I get tired of all the sawdust, resin dust, etc. that litters my workspace. So I took a note from a contractor I worked with and came up with this:


A hose from a small vacuum cleaner runs up through the bottom. One end of the assembly slides onto my workbench and the screen is scrap aluminum window screen. When I want to Dremel a part I just hit the foot switch to the vac and work over the nozzle. Keeps the bench clean, keeps my lungs clean.

This one was made with scraps of 1x12 I had lying around. If you prefer to work on an elevated position a similar collector could be made that sits several inches over your workspace. What do you think?

Good idea
several different manicuring stations ( work tables ) have a built in vacuum systems in the table top it's self. All the nail fileings, dust and nail polish fumes go right in and away from the face. Keeps most of the bad stuff away from the lungs.Only bad part is the added noise.
I've been trying to talk my wife into bringing one home from work for years. I think I'll have to try this idea.

That is a good idea, but what struck me was the title. When I read 'Benchtop Dust Collector' I thought you were referring to uncompleted projects that are collecting dust rather than being completed. I thought 'Good, I'm not the only one'

I foresee a posting of people chasing down affordable, quiet vacuums. And I would welcome this.

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GiJoey - That sounds like a great idea. Hope you get your hands on one so you can let the rest of us know how it works.

Ol Man - I know what you mean. I've got parts for about six figures laying around my bench right now. You can see a couple of them in the pictures. I'm sure I'll get to 'em soon...

MM -The vac is actually pretty quiet. It's an older model about 15" in diameter and about 8" tall. Does a pretty decent job. And cheap, too.

Ya know now that I'm thinking about it.
Why couldn't you attach the vacuum hose to the big flat attachment for sucking up water on a shop vac or to a large industrial funnel or ( make something ) . Cut a hole in the work top cover with a piece of screening or something similar and Viola. I know I made it sound easier then it will actually be, but it should work.
All the filings fall through the screen and everything else can be soft brushed in, turn on the vac an bye bye mess.

You've hit on one of my original concepts for the collector, gijoey. I just couldn't bring myself to cut a hole in my workbench. That, and I didn't want to find some grating that could be suspended over that size hole that could handle a Dremel being dropped on it.

Me too, I was hoping you would try first