I recently acquired a dust collector so I wanted to build a downdraft table. Most DIY hobbyists online tend to build a downdraft box that sits on top of a workbench or table etc...I decided to make a new workbench and integrate the down draft into the table. As you will see, it's a budget workbench. I used mostly scraps and the top is simply 1 layer of 3/4" plywood.
Wood type: Plywood, MDF, 2 x 4's (mostly scrap pieces I had laying around)
Finish: Tung Oil
Hardware: Four downdraft table panels
Finish: Tung Oil
Hardware: Four downdraft table panels
When it came to building the workbench, I didn't really use a plan. My only criteria was to keep costs down, build a drawer and I wanted the table to be mobile (add casters to legs). I had a partial piece of plywood that I had setup on sawhorses that I had been using for years - this would dictate my table top dimensions.
I built the majority of the workbench upside down. First step was to create the 4 legs and attach to 3/4 plywood. As I said it's not an expensive bench :)
I found plans at rockler.com to build your own downdraft table. I decided to "splurge" and I purchased proper downdraft table panels from busy bee tools. If you wanted to save money, you can use peg board instead or some scrap wood and drill your own holes.
I cut the opening with my jig saw for the downdraft box and attached it to the plywood top with 2x4's.
As I mentioned earlier, I wanted a drawer with my new workbench to store some small items like sandpaper and screws etc...I built the ugly drawer below with some scrap wood and made a few dividers.
I did some searching online for suggestions on how to finish the top. There appeared to be a lot of debate, in the end I chose to Tung oil. I usually work with polyurethanes but many people had suggested Tung oil since the wood will absorb it and that the polyurethane would crack.