Down Draft Sanding Box

This easy-to-make sanding box really swallowed the dust in our tests. And it was sturdy enough to support larger workpieces. The parts for it cost about $12. You’ll need:

• a 24 x 18 x 6 in. underbed storage box from a discount department store
• a 2 x 4-ft. Egg Crate Fluorescent Light Cover available at home centers
• a hole saw the diameter of your shop vacuum hose
• 1/2 x 1/2-in. wood strips

With a utility knife, make 1-in. notches in the plastic reinforcement struts around the rim of the box. Using 1/2-in. sheet metal screws, attach the 1/2 x 1/2-in. wood strips along the rim of the box, leaving room so the egg crate cover sits level with the top. Use a coping, band or scroll saw to cut the egg crate to achieve a snug, flat fit in the rim; the plastic is easy to cut and won’t shatter if you saw it carefully. Finally, use the hole saw to cut a hole in the side of the plastic box to fit your shop vacuum.

Thanks to reader James Miller for dusting off our shops with this tip!