Apologies for being 3 years late to the party, I watched the Downdraft Table build which I thought was awesome, And your comments here in this Video just echo everything you said in that build, If after this proof that it definitely works, you still get the idiots in there comfy chairs giving you crap, I would just kick them to the curb for the air thiefs that they are. If when you started there were any doubts if it might work or not, you have proved to your self that it does work, (rather well it has to be said,) then you have achieved the objective, and that was, and is the only thing that matters. Well done and Kudos all around. Love and Respect from North Londo UK
Dude, that table is a really cool design, and you made it from scratch, using cheap off the shelf stuff, and it freaking works. There is always gonna be some armchair quarterback out there who thinks he is better than everyone else, but I didn't see HIM make a better downdraft table. Talk is cheap, and the results speak for themselves. Well done!
Hi, this is Phil from St Helens, Merseyside, England, UK 🇬🇧, I learned welding in the late 1980's the only ventilation we had while learning was Onatural and a vacuum tube in a small welding bay. The nambie pambies can go and jump of a cliff because the down draft table you have made is saving your lungs from life time of damage and I applaud you with pride for making it, you have taken another step towards a safer work environment. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
One of the best mentors I've ever had said "The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect one". This design is certainly "perfect enough" and has us considering where we'd put a slightly smaller one in our shop. While I liked the original video, the follow-up is just awesome. Thank you very much for both. I expect we'd use it for small spray-painting jobs as well, though I'd ensure we used induction motors so the vapor would be less concerning than with brushed (sparky) motors. Might build some cabinets above or below just to use the volume better as long as it didn't interfere with the work.
I’ve probably watched all the videos for this table a couple times I even showered them to my plant manager. I’ve been given the go ahead to start building one after thanksgiving.
I just watched the build video before coming to this video, and there's one modification I would make. The angled sections above the fans should extend a little bit more towards the middle. (sort of like a sheet metal awning) This would make sure the only stuff being sucked into the filters is the stuff that actually wants to float through the air. Right now larger particles that would normally want to fall straight to the flooring will be sucked straight against the filters if they happen to pass too close.
This project may not suit all applications, but it is definitely proof of concept. This is something all fabricator/welders must take into consideration. You only get one set of lungs and it doesn't matter how tough you think you are, you can still suffer from serious respiratory issues from inhaling particulate matter. For small projects, this is ideal. For larger projects that don't fit on the table, respirators. Great job. I really enjoyed your video.
If it was me and I was designing a down draft table, I would add more baffles to the tank. In whats is referred to as a turbulent air filter. Its similar to what the dysons do. You create a series of barriers, that cause the larger particles to be flung out of the air. Due to the directional changes of the air in the baffles. Its a technique used in clean rooms to help remove the large particulates from the air. So that your filtration, media which is designed for fine particulates. That way your not loading up your filter media so quickly. Btw have you also considered a version two with an improved clean out procedure. So that you can easily clean it out more often? Other than that, i think something is better than nothing in this situation. So keep up the good work.
The ending reminded me of what someone once said to me. "There are only 3 kinds of people in this world, the kind that can count and the kind that can't." I did enjoy the initial build video and was pretty confident it would work as expected.
I had to deal with stuff like this at my last factory welding job. As welders, we wanted air cleaners and exhaust fans in our building, to which management claimed itd cause issues with welding. You dont need a million CFM to capture this stuff. You dont need a wind tunnel, and you dont need some form of high tech filters for this stuff. Most furnace filters have some form of fire resistance because of their intended location, and they're designed to filter out dust. The dust they're designed for is typically the product of cells, either dead skin cells, pollen, or whatever else, and these particulates are infinitesimally smaller than those particles produced from steel work. Once you get into the soot, then I can see an argument, however, most of the soot from welding is charged, and typically sticks to whatever surface that opposes that natural charge, which is why the paneling has so much on it. I never doubted these filters would work, and if someones going to argue about fumes, no filter eliminates fumes. Even activated charcoal has its limits for fume reduction. Keep up the awesome work!
I've been wanting to build a downdraft table over on my channel for quite some time because the dust in my shop is horrible! Thanks for sharing this. You have helped me get motivated enough to start building one myself.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. After a year of fab without respiator, I started getting sick. Blame it on a young welder/farmer mentality of "not really as bad as they say" and "I'm in an open shop" So much happier and healthier now, I wont work without my 3m 7500 respirator. The heavy metals in metal fab get to me quick if i don't wear it now. The last few years I feel so much better after working a long day in the shop. Keep up the good work!!
I watched the build of this table and now watched the results. I gotta be honest it worked just as I expected it to. I was super surprised how much was in the pan, unless I vacuum my shop floor I would never be able to sweep my shop floor enough to get all that fine dust. And that stuff is harmful to shop equipment as well not just lung and eye contaminants. Great videos, I love the content you put out. No BS. THANKS!!
There will always be haters dude. I was so inspired by this video that i'm currently making my own version. I usually use a respirator so the lung issue isn't my concern. I'd just like to not waste so much time cleaning every time i drill, cut, grind anything! BTW your box fan idea moves the most litres per minute of air volume for the lowest cost. Box fans are cheaper & much quieter than any other exhaust fan on the market. They're only a problem if you need to duct them (which you dont here). Excellent project mate, thank you!
I'm a little late to the party but..... here's my two cents. Inspired design ! Well thought out. I'm gathering materials to build my own based on your design .... With a few modifications... The thought occurs to me that the filters should be accessible from the front for ease of checking and replacement. Also, not behind a screwed down panel (maybe a flap door, or a thin vertical drawer). 2) Drop down sides for the work surface. To accommodate longer material - mine's going to multi-task as a cut-off table/quickie sand blast/paint workstation/occasional welding.... and, whatever other particle producing task I can think of. 3) Bigger wheels: Better for getting over extension cords, air hoses, welding cables, floor cracks, etc. I particularly like your Backsplash spark/debris catcher. Hugely inspired ! The sectioned work surface panels !! The rubber restaurant floormat overlay !!! Among other things I work with is UHMWPE sheets (think super dense milk carton material). It has roughly the slipperiness of Teflon. Hard to get it to hold still for you to work on it. Overall, a slick, well thought through design
Already sold on it. Wanted to see your design. Wow! No question that box fans and furnace filters work. Used then for diy spray booths. Moving my shop. This is on my must do work list. Thanks!
I have a box fan behind two layers of filters for my powder coating booth I built. It works very well. People seem to forget that the crap from grinding is heavier than air, and with just a slight pull will go down through the holes. Even without the fans, you’ll get a fair amount of that stuff down there. Only the very finest dust needs the fan. And since those particles are so small, a box fan is more than enough to pull them in. Good work!
Being a retired FF/EMT of over 25 years and been doing grinding and Fab work since 16. I have yet to set anything a fire by grinding! So I am pretty confident that it’s not going catch un fire due to a grinding spark! I would love to build this type for my shop. Great video !
The only thing I could say it needs for improvement is a vertical baffle ahead of the filter. Since the majority of the "dust" is heavy it should fall to the floor before it ever makes it to the filter. It'll make it easier to clean too.
