P.O. Box 3762 Duskits is a Veteran Owned, Certified
Martinsville, Virginia 24115-3762 HubZone Small Business Concern (SBC)
(888) 377-2454 both voice and fax DUNS 07-633-8123 CAGE 3HZL9
Frequently Asked Questions
- Sanding Table Questions
- Table Kit Questions
- Tips & Tricks
- How did DUSKITS get started?
- What is your Warranty ?
- What else can you do?
Sanding Table Questions
Your tables are less
expensive than most; do they work as well?
How do your tables compare with the cheaper units on the market?
Do you offer models with cartridge filters?
Will the tables work for any dust?
Can you provide tables with HEPA filters?
Do you make explosion-proof models?
What about spray painting on a table?
What do the tables weigh?
How much noise do they make?
How long will the MDF top last?
What is your lead time?
Are assembled tables better than kit-built tables?
Can you supply references for your tables?
Our tables are extremely well built, with thick MDF tops, high quality reverse incline blowers designed and made to our specifications, and rugged steel frames. They work very well, and we will be glad to supply many happy customers as references.
There are tables in the marketplace which utilize cheaper construction than our tables. These might have a fiberboard frame, typically utilize an inexpensive squirrel cage blower (like a furnace blower), and much less filter area. Our frames are of heavy wall 2" steel tubing, our blowers are the correct reverse incline units made to our specifications, and we use much (often several times as much) more filter area. The reverse incline blowers and the large filter area work together to greatly increase the time between filter cleaning/replacement since the reverse incline blower has a fan curve (air moved vs. static pressure) where the air moved does not decrease as rapidly as a squirrel cage as the filters become loaded, and having much more filter area means that the filters become loaded much less rapidly. Finally, our tables generally use larger motors and move more air, and in general, the more air that's moved, the more dust will be captured.
We have not offered cartridge filter based tables because they are much more expensive than pleated filter units and for most applications do not offer sufficient added functional benefit to the user to offset the additional cost, but we would certainly be willing to make cartridge filter tables if the demand were there.
The tables weigh as follows: 48x48 - 600#, 36x72 - 650#, 48x96 - 1000# - all weights approximate.
Our tables are quiet, with the standard 48x48 and 36x72 tables around 78 db, and the 48x96 an estimated 80db.
The tops are long-lasting (we've replaced only a couple of tops in the last several years), but are not expensive to replace if necessary. The included anti-skid mat (inexpensively replaced) also serves to protect the top surface if that is a concern. Unlike rubberized coatings, the non-skid mats can be removed when not needed, and are easily and cheaply replaced when they become worn.
The standard tables are suitable for typical dry nuisance dusts such as wood shop dust, plastic filings or cuttings, fiberglass or other composite material dust, toner dust, stone dust, dry paint or powder coat dust, and the like. We have even been used in vacuum cleaner maintenance! We can also make your table with explosion-proof motors as required for hazardous vapors or for use with explosive metallic dusts such as aluminum or magnesium. Making the table explosion-proof means that you must properly describe your application so that the proper motors can be specified, and explosion-proof tables are shipped completely unwired as your electrician must remote-mount the starters in a non-hazardous location and run proper explosion-proof conduit to the motors to satisfy codes in your area. Explosion-proof tables are special order items that will require longer lead times and may be substantially higher in cost, depending upon the application.
If you want to do some light spray painting on the table, explosion-proof motors (see above) and special pre-filter units are available.
HEPA filtered (99.97%) tables are available by special order, and HEPA filter refit kits are available for most existing tables. HEPA filters utilize very expensive filter media, and are quite costly to implement in a sanding table, both in initial cost and in ongoing filter replacement.
Most tables are shipped 3 to 4 weeks after receipt of the order, though special sizes and explosion-proof tables will take longer.
The assembled tables are functionally slightly superior to the kit-built tables as the steel tube construction is stronger, they have more filter area for a given size table, and somewhat better filter sealing.
We will happily supply references for our tables. In general, we have sold units to small cabinet shops, large furniture factories (many with multiple tables), schools, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, a famous motorcycle manufacturer, musical instrument companies, plastics fabricators, NASA, the US Army, the US Air Force, and even to the US House of Representatives! You would recognize many of the names.
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Questions about Table Kits
Does the kit perform as well as the ready made table?
What materials do I have to supply?
How long does it take to build a table?
What do the kits weigh?
Do the kits hold up as well as the factory made tables?
What is the lead time on kits?
Properly constructed kit-built tables will be slightly less efficient than the equivalent ready made tables since they have somewhat less filter area than the equivalent size finished table. The practical difference in usage is small and will mean somewhat more frequent filter cleaning. In addition, the assembled tables utilize steel construction, making them stronger.
You will have to supply about four sheets of plywood (or equivalent scrap lumber, particleboard, or what-have-you), a few pieces of lumber for the top frame and a 4x4 for the base skids, the motor starter or switch for single-phase kits (starters included with three-phase kits only), wiring from the switch or starter to the motor, a power cord or wiring to the power supply from the starter, screws, a couple of hinges, some expanded metal or hardware cloth, odd hardware items and the like. We don't try to include anything that you might be likely to "scrounge" from your scrap pile or can buy as easily and cheaply as we, thus keeping kit prices as low as possible.
The time required to build a kit varies considerably with the skill of the builder, the materials and equipment available, and the amount of time dedicated to the task (stopping and starting frequently add considerable to the overall time required). We recommend that you call us if you are considering having your production personnel construct a kit - you might be better served buying a finished table.
The kits weigh as follows: 48x48 - 250 to 300#, 36x72 - 250 to 300#, 48x96 - 300 to 400#.
The kit-built tables hold up in daily usage as well as the factory built tables do, with the proviso that the factory tables use heavy steel tubing frames which are less prone to damage from day to day handling and impacts.
Most kits are shipped 2 to 4 weeks ARO.
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Tips & Tricks
If you use the orbital sanders with the built-in dust collection system, it is a simple matter to attach a fitting to the table top which will allow the sander's dust collection system to be routed to the table rather than to a bag.
If you have a central dust system, you can easily construct a filter cleaning rig as follows: Make a box (wood or sheet metal) into which the filter size you wish to clean will fit pretty closely. Attach a 4" suction line with blast gate from your central dust system. Then, to clean filters, merely place them into the box with the dirty side in, open the blast gate, and use an air gun to blow the dust off the filters. We provide a drawing with all orders.
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How Did DUSKITS get Started ?
DUSKITS grew out of our founder's long association with the furniture components manufacturing business. His company needed sanding tables, and, after buying a table, he decided that "we could build the things ourselves and save some money". In fact, they did build about a half dozen tables, and did (eventually) save some money. It then occurred to him that others might also want to benefit from the knowledge gained through research in design, construction, and sources of parts, and DUSKITS was born. Later, we created our line of finished tables to serve those who, for whatever reason, did not want to build their own tables but who still wanted to have a first class unit at a considerable savings over comparable tables on the market.
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What is your Warranty ?
While DUSKITS does not have a written warranty as such, it is our policy to have no unsatisfied customers, and we have always done our best in that direction. If we have any unhappy customers, we aren't aware of it, and we certainly don't intend to make any now!
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What else can you do?
Over the last several years, we have made special sized tables, tables of varying heights (and adjustable height), tables with casters, tables with "wings" for sanding chair frames, high capacity tables, and specialized tables for particular applications (in-line sanding on a conveyor line, for instance). If you have a special requirement, contact us and we'll do our best to help you. Finally, we sell a line of special gloves which contain a visco-elastic gel which mitigates the effect of the constant vibration from the orbital sander. Prices on request.