blasting cabinet

[ord27]

that's awesome sahara. Thanks for the info. Thanks everyone.
It would probably be a great time to update the compressor and clear a spot big enough for a decent sized cabinet

 

[69 mayflower]

A blast cabinet is something you will find yourself using more than you think you will, especially when doing a restoration. I started with a small bench top unit and soon discovered it was too small and was a bigger pain in the neck to use, so it didn't get used as much. I found a used snap on unit on craigslist and it works great. I was just about to start building one, had materials all bought when that one came available. Either way I would go just a bit bigger than what you think you will need. A great tool to have in the shop .

 

[wagonman]

Sold my HF floor unit, worked OK but my compressor could not keep up. Now I use the shops big boy pro unit. They have a 80 gallon 220 compressor with another 80 gallon tank salvaged from the old one.

 

[Sahara]

If all your blasting is small stuff, like in car restoration, you can get by with a small compressor. Guys that don’t actually do this will tell you to go large, and large is good, but I used a small compressor made for running a nail gun for years. Even when I upgraded I didn’t go huge.
You’re not blasting bridge girders or ocean going boats.
Here’s how I do it: turn on compressor and leave it run until it pressures up and shuts off. Blast your stuff. For small items like brackets and bolts you’ll be done blasting before you overheat your compressor. By the time you get the next item ready the compressor will have pressured up again. For large items like wheel rims it will take a bit longer, but seriously, you only have so many large items. Probably ninety percent of what you blast will take about two minutes. Also, use real grit. It’s faster. I use fine crushed glass. This stuff is fast cutting and cheap.

 

[493 Mike]

I think TP Tools still offers kits and plans to build your own cabinet.
https://www.tptools.com/
Mike

 

[Sahara]

I think TP Tools still offers kits and plans to build your own cabinet.
https://www.tptools.com/
Mike

If I remember correctly those are the plans I used. I recommend them highly. My cabinet works perfectly. There are little details like where to put the intake and exhaust that make all the difference between.

 

[CudaChick1968]

I have a little benchtop blast cabinet I have never used. It needs a window / laminate from your local glass shop and a pair of gloves but you can get those at TPTools.com.

As timing would have it, these pics came up in my FaceBook Memories today from last year. It's Fate.

Contrary to what may be assumed by the pics, it's clean. If you can live with $30 and cover the shipping it's yours.

Possum not included.

 

[YY1]

You need CFM for blasting.
I don't think a 5 gal is gonna cut it.

I had an 8 CFM 30 gal DeWalt that would barely do a bracket.
Look at 10 CFM and up.
Gallon capacity is irrelevant because as soon as you start blasting the tank is empty.

I have the medium HF cabinet and it has been good.
It's like the ones above but the hopper is internal and no legs.
Mine's mounted on a library media cart from a surplus sale.
It will fit an intake kind if tight, but not a wheel.

 

[amoparlady]

Husband and I have an older snap on we bought used from an auction a year ago.Works good and it was taken care of very well by the previous owner

 

[PRND21]

I bought a TP Skatblast 960 about 20 years ago, works great. At times I wished it was a little bigger, but does just about anything I needed it for. I mainly use glass beads, not the best for extremely rusted steel. There is a little maintenance involved once in awhile, nothing really serious, buy the carbide tips, they last a lot longer. Probably more maintenance on the vacuum than anything else. I have an Ingersoll Rand 5 hp, 80 gallon compressor, no problem keeping up with the blaster. One of those tools that once you get one you’ll never want to do without.

 

[Sahara]

I use one of those cheap dust cyclones that go on top of a five gallon bucket between the cabinet and the shop vac. Works freakin awesome and I recommend it.

 

[YY1]

I just plumbed an empty 5 gal bucket to the outlet with PVC plumbing pipe, and then my shop vac to the bucket.

Bucket acts as a trap to keep most sand out of the vac.

 

[69Bee]

I upgraded, the grey one was just too damn small...

 

[YY1]

...so I was driving down a street about 2 miles from my house, and I see the next size up HF blast cabinet sitting in a parking lot with a bunch of household thrift store type goods.

I pull in and there are a LOT of signs saying things like-

"new owners coming soon, must sell everything!"

"Saturday- last day, everything must go"

and strangely-

"NOT FREE will call police"

I look around and no one is there. While I'm looking for someone about 6 other people stop and ask me if it's my stuff or where the person selling it is.
I finally found a guy doing lawn work, and he said "oh, she's not here today"

Really, everything MUST go by Saturday (it was Wednesday), and you take the day off?

So I come back on Friday (I was off, so I was early).
I pull up and there are tarps over half of the stuff.
There are people there, so I start to ask the lady about the cabinet and before I can finish-
She says "we're not selling anything today"

I was so stunned I didn't even finish asking about the cabinet.
Again, Really? Everything MUST go in the next three days and you're wasting two of them not even being present or not selling and turning people away even though you have potential customers?

WTF?

 

[747mopar]

I bought a cheapo HF cabinet to get me by for now, it's nothing to brag about but gets the job done. The pressure hose and barbs are an absolute joke though, had it blow off and shatter the glass. Replace the hose, hose barb and use fairly fine sand and it will do fine. BTW my compressor puts out about 17 cfm and never falls behind.

What happens when you get a cabinet is you start wanting to put everything in it, fenders, doors, bicycles, lawn furniture, etc... if you've got the money always go BIG! One of my next projects is going to be building a big enough one that I can fit a hood in it if I choose to... monster cabinet lol.

 

[snakeyes]

I had a freind that bought one from Badboys he does some pretty big stuff this isn't his model but I found this short video

 

[ws27]

I upgraded, the grey one was just too damn small...

View attachment 747646 View attachment 747647 View attachment 747648

Please tell us more...

 

[69Bee]

Please tell us more...

What would you like to know? I ordered a 42"x24" clamshell model from "blast it all", and the company I ordered it thru sent the wrong one. I tried it, but hated it. Too small for my needs, and didn't like the reclaimer on the back. It always wanted to tip over as I didn't bolt it down. In a fit of frustration, I ordered a custom job from MBA (Media Blast Assoc), and an very happy with it. I added the rack and trolley system to load heavy items like blocks and diesel heads. The cabinet is 48"x36" and the door opening was raised to 36" over the turntable (40" opening). The reclaimer is at least double the size of the other one, and uses a huge dust filter. The only downfall I see is if I blast smaller stuff out of my hand into the back left corner, I have to use a magnet to retrieve it...

 

[khryslerkid]

If you're on a budget, TSC has one for $100. Works great but they do leak. Use mine outside. You can get a head or intake manifold in it.

Here's a little trick I used for small parts and hardware.

 

[KENTON]

I had a friend with one that I used a few times, while I was running it a static spark would jump from the glass to my nose. It was kinda like playing with the ringer on moms old Maytag.