Dust control is one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of a safe, comfortable woodworking shop. While it’s easy to focus on tools and projects, the fine dust created during sanding, sawing, and routing can linger in the air long after the work stops. Over time, that airborne dust affects both your health and the cleanliness of your shop. In this Woodsmith Shop project, the team tackles that problem head-on by building a simple, effective roll-around air cleaner designed to improve air quality where it matters most.
In the video embedded above, the Woodsmith crew walks through the design, construction, and use of a shop-built air cleaner that’s powerful enough to make a noticeable difference, yet compact enough for small and mid-sized workshops. The project comes together quickly using straightforward materials and basic shop tools, making it an achievable build for most woodworkers.
At the heart of the design is a large, high-capacity filter paired with an adjustable fan. This combination allows the unit to pull fine airborne dust out of the shop air while you work or after tools are shut down. Mounting the system on a rolling base means you can position it exactly where dust is being created—near the table saw, sanding station, or assembly bench—rather than relying on a fixed ceiling-mounted unit.
Throughout the build, the team shares practical tips for improving dust control beyond the air cleaner itself. You’ll learn ways to reduce fine dust at the source, improve collection at machines, and protect yourself when airborne particles are unavoidable. These shop-tested techniques are easy to adopt and can dramatically improve both comfort and safety.
The finished air cleaner is designed for everyday use. Adjustable airflow lets you balance noise and performance, while the large filter surface extends the time between cleanings. Because it’s shop-made, the design is easy to customize for your space, whether that means changing the filter size, fan capacity, or cabinet layout.
If you’re ready to take shop safety seriously and breathe cleaner air while you work, this project is a great place to start. It’s a practical upgrade that pays off every time you step into the shop.
You can find the complete step-by-step woodworking plans for building this roll-around shop air cleaner at WoodsmithPlans.com. The plans include detailed drawings, materials lists, and construction tips to help you build the unit efficiently and confidently.
