Dust Collection Workstation

This dust collection cart houses a vacuum and cyclonic dust separator for an efficient, clean workstation.

- By Collin Knoff

PROJECT #2509_
Skill Level:
Beginner
Time: 2 Days
Cost: $180

Every inch of space in a shop is precious. That is why I’m not a big fan of unitasker tools and equipment. When it came time to design a dust collection cart for my shop vacuum and Dust Deputy, I faced a dilemma: Do I try to minimize the overall footprint, or get maximum functionality out of the cart itself? Most of the designs I found online were smaller, but didn’t include any useful space on top for storage or working. At the same time, they were too tall to fit under a standard workbench or shop table, which meant they would always be taking up precious floor space.

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided that turning the cart into a full-on sanding station would be the best option for my needs. I would optimize every inch possible for storage while still allowing for a highly portable workstation. The work height of the table is higher than usual, but it’s perfect for sanding flat pieces or small projects (assuming you’re a 95th percentile male). With my design direction chosen, it was time to start building.

Solid Foundation

As usual, you'll start by cutting everything to size first. I prefer a track saw for this type of work. Not having to wrestle sheet goods on the table saw saves your back and gives you more accurate cuts anyway.