WOW! That was sure an eye opener. When I watched the build video, I kept thinking to myself 'yes, it may keep some of the dust down, but probably miss quite a bit' but after seeing this it really makes me realize just how much removing some, even if just a percentage of the total airborne particulate, can make a difference! I think I'm going to have to seriously put some consideration into building a table like you have... just gotta figure out where I can fit this thing in my small garage!
Dust can cause an explosion but you are 100% right, it’s about maintenance, dust in a filter won’t combust, free dust can but the accepted solution is cleaning and getting rid of the free dust. At the scales you are seeing in a piece of plant you have there is a very theoretical possibility, hugely unlikely,negligible even, whereas the lung contamination is a certainty. Great idea and well executed and proven.
Good job. Only thing I did different on mine was I added a funnel in the center of mine and a tray in the bottom. My fan makes a low pressure area in the enclosure but the air has to go down thru the funnel then back up out of the tray then thru the fan. It lets a little fall out of the air before it gets to the fan. Just an idea.
This is awesome. As a woodworker I’ve used similar setups to control wood dust. Just the act of putting a filter on a box fan and letting it run free in the room will also pull particulate out of the air by a good amount.
That dust started out as sparks. Everything you are grinding is steel so it won't ignite. By the time a spark gets to the filter they will not be a glowing ember anymore as the movement of air is cooling it rapidly. Thanks for the video, it was very informative.
The dust is either sparks from the ground steel or Carbon from the blades. Either way your correct, a fire is very unlikely. However: maybe its best not to use an extreemly low (sub-micron) particulate size filter - just catch the visible crap and let the tiny particulates flow through and out for somebody to breath in? Because - submicron dust is Explosive and it would be a real shame to overly & spontaniously enlarge the cabinet.
What I like about this is all the people in the comments saying "I'm a believer, I'm gonna build one, but I'm going to adapt it to MY needs." That's what a good creative DIY community is about, I believe; sharing and adapting.
I dont comment alot on videos but i had to, good job TFS, your not only showing your skills and teaching us, youre showing important security/safety stuff, props to you and long live TFS, thanks again!
When I built a small portable box fan with a filter screen to set in my garage to run when I was working with my wood working tools (tablesaw drill press lathe and sanding station) I was shocked at the amount of dust it had collected. I’ve got a vacuum hooked up to all my tools but no air cleaner. After a month of use I pulled the screen and was blown away with how much crap it had pulled out of the air. Now I always wear my dust mask and run my 3 box fan air cleaners and my vacuum dust collection system when working in the garage.
I taught welding for the first 20 years of my career as and Industrial Arts Teacher. I really wanted to build one of these for the shop at my last job where welding was in the job description. Unfortunately by the time the idea came to me the school district stopped letting me buy supplies to teach the kids, and I left for greener pastures. I now teach wood shop and I enjoy it immensely. The one aspect I hate is the dust. Presently I am working hard to get all of the heavy dust producers in the shop connected to dust collection. And the district is not fighting me on any of it. As far as the furnace filters go, I have built a permanent automotive spray paint booth in my personal shop. Both the inlet and discharge filters are common furnace filters. The system works awesome despite the fact that several people have told me that they would not work. To the nay sayers. say "Baugh! Humbug!".
Thanks for teaching. Metal and wood shop were my favorite classes in jr. high and I was looking forward to going that route in high school, but unfortunately the year I got to high school the district dropped all shop classes.
It's a shame but so many shop classes have had the same happen including my old school. My metalshop teacher did so much for his students and no doubt he changed tons of lives for the better by teaching kids like myself valuable skills. I just had no interest in school and if it wasn't for him I'd have dropped out, but instead he helped me slug through it. I just posted about the setup I made for my spare bedroom workshop and it is what has allowed me to have one since I downsized to go sailing. My chamber is a catchall for my central vac and its also my work table for welding, painting and grinding. One thing I added that really helped was a small misting nozzle. It uses very little water but makes most of the dust drop to a pan in the bottom for easy cleaning.
Hmm the welding class at my daughter's school is amazing. They have a joint thing with the local university and their welding program. The kids get to take it at highschool and if they do well can go onto the university and have some awesome classes paid for by the district. She is currently taking a fabrication class for metal work/welding.
@@craigpeel5983 She's lucky, there is only one school in my county with shop classes left and it is the technical HS. My school closed down the metal shop when the teacher retired and the wood shop was right behind. Apparently it was too dangerous in the eyes of the school board.
@@southjerseysound7340 life is dangerous and the district just stopped any future fabricators able to help, what a terrible decision. The motivation was money and the cover story was safety I'm guessing.
Great follow up video,yes being able to breath is not underrated, I've got two sons with asthma. Just a tip, buy the filters by the case and replace them on the first of every month, the benefits are huge.
You did a great job building this downdraft table in a way that has inspired quite a few us especially after this second video showing how well it works. I am trying to figure out a way to build a smaller version for my garage when I am using my grinder and sander since they produce so much dust. People don’t realize how much fine partials are floating around in their shop when they are using grinders and sanders especially how far away the partials travel. This downdraft table has opened my eyes on how to help keep the dust down when I am working. Thank you very much for sharing.
When it comes to personal safety and personal health; I say anything that reduces risk is a great thing. When I first saw the build video I thought that is cool and everyone should consider something like it. Now seeing the follow up my view is that it should be a mandatory tool in any shop. PPE is great if you can’t engineer the risk down or away. Justin as always you are a great communicator for the fabrication community.
I knew your table would work from day one. I've used box fans and furnace filters as a poor man's paint booth filtering system. The dust on your filters will probably NEVER catch on fire. What is that dust composed of? Bit's of grinding wheel (i.e. stone), bit's of flap disk (i.e. garnet, otherwise known as stone) and a cloth backer (o.k. FINE. We found something that MAY burn) and what else... Oh YEAH! The metal you're grinding! So unless you are grinding magnesium you have about 7.5 flecks of flap disk backing cloth mixed in with a whole lot of non-flammable stone and metal dust. You're table is awesome!
Man I love the design and anyone wanting to complain should just upload their version. My “what-if” mind is really working on this one. If you moved the fans to top instead of bottom, you could build in a square funnel that would point all heavy debris to your tray. Easier clean up and filters may last longer. And below the fans you could have a couple smaller drawers for grinding disks and Allen wrenches. Thoughts?
100% agree with keeping this junk out of your lungs. My uncle was a welder and the years caught up with him and the damage had already set in. I'm a fabricator on the weekends and all the grinding, plasma cutting, metal working, and welding fills the air with fine black dust, including my lungs. I open opposing windows on each end of the shop with a box fan to pull fresh air through and take most of the junk with it. Respirator has also become a new norm for me.
Great Videos in regards to the down-draft table and the reasons to use it. They absolutely work and what you built is a testament to your skills and creativity. Those who are negative are the type who will always look for ways to be negative. It's simple here - the down draft keeps your work space more orderly, improving safety from slips/trips/falls, build up of debris, and throwing grindings everywhere including into other pieces of equipment. From a personal safety perspective, this aids in improving safety by controlling the amount of debris your safety glasses, clothing, and respirator will be exposed to, by putting it down below in the chamber. This table is not a substitute for PPE, but an addition to your PPE. Great job, Great Project, Great Message.
