Blast Cabinet

[oliver2-44 9,922]

Santa coming and I'm thinking a Blast Cabinet would be a good addition to my shop.

 I have a compressor that puts out 10.8 CFM @ 90psi.

I currently have  Harbor Freight 40lb  sand blaster. It works fair if I stay with the finer media otherwise it plugs easily.. 

 

I'm interested to hear what SIZE other find most useful, 

I know bigger is better but cost is limiting factor.

Also any comments on which one flow best with which type media

 

Has anyone found plans on the internet to build their own?

 

I'm wondering if I could build a "blast box" where I would use my sand blaster and the box have a gopper to help me recycle the media.

 

Any suggestions are appreciated. 

[Wishin4a416 2,191]

Lots of plans on the net. Just google DIY blast cabinet. Good Luck. Mine does not like the Black Beauty. I have to use the finer Plasters sand.

[rmaynard 15,719]

My neighbor purchased the Harbor Freight floor cabinet sand blaster a couple of years ago.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-capacity-floor-blast-cabinet-68893.html

 

It was cheap. With coupon I think it was $169.00. Very time consuming to assemble, leaks easily, and has poor internal lighting. It does a good job if you use the right media. We use 80 grit glass beads. However, the plexiglass window needs to be covered with protective sheets. They provide about 10, but have no part number for reordering.

 

PROS: Cheap, works well for small to medium size parts.

CONS: Difficult to assemble, poor lighting, leaks, no protective sheets available after initial supply is gone, not large enough to do a hood, fender pan, or frame.

[rmaynard 15,719]

I might also add that you need a good high volume shop vac to suck the dust out. Also, If you get one of these, I would get a couple banks of high intensity LED lights to mount on the inside. Seeing what you are doing is next to impossible with the standard fluorescent lighting they provide.

[pacer 3,174]

My experience with the HF cabinet is different from Maynards -- I have had the large HF cabinet for some 4 years now and and is arguably in the top 2-3 tools in my shop, I'm constantly going by it and cleaning anything from a rusted bolt/nut up to what ever will fit in the cabinet.

 

You DO have to assemble it and while a bit 'fiddly' I didnt find it to be that big a deal. I DID pay attention to any area that could possibly be leak prone and caulked or added weather stripping to a few places, it has little to no leakage.

 

The gun that came with it was not useable - the design of it caused a venturi effect at the tip causing condensation thereby causing 'clumping' of the media (any media I tried) Changing to the gun shown below solved all that problem. (Since my cabinet is older, HF may have changed the design) I have had one of these - very inexpensive - kits for many years and is my go to for large pieces, just setting up out in the yard and letting it fly.

 

I use fine Black Beauty for out side blasting, (any thing coarser than fine in Black Beauty will clog my guns)

Then I use a media from "Tacoma company" --

http://stores.ebay.com/tacomacompany/Media-Blends-/_i.html?_fsub=2605752010&_sid=739735460&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Called "power blend" for the cabinet

 

Here the kicker in most cases -- it takes a LOT of air to media blast, with a 2 stage compressor really needed to realize/gain the wonderful benefits of blasting. My compressor is rated at 19 CFM and when I'm doing a largish piece it will run constantly, but will hold some where around 80-100 psi. Thats not to say that any compressor wont do blasting, what happens is you will get an initial burst of air and the gun will perform well, but will quickly fall off and will not move the media, pausing and letting the compressor recover and get another short burst of use (this is where the CFM figure comes in)

 

Another kicker is the dust inside the cabinet - it will be BAD, requiring some means of getting it out of there ...

 

Lighting - ya gotta have it! The small fluorescent light in my cabinet performed very well for some 3 yrs and when it failed, I simply went to Home Depot and got one of the inexpensive 24"  'under the cabinet' fixtures and mounted it in there, to my old tired eyes it give plenty of light

 

 

[squonk 41,637]

Go to TP Tools. All you need to know about blasting. I used to have a home made cabinet with all TP components. I strongly recommend one of their vacs and carbide nozzles

 

http://tptools.com/

[Fun Engineer 859]

I have an older HF cabinet with the high top florescent light. I have had very few problems with mine. I'm very happy with it.

