Barrel Blaster, Blast Cabinet

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
2,045
If anyone needs a blast cabinet, I would highly recommend the Barrel Blaster:

http://www.barrelblaster.com/BarrelBlaster1.htm

After years of searching, I finally went with this one, and couldn't be happier. :)

The fellow who runs the operation is one of the good guys. He builds an excellent cabinet (nice welds, heavy duty construction, quality gun), which is much better in terms of performance and use than any Harbor Freight product ... and it's made in the USA!

Check it out if you need one. :) :thumbup:
 
I have one of these on my wish list. Good to hear a positive review from a fellow knifemaker. Thanks for posting. By the way, what size compressor are you using with it?
 
Hey Darrin,

Just using my goofy Lowe's 20 gallon air compressor right now (set at 80 psi -the manufacturer recommends 80 psi). With 80 grit abrasive, it'll put a nice matte finish on hardened ATS-34 in a few passes -only issue is that the compressor needs to catch up after approx. 20 seconds. Currently, I'm just using it to clean and etch tangs before applying epoxy and scales.

I purchased an 80 gallon 5HP reciprocating air compressor a few weeks ago, can't wait to try it with that, CFM is a lot higher and I've heard that it'll have no problem powering a blast cabinet. ;)
 
Mine is a 20 Gal. cap. also but it will go to 120 PSI. When I do manage to get one I'll probably have to get a new compressor but I'm gonna try plumbing in an additional tank before buying a new one. Anyone know if this will work. Thanks again.
 
Cool stuff, thanks Marcus :) I thought about building one when I first saw them a couple years ago, but I can't procure the parts and the time to build one for that price. I like that it's an American made product as well!!! :thumbup: :cool: :)
 
thanks for the link, im going to buy one of those, right now I have to drive to my gunsmiths (John Gallagher) and use his bead blast cabinet.
 
The Barrel blaster looks nice. Great idea!

I use a blast cabinet quite a bit in my Cerakote work. I have a few questions:

#1) Does it have a light? I cannot tell if the barrel blaster has a light. Having a light is required. Blasting in the dark is no fun.

#2) How far down into the hopper does the media siphon tube go? It is best to run with as little media as possible. The tub should be 1" off the bottom. This way the media size stays uniform (it degrades with use) and it is cheaper to replace the whole batch. Fresh media blasts better.

#3) I see no foot pedal. How do you turn on/off the airflow? A good media blast system has a foot pedal. Period.

I use a harbor freight unit that has a professional gun and foot pedal. Total cost about $500. I had to "upgrade" the media siphon tube so I could run with about 5# media instead of 30#! I can blast about 75 folder blades per hour when I am in tip top operating shape.

A #4 nozzle at 80 psi runs my 60 gallon 13.5 cfm compressor at a 90% duty cycle. I really wish I had a bit more compressor. To go to the next one up nearly doubled the cost.
 
In answering your questions:

Darrin, you'll need a larger compressor to get the most out of the setup -it's not the psi, it's the CFM that you'll be using. I'd leave the psi @ 80, and just go with a compressor that has higher flow.

I'm using aluminum oxide abrasive.

It does have a light, switch is on top of the cabinet ... it uses a 75 Watt floodlight bulb. You get great visibility.

The siphon tube goes all the way down the hopper, can't remember exactly how far, but I think it is about 1" away from the "funnel."

I don't use or need a foot pedal ... there's a trigger on the gun.
 
Thanks for the review Flatgrinder. I have been looking at the Barrel Blaster for a while. After Blade I can focus on a cabinet. I've got a compressor ready to go, just need a cabinet. I like what I've read online about this one. Glad you like it!
 
flatgrinder said:
In answering your questions:
It does have a light, switch is on top of the cabinet ... it uses a 75 Watt floodlight bulb. You get great visibility.
Click to expand...

nice, bright light, plus keeps your hands warm in the winter.

The siphon tube goes all the way down the hopper, can't remember exactly how far, but I think it is about 1" away from the "funnel."
Click to expand...

Perfect. Lower the better.

I don't use or need a foot pedal ... there's a trigger on the gun.
Click to expand...

Actually, if you have a gun with a plunger style valve. The kind in which you pull a trigger, you are certain to have problems. The inside of a blast cabinet is a very abrasive environment. So much so we put nothing in there we don't want blasted. The plunger style will erode over time and begin leaking air, causing your compressor to work harder than necessary.

My guess is you will get 20-40 hours out of that style gun. That should give you some time to find a used gun and foot pedal setup. They never go bad.

No matter what, the inside of a blast cabinet is a bad place for things we do not plan to blast. The life of any moving parts is shortened.
 
If you go to the website for The Barrel Blaster they have several option, including a foot pedal and ceramic nozzles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top