Blast Cabinet Problems

[KC9KAS 4,744]

I have a Harbor Freight blast cabinet. I tried to use it last weekend, but had problems.

The media hose wanted to collapse and not feed the media.

It has the metal tube at the end of the hose that pushes down into the media.

Have other folks had this problem? How did you fix it?

[squonk 42,579]

What kind of media? Sounds like the tube is clogging and a vacuum is collapsing the hose.Get this catalog. Lot's of good blasting tips inside! 

 

http://www.tptools.com/

[Ed Kennell 40,513]

Dirt and dampness are usually  the culprits.

[JPWH 6,256]

Look where the hose attaches to the tube. The hose can get too far and not let air between the tubes. I cut mine at an angle so it would not create a seal at that point.

[V-Four 34]

2 hours ago, JPWH said:

Look where the hose attaches to the tube. The hose can get too far and not let air between the tubes. I cut mine at an angle so it would not create a seal at that point.

+1

 

I'm not familiar with this exact brand, but in general a 'suction type' blast cab needs to pull in air as well as media.

(Not just the 'compressed air' running the unit)

 

I hope that didn't make things more confusing for you.

[KC9KAS 4,744]

10 hours ago, JPWH said:

Look where the hose attaches to the tube. The hose can get too far and not let air between the tubes. I cut mine at an angle so it would not create a seal at that point.

?? Have a photo?

Brand new, medium, black diamond blast media.

It is clean & dry.

I bought a new stiffer, clear hose. I can see the media being pulled up to the nozzle, but it is not being pushed out of the gun to do any blasting.

I took the nozzle off the gun (several times) and there is no clogs.

This is really pi$$ing me off!

 

[Fun Engineer 859]

I've had to take my HF gun apart several times over the years due to large pieces of media or waste from the parts I'm blasting plugging the gun. Check the nozzle and the air valve. Seems to me that I had to clean each of these at least once. Good luck. 

[Shynon 7,475]

1 hour ago, Fun Engineer said:

I've had to take my HF gun apart several times over the years due to large pieces of media or waste from the parts I'm blasting plugging the gun. Check the nozzle and the air valve. Seems to me that I had to clean each of these at least once. Good luck. 

[JPWH 6,256]

I can get you a picture tomorrow. If you have media going up the tube then it's no what I was thinking. As others have said sounds like a blockage in the gun. You can try holding the trigger open with the air and media disconnected and blow air into nozzle. It may dislodge the blockage. 

[Aldon 4,828]

connect a tube or pipe in parallel with the feed tube that extends an 8th inch below the bottom of the feed tube. It needs to be long enough that it always is above the media on the upper end. This allows air to feed the media more easily into the feed tube. Greatly enhanced mine.

 

I also went to hardware store and purchased a stiffer feed tubing.

 

Edited May 18, 2016 by Aldon

[squonk 42,579]

The orifice in the gun isn't missing is it?  I had a customer who bought a cheapie drop in the bucket sandblaster from one of those traveling tool shows. He went to use it and nothing would come out. He brought it to me and I took out the nozzle and no orifice. I was lucky enough at the time to get a parts breakdown of the Napa model and ordered it for him.

 

I have a brand new never used yet HF cabinet in my shop. I probably should open up the gun and check it. I plan on getting a TP gun with carbide nozzles someday. Depends on how much I end up using this cab.

[KC9KAS 4,744]

OK, I bought an up-graded gun/hose/media pick-up tube from TP Tools, and I am now a "sand-blasting fool".

Now if I only had light to see what I was blasting!!