I love this design. Think I might need to make a small one for the garage. Only change would be to make the filters remove from the top so I can just pull the top off, change the filters, then shop vac without having to pull the whole thing from the wall.
I'm amazed at how well the furnace filters captured the dust and kept it out of the box fans, which is important because if it went through the fans it would just be blowing out into the air around the table. I like the idea and plan to build my own. The only improvement I would suggest is a tapered floor with a central hopper to catch the big stuff and make cleaning a little easier.
Nice to see the collector is working quite well based upon your initial design, It looks like a touchdown. Good job on keeping all that material off the floor, equipment and lungs. Would have loved to see it all on a white sheet of paper at the end for how much was there. Amazing!
I have a cheap fab table and I'm a novice. I have a flux core no gas welder. I think I'm going to build something similar to suck the smoke down and out and I'll do my grinding on the fab table. I have a small space so everywhere I can double up something I will. Thanks for the inspiration! :)
I've always used a filtered mask when doing any grinding or welding. Often overlooked because the effects don't hit you until 30 years down the line when it's too late to know exactly how much damage you've done. I might look into making a table, looks like a cool project and one that would be so worthwhile in the long run!
Now in version 2 of this build you have to mount fans higher and slope the bottom of pan in to the colection drawer. The less dust you have to move to clean it the better on you lungs also. I think I'm going to have to build one of these myself also
I've been using window fans and furnace filters for years. They work ok. Currently, though, I am using salvaged furnace blowers. I'm more into woodworking and I have one with my table saw built in. No dust escapes! You can get used furnace blowers very cheap in good working order, look on Craigslist.
I made a similar setup when I moved into a condo. I live and travel on my sailboat 8-10 months of the year and had to downsize. So the spare bedroom is now my workshop and dust and noise where my 2 BIGGEST issues. I use a table similar to this for everything from grinding to painting and without it I wouldn't have a shop to work in. Basically it is where my central vac dumps into from my machines and then I have a squirrel cage fan to vent everything up a spare dryer vent. It's a 2 step filter so to speak and keeps my room 98% dust free. The only thing I'd recommend is to get reusable/washable filters because I was going through them quite fast. Another thing I do is I have a small mister that catches a TON of dust before it can even reach a filter. I added it because I was afraid of sparks, but it really traps the crap inside.
i would recommend adding a water trap box at bottom if you start to find any ember forming not hard to make a box fill it with water an add some kinda vibration.
I wish my brother had taken respiratory safety seriously BEFORE the paint fumes caused brain and nervous system damage. He might have still been with us today.
Only thing I would recommend would be to use a furnace blower if possible because they have a high CFM and suction but the people that didn't think this would work have never tried it. This has been a normal thing in the DIY wood working community for ever. Everything from down draft sanding tables, to air cleaners, to makeshift spray booth extractors. Heck, even if it was only 50% efficient, that is %50 less air borne dust.
Nice design. Looks alot better than alot of the manufactured ones I've personally come across over the years in manufacturing. I've used a few that had a vacuum gauge so you can reference conditions of filters. Maybe add one of those.
Glad to see that it worked, even if it did not work, that would be a good project to do, just to have the right height to work on grinding stuff, and for more welding practice. see how well it worked, damn it should be like the second thing one builds, the first being a cart for the welder.
Yep, you got me! I wasn't one of the doubters but had seen their comments about the fans not working. Saw the title of this video and thought "no way, were they right?" Of course not LoL. There was an impressive amount of dust in the bottom of that table and in the filters. Really cool follow up video.
Really well done on this build! I hardly do any grinding but will build myself one of these when I outfit my shop after seeing this. And make something like this for my bench grinder. The only change to this table I would make is a tapered base to make sweeping it out eazer. I only thought of that after seeing this video.
Great idea! Don’t even want to think about how much of that grinding duff has turned to concrete in my nose and gets taken out in the shower. I have seen the floor and filters catch on fire. Mostly from heavy grinding without cleaning up often enough. With the new ceramic grinding pads that can be hours not days. I like the 3M cubitron II s but they cut so fast you have be much more careful.
I KNEW IT WAS A GOOD IDEA! I really want one of my own. I don't have the room in my cramped shop, but I knew you were on the right track. Awesome Table Dude!
Pretty much as expected, great job! Was anyone else reminded of the anti-smoking adverts, etc, from back in the day, when they would have machines drawing in cigarette smoke through a filter that would get coated in ash, tar and other nasty stuff? With the comments, bear in mind that it is really a first draft [sorry] and it is MUCH easier to see little things that might be better done differently - AFTER it is first made. IIRC, I suggested standing the fans and shrouds back a little for more even flow through the filters, and raising the filter assemblies so the floor had an incline towards the dust tray, so vibration would move it down into the tray, for the Mk II machine.
You inspired me to build a downdraft table. The only metal I bought was for the top, I used 3/8" bars placed on end so its also a plasma cutting table. I used louvered metal to protect the filters. Also made the clean out drawer full width. It works great. Cost $225.00 to build.
OMG!! I have been pushing my brothers for the last 10 years to wear masks when sanding. All of that metal dust would definitely have ended up in your lungs and those of anyone else around you. I am just starting in metal work and I have one respirator to wear in my metal shop and two respirators and disposable hazmat masks incase a friend stops by or my nephew. I gave him a set of keys to the shops so he can use them whenever he wants to. He's been doing work on his pickup and the plasma cutter speeds up the work. But I told him I would buy him a respirator, but he and any of his friends has to wear them or no shop privileges. I'm sorta the "cool aunt", he has been coming by on his own since he got his licence and I don't have children of my own, so its great when we can work together on something. Even his friends hang out here!
I haven't seen any videos of the build for this box fan thing, and I haven't looked for them if they exist, but the Spaceballs detail on the front is awesome.
I had upper respiratory issues, I made a air cleaner with three furnace filters and a squirrel cage fan. After 3 months the filters would turn black, just cleans the air in the shop. Big wake up call after I made it.
Justin keep up the videos I guess some people are just ignorant on how things work you are a very talented in what you due for a living I would have no problem asking for advice on designing or welding on any projects thanks for being onest on your vidios
Your design is great. In welding and fabrication your always going to have know it alls or someone always telling you know they know better. I’d like to build one of these tables and will have one but I need it twice as big as this one. Man that’s amazing how much crap you kept out of your lungs and shop floor. Keep up the good work.
I just discovered your channel and I'm loving it and this resource of knowledge!! Around the 8minute mark you mention that math is no myth and I would highly recommend you read Goedel Escher Bach because it really analyzes that thesis!
The idea is solid, the filters are spot on for filtering, and the box fans just pull air. They don’t have to pull massive amounts, they just have to create a downdraft. Air always takes the path of least resistance. Great idea, and who cares about naysayers. They don’t actually make anything, they are just keyboard warriors who want to, but won’t take the leap.
I'd love one if I had the space but sadly me shops too small ..I deal with the black snotty tissues on a regular basis. This brings home how good a bit of extraction actually is and just goes to show how much shite is thrown up when doing grinding and cleaning . The build video was great I'm chuffed you gave done this even just to prove it works and by the amount of crud in the bottom I'd say it works very well ..
I wonder if some slight changes to design and magnets would make this any more efficient. At least for the steel dust. This would be GREAT for a blacksmithing shop. I'm looking at all that collected steel dust and seeing "free" bloom steel/ tamahagane.
i play around welding and auto body,,i use to be a sheet metal fab.,,,,,body fill dust and paint flumes yes you need a mask,,,but thank you for openning my eyes to welding dust,i never knew,,im 60 years old, with copd now,but im going to make a table now thanks to you,,,i wish i knew this soonner,,,your doing a good job,please keep it up,,,and keep the videos comeing,,the younger kids needs to learn the safetys.
First off I enjoy your videos and projects and have learned a few things along the way. As an HVAC technician I have also learned a few things about air flow. Propeller fans do loose a large amount of air flow with resistance. That being said, in your design there is a fair amount to loose and still be effective. It is obviously drawing an adequate amount of air for the project design. One thing I would have done is to maximize the filter area by providing a spacer between the round hole and the filter. A 2" pleated filter would have probably filtered out some finer particles but may have had too much resistance. As far as catching on fire, as far as I can see all the particles were metal which would have to get really hot to combust. If it was saw dust you would likely have a problem with the dust combusting eventually. Overall I like the design and am trying to get my boss to allow me to make one, however I do anticipate push back because it does not filter the finer particles or vapor and may lead to a false sense of security even though it is far better than our current safeguards, liability laws are funny that way. Anyway nice video and nice table.
I think I’ll make a cutting + grinding combo version of this. Fans off when cutting, fans on when grinding. Right now I’m trying to figure out how to keep my Evolution from throwing chips all over the place.. maybe it needs to be on this sucker box too.
Really like the design of that table. I built something similar for wood dust using a 2hp commercial dust extractor and had to add curtains at the ends of the table because the draw was dissipating. Wonder if you'd consider design/build of a fume extractor?
I started clearing the rust off my old Chevy pickup using poly abrasive discs on a grinder. After less than a week I could feel my chest tighten up and started coughing. Went out bought a respirator and not had issues since. End of the day it’s your own lungs, but you ain’t gonna know what damage you’ve done for maybe 30-40 years. Great video 👍
A lot of grinding wheels are made from silica or alumina. Coal miners that dig into a vein of sand (silica) will stop working so the sand can be plastered over, because it causes a disease known as silicosis. I was diagnosed with silicosis when I worked on furnaces lined with fire brick. Really bad deal. Picture shards of glass (glass is made from sand)embedded in your lungs. The stuff that is in your grinding discs is the same type of material. Wear a dust mask whenever grinding and clean up the material in your work area ASAP or build a table like this to protect yourself. That dust is quite dangerous, but is rarely regarded as such.
Box fans are fine as long as the filters don't cause the motor to draw more amps than what is listed on the nameplate. You can easily check that with an amp meter and experiment with different filters. NICE JOB! I might have to make one of these myself.
Very nice setup on the table. As one that has breathing problem you want to always take care of the only set of lungs you have just like your eye. would not weld with out a helmet right. So as fare as the table goes and using those filter. They work and no buts about it. least amount of crap you don't have to breath in the better and it helps when other are in the shop with. Great video. Hopefully other will learn from it. Cheers Fred
Great project. Your kids will thank you when you're old and they don't have to push you around in a wheel chair. I worked in the paint and construction related trades for over 50 years, and have seen what overspray and dust has done to too many workers lungs. 50 years ago, guys thought nothing about cutting asbestos pipe with cutoff wheels and no respirator or even a rag wrapped around their faces. Today they're in hospitals and graveyards. BTW - the dust on the shop floor gets stirred up as you work, so everything you keep off the floor is better too. And, yes, please wear a N-95 rated respirator (disposable works) when cleaning up the cabinet, or sweeping the floor. And make sure to vacuum your work clothes after the dusting.
First nice couple of videos! Watching this video series over a year later and scanning the comments leaves me wondering if you built it again what would you change to make it better? Are your box fans holding up to your tough duty cycle and powerful enough to get job done, how about the filters you chose to use? Do you think a timer switch would work better than on/off switch? For cleaning the bottom floor of cabinet is flat, would a sloped floor direct the material to the cleanout tray be helpful or an unnecessary complication? With modification, would it be practical to use as a welding table with downdraft keeping fumes out of your face? Would you consider doing a short third video with thoughts on what you would change having advantage of using this over a year? Thanks again for posting this!
Love the table brother! Ive got a shop vac that I rigged up for collecting dust and particles in my shop. But this table is the bees knees. Awesome job
Love it. Would change the filters to top slide out or front so that table does not have to be removed. Maybe look into an industrial filter 2" . But looks that those are doing well. Increase drop tray size. Probably make a bit lower. I find waist height is usually good.
The saying “good tools are half the work” originally referred to maintaining your tools. “Keeping your tools in working condition is half the work”, and back in the day it really was. Evenings was spent sharpening and setting saws and chisels, oiling woods and rust protecting steel, flatten reference surfaces etc was, quite literally, half the job. Today it’s more like 5% of the job, but it still needs doing.
Apologies for being 3 years late to the party, I watched the Downdraft Table build which I thought was awesome, And your comments here in this Video just echo everything you said in that build, If after this proof that it definitely works, you still get the idiots in there comfy chairs giving you crap, I would just kick them to the curb for the air thiefs that they are. If when you started there were any doubts if it might work or not, you have proved to your self that it does work, (rather well it has to be said,) then you have achieved the objective, and that was, and is the only thing that matters. Well done and Kudos all around. Love and Respect from North Londo UK
Dude, that table is a really cool design, and you made it from scratch, using cheap off the shelf stuff, and it freaking works. There is always gonna be some armchair quarterback out there who thinks he is better than everyone else, but I didn't see HIM make a better downdraft table. Talk is cheap, and the results speak for themselves. Well done!
If all of the naysayers had their way nothing would get done and you can kiss innovation goodbye. Nice work on the table.
Hi, this is Phil from St Helens, Merseyside, England, UK 🇬🇧, I learned welding in the late 1980's the only ventilation we had while learning was Onatural and a vacuum tube in a small welding bay. The nambie pambies can go and jump of a cliff because the down draft table you have made is saving your lungs from life time of damage and I applaud you with pride for making it, you have taken another step towards a safer work environment. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
One of the best mentors I've ever had said "The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect one". This design is certainly "perfect enough" and has us considering where we'd put a slightly smaller one in our shop. While I liked the original video, the follow-up is just awesome. Thank you very much for both.
I expect we'd use it for small spray-painting jobs as well, though I'd ensure we used induction motors so the vapor would be less concerning than with brushed (sparky) motors. Might build some cabinets above or below just to use the volume better as long as it didn't interfere with the work.
@Barry Manilowa I think we the people held back by that perfectionism are not so ready to pass mediocre products, I like that saying and will use it.
Good is the enemy of perfection.
Too Proud to whitewash but too poor to paint. Good enough is functional like this table, if it works it works
I agree. Progress over perfection.
I’ve probably watched all the videos for this table a couple times I even showered them to my plant manager. I’ve been given the go ahead to start building one after thanksgiving.
How did it go ?
I just watched the build video before coming to this video, and there's one modification I would make.
The angled sections above the fans should extend a little bit more towards the middle. (sort of like a sheet metal awning) This would make sure the only stuff being sucked into the filters is the stuff that actually wants to float through the air.
Right now larger particles that would normally want to fall straight to the flooring will be sucked straight against the filters if they happen to pass too close.
This project may not suit all applications, but it is definitely proof of concept. This is something all fabricator/welders must take into consideration. You only get one set of lungs and it doesn't matter how tough you think you are, you can still suffer from serious respiratory issues from inhaling particulate matter. For small projects, this is ideal. For larger projects that don't fit on the table, respirators. Great job. I really enjoyed your video.
If it was me and I was designing a down draft table, I would add more baffles to the tank. In whats is referred to as a turbulent air filter. Its similar to what the dysons do. You create a series of barriers, that cause the larger particles to be flung out of the air. Due to the directional changes of the air in the baffles. Its a technique used in clean rooms to help remove the large particulates from the air. So that your filtration, media which is designed for fine particulates. That way your not loading up your filter media so quickly.
Btw have you also considered a version two with an improved clean out procedure. So that you can easily clean it out more often?
Other than that, i think something is better than nothing in this situation. So keep up the good work.
The ending reminded me of what someone once said to me. "There are only 3 kinds of people in this world, the kind that can count and the kind that can't." I did enjoy the initial build video and was pretty confident it would work as expected.
I had to deal with stuff like this at my last factory welding job. As welders, we wanted air cleaners and exhaust fans in our building, to which management claimed itd cause issues with welding.
You dont need a million CFM to capture this stuff. You dont need a wind tunnel, and you dont need some form of high tech filters for this stuff. Most furnace filters have some form of fire resistance because of their intended location, and they're designed to filter out dust. The dust they're designed for is typically the product of cells, either dead skin cells, pollen, or whatever else, and these particulates are infinitesimally smaller than those particles produced from steel work.
Once you get into the soot, then I can see an argument, however, most of the soot from welding is charged, and typically sticks to whatever surface that opposes that natural charge, which is why the paneling has so much on it. I never doubted these filters would work, and if someones going to argue about fumes, no filter eliminates fumes. Even activated charcoal has its limits for fume reduction.
Keep up the awesome work!
I've been wanting to build a downdraft table over on my channel for quite some time because the dust in my shop is horrible! Thanks for sharing this. You have helped me get motivated enough to start building one myself.
Thanks for not starting your video with "whazzup up TH-camrs" Easy to watch - great editing and the vid lit a fire under many of us. Congrats buddy!
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. After a year of fab without respiator, I started getting sick. Blame it on a young welder/farmer mentality of "not really as bad as they say" and "I'm in an open shop" So much happier and healthier now, I wont work without my 3m 7500 respirator. The heavy metals in metal fab get to me quick if i don't wear it now. The last few years I feel so much better after working a long day in the shop. Keep up the good work!!
I watched the build of this table and now watched the results. I gotta be honest it worked just as I expected it to.
I was super surprised how much was in the pan, unless I vacuum my shop floor I would never be able to sweep my shop floor enough to get all that fine dust. And that stuff is harmful to shop equipment as well not just lung and eye contaminants.
Great videos, I love the content you put out. No BS. THANKS!!
There will always be haters dude. I was so inspired by this video that i'm currently making my own version. I usually use a respirator so the lung issue isn't my concern. I'd just like to not waste so much time cleaning every time i drill, cut, grind anything! BTW your box fan idea moves the most litres per minute of air volume for the lowest cost. Box fans are cheaper & much quieter than any other exhaust fan on the market. They're only a problem if you need to duct them (which you dont here).
Excellent project mate, thank you!
I'm a little late to the party but..... here's my two cents.
Inspired design ! Well thought out.
I'm gathering materials to build my own based on your design .... With a few modifications...
The thought occurs to me that the filters should be accessible from the front for ease of checking and replacement. Also, not behind a screwed down panel (maybe a flap door, or a thin vertical drawer).
2) Drop down sides for the work surface. To accommodate longer material - mine's going to multi-task as a cut-off table/quickie sand blast/paint workstation/occasional welding.... and, whatever other particle producing task I can think of.
3) Bigger wheels: Better for getting over extension cords, air hoses, welding cables, floor cracks, etc.
I particularly like your Backsplash spark/debris catcher. Hugely inspired !
The sectioned work surface panels !!
The rubber restaurant floormat overlay !!! Among other things I work with is UHMWPE sheets (think super dense milk carton material). It has roughly the slipperiness of Teflon. Hard to get it to hold still for you to work on it.
Overall, a slick, well thought through design
Already sold on it. Wanted to see your design. Wow! No question that box fans and furnace filters work. Used then for diy spray booths. Moving my shop. This is on my must do work list.
Thanks!
Mate! I can assure you have done a hectic good job. Big thumbs up for you 👍👍👍
I have a box fan behind two layers of filters for my powder coating booth I built. It works very well. People seem to forget that the crap from grinding is heavier than air, and with just a slight pull will go down through the holes. Even without the fans, you’ll get a fair amount of that stuff down there. Only the very finest dust needs the fan. And since those particles are so small, a box fan is more than enough to pull them in.
Good work!
Being a retired FF/EMT of over 25 years and been doing grinding and Fab work since 16. I have yet to set anything a fire by grinding! So I am pretty confident that it’s not going catch un fire due to a grinding spark! I would love to build this type for my shop. Great video !
The only thing I could say it needs for improvement is a vertical baffle ahead of the filter. Since the majority of the "dust" is heavy it should fall to the floor before it ever makes it to the filter. It'll make it easier to clean too.
WOW! That was sure an eye opener. When I watched the build video, I kept thinking to myself 'yes, it may keep some of the dust down, but probably miss quite a bit' but after seeing this it really makes me realize just how much removing some, even if just a percentage of the total airborne particulate, can make a difference! I think I'm going to have to seriously put some consideration into building a table like you have... just gotta figure out where I can fit this thing in my small garage!
I need to build one of these. The bottom of your table looks like my shop floor after a week of work. (My shop is only 9x6 for floor space)
Dust can cause an explosion but you are 100% right, it’s about maintenance, dust in a filter won’t combust, free dust can but the accepted solution is cleaning and getting rid of the free dust. At the scales you are seeing in a piece of plant you have there is a very theoretical possibility, hugely unlikely,negligible even, whereas the lung contamination is a certainty. Great idea and well executed and proven.
Good job. Only thing I did different on mine was I added a funnel in the center of mine and a tray in the bottom. My fan makes a low pressure area in the enclosure but the air has to go down thru the funnel then back up out of the tray then thru the fan. It lets a little fall out of the air before it gets to the fan. Just an idea.
