, router station, outfeed and downdraft. I have everything ducted to the main DC cyclone. I have been pondering whether or not to laminate the whole thing, but after seeing yours, it's a no-brainer!!! Did you drill the holes with any kind of special bit to go through the laminate?(sp?) Did you use a jig?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Zimmerman, MN
    Posts
    164
    Jan
    I used a 3/4" forstner bit in my cordless drill by hand over 3 nights, 160 holes. I jig that would hold the drill sqaure would have been nice. Also I used 2" wide 3m tape to mark the holes but it also help save the laminate from scratches a couple of times. By the way its black laminate on birch plywood I left the edges natural with a coat of poly.
    Paul

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Round Rock, Texas
    Posts
    351

    Great Pictures

    Thanks for posting the pictures Paul. Gives me some great info if I decide to do this on my out-feed table.
    Mike
    Mike Hill

    Form Follows Function

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Kinneberg
    Here are some Pics. Just need to finnish the manifold for my dust collector next weekend and pick up the metal legs my brother fabricated for me.
    Hi Paul, the table looks great!
    One bit of advice - I had read somewhere that counter sinking each hole greatly improves air flow. I'm sure that the thought of revisiting 160 holes isn't attractive.

    You could use your router with a bearing guided chamfer bit and plunge into each hole. It would be neat to have the system turned on while you're doing it to suck up all the dust from the router!

    John Nixon - www.EagleLakeWoodworking.com

Similar Threads

  1. Kitchen Table - Project Complete (Pics)
    By Don Abele in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 03-06-2007, 10:47 PM
  2. Completed hall table!
    By Tom Pritchard in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 05-03-2005, 5:25 PM
  3. Meehanite and the unflat table...
    By Dev Emch in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 05-02-2005, 7:28 AM
  4. Contrator Table Saw Cabinet
    By Corey Hallagan in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 04-05-2005, 7:46 PM
  5. Inlaid table
    By John Preston in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-21-2003, 3:13 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •