How to Build Dust Collectors

Woodworking tools, particularly power sanders, create a considerable amount of airborne sawdust. This sawdust can cause irritation to the respiratory system if inhaled. While wearing a dust mask can help, a more thorough solution is to use an airborne dust collector. Build a simple but very effective dust collector using a pair of furnace filters and a box fan. Simply place the filter near the work surface, and the air flow of the fan will suck the airborne sawdust into the filters.

20-inch box fan
20-inch-by-20-inch general purpose furnace filter
20-inch-by-20-inch hypoallergenic furnace filter
Roll of 2-inch-wide duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Place a 20-inch box fan face-down on a work table. The power cord on the back of the fan should face upward.
- 2
  Position the hypoallergenic furnace filter over the rear of the box fan. The filter's direction arrow should be pointing toward the fan.
- 3
  Position the general-purpose furnace filter over the hypoallergenic filter. The air flow direction arrow should point toward the fan on this filter as well.
- 4
  Place strips of tape all around the perimeter of the filters, then tape the pair of filters to the fan. There should be no gaps between the two filters, or on the back of the fan around the filters.
- 5
  Plug the fan into the power outlet, and stand the fan next to the area where you're using the sander or other woodworking tool. The filters should be facing the source of the sawdust.
- 6
  Turn on the fan and notice that all of the fan's air flow is sucked through the filters. Begin using the sander or other woodworking tool, and most of the airborne sawdust will be captured by the filters.

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