This is awesome. As a woodworker I’ve used similar setups to control wood dust. Just the act of putting a filter on a box fan and letting it run free in the room will also pull particulate out of the air by a good amount.
That's a good idea to.
That dust started out as sparks. Everything you are grinding is steel so it won't ignite. By the time a spark gets to the filter they will not be a glowing ember anymore as the movement of air is cooling it rapidly. Thanks for the video, it was very informative.
The dust is either sparks from the ground steel or Carbon from the blades. Either way your correct, a fire is very unlikely.
However: maybe its best not to use an extreemly low (sub-micron) particulate size filter - just catch the visible crap and let the tiny particulates flow through and out for somebody to breath in? Because - submicron dust is Explosive and it would be a real shame to overly & spontaniously enlarge the cabinet.
Great build, great idea. I'm currently building this thing as a down draft/plasma cutting table that flushes.
What I like about this is all the people in the comments saying "I'm a believer, I'm gonna build one, but I'm going to adapt it to MY needs." That's what a good creative DIY community is about, I believe; sharing and adapting.
I dont comment alot on videos but i had to, good job TFS, your not only showing your skills and teaching us, youre showing important security/safety stuff, props to you and long live TFS, thanks again!
When I built a small portable box fan with a filter screen to set in my garage to run when I was working with my wood working tools (tablesaw drill press lathe and sanding station) I was shocked at the amount of dust it had collected. I’ve got a vacuum hooked up to all my tools but no air cleaner. After a month of use I pulled the screen and was blown away with how much crap it had pulled out of the air. Now I always wear my dust mask and run my 3 box fan air cleaners and my vacuum dust collection system when working in the garage.
I taught welding for the first 20 years of my career as and Industrial Arts Teacher. I really wanted to build one of these for the shop at my last job where welding was in the job description. Unfortunately by the time the idea came to me the school district stopped letting me buy supplies to teach the kids, and I left for greener pastures. I now teach wood shop and I enjoy it immensely. The one aspect I hate is the dust. Presently I am working hard to get all of the heavy dust producers in the shop connected to dust collection. And the district is not fighting me on any of it.
As far as the furnace filters go, I have built a permanent automotive spray paint booth in my personal shop. Both the inlet and discharge filters are common furnace filters. The system works awesome despite the fact that several people have told me that they would not work. To the nay sayers. say "Baugh! Humbug!".
Thanks for teaching. Metal and wood shop were my favorite classes in jr. high and I was looking forward to going that route in high school, but unfortunately the year I got to high school the district dropped all shop classes.
It's a shame but so many shop classes have had the same happen including my old school. My metalshop teacher did so much for his students and no doubt he changed tons of lives for the better by teaching kids like myself valuable skills. I just had no interest in school and if it wasn't for him I'd have dropped out, but instead he helped me slug through it.
I just posted about the setup I made for my spare bedroom workshop and it is what has allowed me to have one since I downsized to go sailing. My chamber is a catchall for my central vac and its also my work table for welding, painting and grinding. One thing I added that really helped was a small misting nozzle. It uses very little water but makes most of the dust drop to a pan in the bottom for easy cleaning.
Hmm the welding class at my daughter's school is amazing. They have a joint thing with the local university and their welding program. The kids get to take it at highschool and if they do well can go onto the university and have some awesome classes paid for by the district. She is currently taking a fabrication class for metal work/welding.
@@craigpeel5983 She's lucky, there is only one school in my county with shop classes left and it is the technical HS. My school closed down the metal shop when the teacher retired and the wood shop was right behind. Apparently it was too dangerous in the eyes of the school board.
@@southjerseysound7340 life is dangerous and the district just stopped any future fabricators able to help, what a terrible decision. The motivation was money and the cover story was safety I'm guessing.
Great follow up video,yes being able to breath is not underrated, I've got two sons with asthma. Just a tip, buy the filters by the case and replace them on the first of every month, the benefits are huge.
You did a great job building this downdraft table in a way
that has inspired quite a few us especially after this second video showing how
well it works. I am trying to figure out
a way to build a smaller version for my garage when I am using my grinder and
sander since they produce so much dust. People
don’t realize how much fine partials are floating around in their shop when
they are using grinders and sanders especially how far away the partials
travel. This downdraft table has opened
my eyes on how to help keep the dust down when I am working. Thank you very much for sharing.
When it comes to personal safety and personal health; I say anything that reduces risk is a great thing. When I first saw the build video I thought that is cool and everyone should consider something like it. Now seeing the follow up my view is that it should be a mandatory tool in any shop. PPE is great if you can’t engineer the risk down or away. Justin as always you are a great communicator for the fabrication community.
I'm new to welding/ fabrication. I've literally been amazed at the amount of useful and educational information out there. Thanks for the videos.
I knew your table would work from day one. I've used box fans and furnace filters as a poor man's paint booth filtering system.
The dust on your filters will probably NEVER catch on fire. What is that dust composed of? Bit's of grinding wheel (i.e. stone), bit's of flap disk (i.e. garnet, otherwise known as stone) and a cloth backer (o.k. FINE. We found something that MAY burn) and what else...
Oh YEAH! The metal you're grinding! So unless you are grinding magnesium you have about 7.5 flecks of flap disk backing cloth mixed in with a whole lot of non-flammable stone and metal dust.
You're table is awesome!
Man I love the design and anyone wanting to complain should just upload their version. My “what-if” mind is really working on this one. If you moved the fans to top instead of bottom, you could build in a square funnel that would point all heavy debris to your tray. Easier clean up and filters may last longer. And below the fans you could have a couple smaller drawers for grinding disks and Allen wrenches. Thoughts?
The verdict: it’s working... 👏
You can’t say it’s not helping.
100% agree with keeping this junk out of your lungs. My uncle was a welder and the years caught up with him and the damage had already set in. I'm a fabricator on the weekends and all the grinding, plasma cutting, metal working, and welding fills the air with fine black dust, including my lungs. I open opposing windows on each end of the shop with a box fan to pull fresh air through and take most of the junk with it. Respirator has also become a new norm for me.
Great Videos in regards to the down-draft table and the reasons to use it. They absolutely work and what you built is a testament to your skills and creativity. Those who are negative are the type who will always look for ways to be negative. It's simple here - the down draft keeps your work space more orderly, improving safety from slips/trips/falls, build up of debris, and throwing grindings everywhere including into other pieces of equipment. From a personal safety perspective, this aids in improving safety by controlling the amount of debris your safety glasses, clothing, and respirator will be exposed to, by putting it down below in the chamber. This table is not a substitute for PPE, but an addition to your PPE.
Great job, Great Project, Great Message.
I love this design. Think I might need to make a small one for the garage. Only change would be to make the filters remove from the top so I can just pull the top off, change the filters, then shop vac without having to pull the whole thing from the wall.
I'm amazed at how well the furnace filters captured the dust and kept it out of the box fans, which is important because if it went through the fans it would just be blowing out into the air around the table. I like the idea and plan to build my own. The only improvement I would suggest is a tapered floor with a central hopper to catch the big stuff and make cleaning a little easier.