It went together pretty well but it would help to have an extra pair of hands.

Mine does not leak except when you open the door as the moulded plastic door has dimples that hold whatever media your using. I'm just in the habit of slapping the door a few times to dislodge most of the media. If you look for areas that might leak while your putting it together that's the time to do more foam or caulk sealing.

My gun works ok but pacers upgrade is a good idea. I may try that using the gun from my gravity blaster.

I agree with Bob that a high capacity shop vac is a must. I use a hepa filter bag filter in addition to the regular cylinder shaped filter. The only problem I have with evacuating the dust is that it also picks up a lot of the media which goes to waste. I tried to make an interior baffle to try to make the media drop before being sucked into the vac hose but it didn't work. This past year I altered a 5 gallon bucket to act as a mini cyclone filter in hopes that I can separate more media before it reaches the vacuum. Haven't had a chance to test it yet. I think it needs to be taller.

My lighting is adequate but could be better. The plastic shields for the light and viewing glass are a must and can be ordered from Www.harborfreight.com.

The light protector films are item #29325 and were $1.00ea.

The window (Protection) film is # 29448 and were $1.00ea. FYI their ceramic nozzle kit is # 29227 includes 4 different size nozzles and was $2.75/kit.

I always order about 10 each of the protectors because of the shipping cost.

Mike is right. TP has a lot of good info.

I hope this helps you in your decision.

Sent from my tractor seat.

Edited November 23, 2014 by Fun Engineer

[Fun Engineer 859]

Forgot to mention, besides everyone else's comments, a good water separator is absolutely necessary. Your compressor will generate a lot of moisture and will contribute to clogs.

Sent from my tractor seat.

[rmaynard 15,719]

I loaned a 16 gallon Craftsman shop vac to my neighbor. I have a special filter installed that is made from Goretex. I used these when I was in the business of refilling laser toner cartridges back in the 1990's. Best darned filter I have ever seen. Since this vac is used exclusively for the blast cabinet, all the glass beads in the bottom of the vac are reused. I have found that the recycled beads work well until they become dull reddish brown. At that time I figure there is enough rust and red paint mix in that it's time to recharge the cabinet with fresh media.

[Geno 1,929]

Usually they show up on CL.  For dust I use a regular dust collector made for a sandblaster. 

Edited November 23, 2014 by Geno

[km3h 543]

I just bought this one on Friday for $125.00 on CraigsList.  Don't know what make it is but there is a sticker on it that says it came from Tool Shed.

 

It is 36"x24"x36". Has a florecent light on the top and a home made foot pedal that works great. Took me about 40 minutes to do the rear wheel for my 416-H. I havbe a 5hp, 80 gal tank compressor and it ran continually.  I bought a dryer but did not install it yet. A dryer is a must as I saw evidence of moisture while doing the wheel.

 

 

[Geno 1,929]

Good looking unit Nick.     Where you been hiding lately? 

[Shynon 7,470]

I have a Harbor freight unit also, run with black blast, replace gun and new gloves recently. All tractor parts are blasted clean for restore. Does what I need it for would like to have some thing bigger as frames, hoods and fender pans do not fit.  I am interested in different media, may have to try some from this topic and see how it works.

 

                    Tom

[oliver2-44 9,922]

Thanks for all the good info to get me started!

[squonk 41,637]

Tp also has good info on moisture removal. Use iron pipe and risers as branch feeders. I followed their recomendations and had very few moisture problems

[km3h 543]

Good looking unit Nick.     Where you been hiding lately? 

I go into hibernation during daylight saving time. It depresses me.

[Geno 1,929]

Does that to me too.  The days start getting longer in less than a month!