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What sandblasting cabinet to get
- Thread starter alexmin
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
No matter which one you get, whether it be from Harbor Freight or some other place get one with a good light in it.
Its just a box with a glass you can put some protective clear film on to keep from scratching it all up in the end. I've had a Harbor Freight big one for a long time. Hooked up what is actually a smaller compressor to it and then ran a bladder tank off it. Works great everytime. I think the only difference between a better quality one and a cheaper one is the seal they have. The cheaper ones let a lot more dust out of the cabinet but you can improve those greatly with rubber sealer strips like for your storm doors and some duct tape on the cheaper ones and save money. Thats what I did.
STR
Its just a box with a glass you can put some protective clear film on to keep from scratching it all up in the end. I've had a Harbor Freight big one for a long time. Hooked up what is actually a smaller compressor to it and then ran a bladder tank off it. Works great everytime. I think the only difference between a better quality one and a cheaper one is the seal they have. The cheaper ones let a lot more dust out of the cabinet but you can improve those greatly with rubber sealer strips like for your storm doors and some duct tape on the cheaper ones and save money. Thats what I did.
STR
- Joined
- Nov 24, 1999
- Messages
- 132
Check out www.tptools.com.
What's great about this company is their service, and they always have the right parts in stock.
Al P.
www.polkowskiknives.com
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 3,375
It is probably due to the fact that silica sand is very hard on the lungs. Siliceous, I believe is the name of the affection, similar to asbestoses. Not good. For them to recommend sand they would need 100% sealing. External blasters wear a hood with supplied air. I would stick to glass beads, steel shot, walnut hulls or starblast with a cabinet and if dust was escaping my cabinet, do what I could to eliminate the leaks and wear your respirator. Even the dust from the material being blasted is not good for you. Especially if it has lead, zinc, chrome, nickel etc etc etc
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2003
- Messages
- 5,699
I use a product i get at one of my local hardware stores called "Black Beauty" which is a pulverized slag. A bag almost heavier than you can pick up cost 10 bucks.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 3,375
Yes, I believe starblast is the brand name for copper slag which makes a excellent media a bit softer and lighter than steel shot.
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2007
- Messages
- 49
I recently put together a "cheapie", large enough to clean up aluminum rims and such.
As suggested, a good light is a must.
My cabinet leaks like a sieve. I'm going to clean it out and seal the seams with silicone, something I knew I should have done during assembly (...but assembly was a bitch enough by itself!).
It came with a supply of a dozen Mylar sheets with adhesive on the edges to protect the inside of the glass window. I couldn't see fer shit through it, so I said "the hell with that!", and decided I'll be as careful as I can, and when the time comes, I'll just have a new piece of glass cut (-or buy a new cabinet that doesn't leak.
).
The next thing I have to do, from experience with an older, smaller cabinet I had, is to get a gizmo for the compressor that filters out the condensation that builds up inside it. I don't know what they're called. Basically it's a filter of some sort with a glass bowl that catches the liquid. I have a small compressor, and I suspect it may be more susceptible to building condensation than a larger one would be. But it sure is a PITA when the blasting media gets clogged up in the hose.
Another important component is a mini shop vac for dust removal and media recovery. In my cabinet there's a hole in the side, about 2.75 inches, with a plastic collar sealed and screwed to it. A shop vac fits nicely on it, but I have installed a screen coffee filter in between, pointing inside the cabinet, which helps to keep most of the media from escaping into the vac.
As air goes in, equal air must come out. Better more vacuum than blowing so as to keep dust out of your way of vision.
And finally, my cheapie was made in China, and I had to order USA made gloves for it because my hands wouldn't fit in the damned gloves provided! (-And I don't have very big hands.)
I got them on Ebay really cheap.
As suggested, a good light is a must.
My cabinet leaks like a sieve. I'm going to clean it out and seal the seams with silicone, something I knew I should have done during assembly (...but assembly was a bitch enough by itself!).
It came with a supply of a dozen Mylar sheets with adhesive on the edges to protect the inside of the glass window. I couldn't see fer shit through it, so I said "the hell with that!", and decided I'll be as careful as I can, and when the time comes, I'll just have a new piece of glass cut (-or buy a new cabinet that doesn't leak.
). The next thing I have to do, from experience with an older, smaller cabinet I had, is to get a gizmo for the compressor that filters out the condensation that builds up inside it. I don't know what they're called. Basically it's a filter of some sort with a glass bowl that catches the liquid. I have a small compressor, and I suspect it may be more susceptible to building condensation than a larger one would be. But it sure is a PITA when the blasting media gets clogged up in the hose.
Another important component is a mini shop vac for dust removal and media recovery. In my cabinet there's a hole in the side, about 2.75 inches, with a plastic collar sealed and screwed to it. A shop vac fits nicely on it, but I have installed a screen coffee filter in between, pointing inside the cabinet, which helps to keep most of the media from escaping into the vac.
As air goes in, equal air must come out. Better more vacuum than blowing so as to keep dust out of your way of vision.
And finally, my cheapie was made in China, and I had to order USA made gloves for it because my hands wouldn't fit in the damned gloves provided! (-And I don't have very big hands.)
I got them on Ebay really cheap.