Nice to see the collector is working quite well based upon your initial design, It looks like a touchdown. Good job on keeping all that material off the floor, equipment and lungs. Would have loved to see it all on a white sheet of paper at the end for how much was there. Amazing!
You proved your point. Great build and serves an important purpose.
I have a cheap fab table and I'm a novice. I have a flux core no gas welder. I think I'm going to build something similar to suck the smoke down and out and I'll do my grinding on the fab table. I have a small space so everywhere I can double up something I will. Thanks for the inspiration! :)
Proof is in the puddin! Or should I say, the filters! I liked your design from the get go and I knew it would work!!
I've always used a filtered mask when doing any grinding or welding. Often overlooked because the effects don't hit you until 30 years down the line when it's too late to know exactly how much damage you've done. I might look into making a table, looks like a cool project and one that would be so worthwhile in the long run!
Now in version 2 of this build you have to mount fans higher and slope the bottom of pan in to the colection drawer. The less dust you have to move to clean it the better on you lungs also. I think I'm going to have to build one of these myself also
Upgrade by putting a tiny motor on each filter frame with an offset weight to shake the dust off the filters
Cheat and put like a 5-10 gram stick-on wheel weight on one if the fan blades
Just enough to shake it but not enough to have it walk out the door
I've been using window fans and furnace filters for years. They work ok. Currently, though, I am using salvaged furnace blowers. I'm more into woodworking and I have one with my table saw built in. No dust escapes! You can get used furnace blowers very cheap in good working order, look on Craigslist.
I made a similar setup when I moved into a condo. I live and travel on my sailboat 8-10 months of the year and had to downsize. So the spare bedroom is now my workshop and dust and noise where my 2 BIGGEST issues. I use a table similar to this for everything from grinding to painting and without it I wouldn't have a shop to work in. Basically it is where my central vac dumps into from my machines and then I have a squirrel cage fan to vent everything up a spare dryer vent. It's a 2 step filter so to speak and keeps my room 98% dust free. The only thing I'd recommend is to get reusable/washable filters because I was going through them quite fast. Another thing I do is I have a small mister that catches a TON of dust before it can even reach a filter. I added it because I was afraid of sparks, but it really traps the crap inside.
i would recommend adding a water trap box at bottom if you start to find any ember forming not hard to make a box fill it with water an add some kinda vibration.
I wish my brother had taken respiratory safety seriously BEFORE the paint fumes caused brain and nervous system damage. He might have still been with us today.
Only thing I would recommend would be to use a furnace blower if possible because they have a high CFM and suction but the people that didn't think this would work have never tried it. This has been a normal thing in the DIY wood working community for ever.
Everything from down draft sanding tables, to air cleaners, to makeshift spray booth extractors. Heck, even if it was only 50% efficient, that is %50 less air borne dust.
Nice design. Looks alot better than alot of the manufactured ones I've personally come across over the years in manufacturing. I've used a few that had a vacuum gauge so you can reference conditions of filters. Maybe add one of those.
Also the ones I've used came equipped with furnace filters. So i wouldn't worry about the naysayers.
Glad to see that it worked, even if it did not work, that would be a good project to do, just to have the right height to work on grinding stuff, and for more welding practice. see how well it worked, damn it should be like the second thing one builds, the first being a cart for the welder.
Yep, you got me! I wasn't one of the doubters but had seen their comments about the fans not working. Saw the title of this video and thought "no way, were they right?" Of course not LoL. There was an impressive amount of dust in the bottom of that table and in the filters. Really cool follow up video.
Really well done on this build! I hardly do any grinding but will build myself one of these when I outfit my shop after seeing this. And make something like this for my bench grinder.
The only change to this table I would make is a tapered base to make sweeping it out eazer. I only thought of that after seeing this video.
Great idea! Don’t even want to think about how much of that grinding duff has turned to concrete in my nose and gets taken out in the shower.
I have seen the floor and filters catch on fire. Mostly from heavy grinding without cleaning up often enough.
With the new ceramic grinding pads that can be hours not days. I like the 3M cubitron II s but they cut so fast you have be much more careful.
I KNEW IT WAS A GOOD IDEA! I really want one of my own. I don't have the room in my cramped shop, but I knew you were on the right track. Awesome Table Dude!
Pretty much as expected, great job! Was anyone else reminded of the anti-smoking adverts, etc, from back in the day, when they would have machines drawing in cigarette smoke through a filter that would get coated in ash, tar and other nasty stuff?
With the comments, bear in mind that it is really a first draft [sorry] and it is MUCH easier to see little things that might be better done differently - AFTER it is first made.
IIRC, I suggested standing the fans and shrouds back a little for more even flow through the filters, and raising the filter assemblies so the floor had an incline towards the dust tray, so vibration would move it down into the tray, for the Mk II machine.
Very cool. I wonder how hard it would be to implement a cyclone separator into the design so that cleanup is simpler and the filters last longer.
All I have to say is WOW!! I knew when I'm doing bigger projects the dust and crap I sweep up is a lot but one of these would definitely help!
You inspired me to build a downdraft table. The only metal I bought was for the top, I used 3/8" bars placed on end so its also a plasma cutting table. I used louvered metal to protect the filters. Also made the clean out drawer full width. It works great. Cost $225.00 to build.
OMG!! I have been pushing my brothers for the last 10 years to wear masks when sanding. All of that metal dust would definitely have ended up in your lungs and those of anyone else around you. I am just starting in metal work and I have one respirator to wear in my metal shop and two respirators and disposable hazmat masks incase a friend stops by or my nephew. I gave him a set of keys to the shops so he can use them whenever he wants to. He's been doing work on his pickup and the plasma cutter speeds up the work. But I told him I would buy him a respirator, but he and any of his friends has to wear them or no shop privileges. I'm sorta the "cool aunt", he has been coming by on his own since he got his licence and I don't have children of my own, so its great when we can work together on something. Even his friends hang out here!
Kids that learn to create are much less likely to destroy ...their lives😂🤣. Keep being that cool aunt because what you give in knowledge is priceless.
I haven't seen any videos of the build for this box fan thing, and I haven't looked for them if they exist, but the Spaceballs detail on the front is awesome.
I had upper respiratory issues, I made a air cleaner with three furnace filters and a squirrel cage fan. After 3 months the filters would turn black, just cleans the air in the shop. Big wake up call after I made it.
Justin keep up the videos I guess some people are just ignorant on how things work you are a very talented in what you due for a living I would have no problem asking for advice on designing or welding on any projects thanks for being onest on your vidios
The start of the video has a very strong TOT influence. I like it 😁
Your design is great. In welding and fabrication your always going to have know it alls or someone always telling you know they know better. I’d like to build one of these tables and will have one but I need it twice as big as this one. Man that’s amazing how much crap you kept out of your lungs and shop floor. Keep up the good work.
After spending the last two weeks cutting metal I was wondering about this very thing.... Starting tomorrow I'm wearing a resperator.
Thank you.
