[rancheroo]

I've got a buddy at work that's talking about getting a 4' wide sand blasting cabinet. He's got one picked out (can't remember the name tho) that has glass almost all of the way across the front, a trap door in the bottom to drop out all of the media, dual flood lights, foot pedal.....

Any words of wisdom out there? I told him I'd post here (hoping to hear back from F15 & others) to see if there were any brands to stay away from, brands to chose from, or to see if there were any other 'must have' features.

Thanks in advance, Rick

 

[ckelly]

I intend to make one - will get replacement cabinet gloves from Nothern, some lexan from Lowes or a piece of glass, a couple of sheets of OSB, a 2x4 or two and just build one. I can't see paying $300~$500 for one.

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

4 feet across???? All I've ever been able to fit in a blast cabinet is up to my elbows... he's going to have to have some LOOOOONG arms to really get the full effect of it... Outside in the back with a siphon bucket and a mask and face shield is where I do all mine....

FE

 

[Mr.Ed]

I used a big cardboard box with two layer corrugated cardboard. Did all the small parts for my sons Mustang and my T-Bird. Still have the box with the small glass window for viewing and another on the top where I lay the drop light. Works very well and very inexpensive. I put the stuff in the end and close it back up again. I also put an old shop vac that had the discharges hose in a small hole witht the discharge going through the wall to the outside. Keeps the inside of the box and the garage clear.

Later!
Mr. Ed

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

my neighbor has that same setup Mr Ed.! Thumbs up!

_________________
I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have ourselves!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: FEandGoingBroke on 3/22/06 5:02am ]</font>

 

[rancheroo]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm looking for info on a store bought 4' wide blast cabinet. A carboard box is more my style, but this fella is dead set on buying a big bad ass Johnny Holmes blast cabinet.

Rick

 

[retyler]

Harbor Freight, can't hardly beat the price. An old fire extinguisher makes a great pressurized blaster to use with a home made cabinet.

 

[Murff]

My wife got me a bench top blast cabinet for xmas a few years ago. is about 28x28x28, hinged at top, probably seen the style on ebay or Harbor Freight.

Now, I love my wife but what a POS this cabinet turned out to be. Siphon tube across the bottom is about the only thing that doesn't suck. I think it's a media resistant siphon tube. Media stays as far from the siphon holes as possible. The hose to the gun is way too stiff to use comfortably, door seals leak, wah wah wah. I've had it completely apart twice to re-align and try different tubes, etc.

Tell your buddy not to cheap out. If he wants a cabinet then go for it with gusto. He'll need a good compressor and inline driers. Also make sure he gets one big enough to do what needs to be done. The one I have isn't even big enough to clean up a yard sale intake in one trip.

One more thing I would reccomend - a shaker. Some sort of motor mounted to the side or back of the cabinet to keep the nedia moving down.

As to this little red beauty of mine, if I don't pitch it over the fence then the first yard sale my wife has, out it goes for best offer over $5.

 

[rancheroo]

Murph, thanks for the response. I know several folks that have similar POS cabinets. In fact the fella that's looking to buy the new cabinet has a smaller Harbor Freight cabinet that's an absolute turd. He said that once the filter gets clogged it actually starts to balloon.

I volunteered to run this question by the experts at FM so that he wouldn't end up with a 4' POS to go with his 2' POS.

Thanks again, Rick

 

[ckelly]

If you need racing fuel - or know someone that uses it, pop for 15 gallons of VP in a drum. Drink the VP then use the drum as a base for your blast cabinet. Fill that drum at least 1/2 with sand and I'll bet the pickup tube stays burried. Those drums are so cute!
http://www.vpracingfuels.com/vp_01_fuels.html#

 

[v8shadow]

I am using the HF blast cabinet you are referring to. I took the filter out of the equation and use the house vac in its place to ventilate the dust. It is a simple example of you get what you pay for though. Other units are so expensive they make no sense at all!! They should tell people that use of a cabinet should be done with a compressor that has no less than 60Gal tank. The big 220 volt ones. I used mine to blast my spindles for the brake upgrade. Later on, I do want a bigger one though. These guys that make cabinets out of cardboard intrigue me though. That is probably the route I will go when this little cabinet wont be big enough.

 

[rayell]

With all of the blasting of HF cabinets, I wonder if I am missing something?

I have a 3 year old 36" HF cabinet. It is the most used and appreciated tool that I have. Never any problems except for the light. I threw it away and put a 12v driving light in it. Now I have no problems.

 

[tonys10sec306]

i might have to make me one!!