I just discovered your channel and I'm loving it and this resource of knowledge!! Around the 8minute mark you mention that math is no myth and I would highly recommend you read Goedel Escher Bach because it really analyzes that thesis!
The idea is solid, the filters are spot on for filtering, and the box fans just pull air. They don’t have to pull massive amounts, they just have to create a downdraft. Air always takes the path of least resistance. Great idea, and who cares about naysayers. They don’t actually make anything, they are just keyboard warriors who want to, but won’t take the leap.
I'd love one if I had the space but sadly me shops too small ..I deal with the black snotty tissues on a regular basis. This brings home how good a bit of extraction actually is and just goes to show how much shite is thrown up when doing grinding and cleaning . The build video was great I'm chuffed you gave done this even just to prove it works and by the amount of crud in the bottom I'd say it works very well ..
seems to work good and that floor mat keeps parts from slipping around good too
Really cool and practical welding table!
I wonder if some slight changes to design and magnets would make this any more efficient. At least for the steel dust.
This would be GREAT for a blacksmithing shop. I'm looking at all that collected steel dust and seeing "free" bloom steel/ tamahagane.
i play around welding and auto body,,i use to be a sheet metal fab.,,,,,body fill dust and paint flumes yes you need a mask,,,but thank you for openning my eyes to welding dust,i never knew,,im 60 years old, with copd now,but im going to make a table now thanks to you,,,i wish i knew this soonner,,,your doing a good job,please keep it up,,,and keep the videos comeing,,the younger kids needs to learn the safetys.
I would be very interested to see if you put another filter on the outside just to see what gets through. Awesome table
First off I enjoy your videos and projects and have learned a few things along the way. As an HVAC technician I have also learned a few things about air flow. Propeller fans do loose a large amount of air flow with resistance. That being said, in your design there is a fair amount to loose and still be effective. It is obviously drawing an adequate amount of air for the project design. One thing I would have done is to maximize the filter area by providing a spacer between the round hole and the filter. A 2" pleated filter would have probably filtered out some finer particles but may have had too much resistance. As far as catching on fire, as far as I can see all the particles were metal which would have to get really hot to combust. If it was saw dust you would likely have a problem with the dust combusting eventually. Overall I like the design and am trying to get my boss to allow me to make one, however I do anticipate push back because it does not filter the finer particles or vapor and may lead to a false sense of security even though it is far better than our current safeguards, liability laws are funny that way. Anyway nice video and nice table.
Looks like your table is working like a champ. Cleaner air is always better!!!
I think I’ll make a cutting + grinding combo version of this.
Fans off when cutting, fans on when grinding.
Right now I’m trying to figure out how to keep my Evolution from throwing chips all over the place.. maybe it needs to be on this sucker box too.
When you’re right, you’re right…and you usually are-well done ✅👍
Really like the design of that table. I built something similar for wood dust using a 2hp commercial dust extractor and had to add curtains at the ends of the table because the draw was dissipating.
Wonder if you'd consider design/build of a fume extractor?
I started clearing the rust off my old Chevy pickup using poly abrasive discs on a grinder.
After less than a week I could feel my chest tighten up and started coughing.
Went out bought a respirator and not had issues since.
End of the day it’s your own lungs, but you ain’t gonna know what damage you’ve done for maybe 30-40 years.
Great video 👍
A lot of grinding wheels are made from silica or alumina. Coal miners that dig into a vein of sand (silica) will stop working so the sand can be plastered over, because it causes a disease known as silicosis. I was diagnosed with silicosis when I worked on furnaces lined with fire brick. Really bad deal. Picture shards of glass (glass is made from sand)embedded in your lungs. The stuff that is in your grinding discs is the same type of material. Wear a dust mask whenever grinding and clean up the material in your work area ASAP or build a table like this to protect yourself. That dust is quite dangerous, but is rarely regarded as such.
Great design and obviously effective. Carry on.
Box fans are fine as long as the filters don't cause the motor to draw more amps than what is listed on the nameplate. You can easily check that with an amp meter and experiment with different filters. NICE JOB! I might have to make one of these myself.
Anybody that has any experience in a, real shop, knows how much dust gets everywhere. Good job on your table. 👍
Very nice setup on the table. As one that has breathing problem you want to always take care of the only set of lungs you have just like your eye. would not weld with out a helmet right.
So as fare as the table goes and using those filter. They work and no buts about it. least amount of crap you don't have to breath in the better and it helps when other are in the shop with.
Great video. Hopefully other will learn from it.
Cheers Fred
Great project. Your kids will thank you when you're old and they don't have to push you around in a wheel chair. I worked in the paint and construction related trades for over 50 years, and have seen what overspray and dust has done to too many workers lungs. 50 years ago, guys thought nothing about cutting asbestos pipe with cutoff wheels and no respirator or even a rag wrapped around their faces. Today they're in hospitals and graveyards. BTW - the dust on the shop floor gets stirred up as you work, so everything you keep off the floor is better too. And, yes, please wear a N-95 rated respirator (disposable works) when cleaning up the cabinet, or sweeping the floor. And make sure to vacuum your work clothes after the dusting.
That's so much more elegant than tapeing a shop vac hose to my angle grinder. Wish I had the space for something like that.
If you're finding the vac full of dreck and it's easier to see in the shop, keep doing it. Don't do nothing and you'll have something.
@@jameswyatt1304 It dose a decent job , it's just cumbersome.
Do you use a cyclone dust collector with the vac?
@@NPC-ro5io No, but might have to look into that.
First nice couple of videos! Watching this video series over a year later and scanning the comments leaves me wondering if you built it again what would you change to make it better? Are your box fans holding up to your tough duty cycle and powerful enough to get job done, how about the filters you chose to use? Do you think a timer switch would work better than on/off switch? For cleaning the bottom floor of cabinet is flat, would a sloped floor direct the material to the cleanout tray be helpful or an unnecessary complication?
With modification, would it be practical to use as a welding table with downdraft keeping fumes out of your face?
Would you consider doing a short third video with thoughts on what you would change having advantage of using this over a year? Thanks again for posting this!
Love the table brother! Ive got a shop vac that I rigged up for collecting dust and particles in my shop. But this table is the bees knees. Awesome job
Love the idea I am going to build one for my welding shop.
Pre-credit I thought I'd accidentally been watching This Old Tony!
Everyone needs a vac-u-subscribe
Thought I was on TOT channel as well for some strange reason.
Yeah except I wasn’t picturing M*A*S*H in my head ...
Was looking for this comment😂😂
Now that's a compliment.
Love it.
Would change the filters to top slide out or front so that table does not have to be removed.
Maybe look into an industrial filter 2" . But looks that those are doing well.
Increase drop tray size.
Probably make a bit lower. I find waist height is usually good.
The saying “good tools are half the work” originally referred to maintaining your tools. “Keeping your tools in working condition is half the work”, and back in the day it really was. Evenings was spent sharpening and setting saws and chisels, oiling woods and rust protecting steel, flatten reference surfaces etc was, quite literally, half the job. Today it’s more like 5% of the job, but it still needs doing.