Blast Cabinet

[sicivicdude]

You can get more years out of it if you line the inside with metal. Like from a trash picked dryer or fridge.its thick and free

I was thinking about it. I have some "5 v" tin roofing laying around that I could line the inside with as a sacrificial layer but I'm concerned about how much noise it might make while using it.

So your a sort of expert on all kinds of blasters! Yamaha and sand.. will you be able to recirculate the blast media with this setup? The aluminum oxide seems to work pretty well for me. Guess i was lucky to find my topload for 20 bucks. I found safety glass lasts a little longer than the plexi as well.

You were VERY lucky to find a blasting cabinet for $20...

This will recycle the media. I'll be building a pickup tube to integrate into the bottom of the funnel and feeding the blaster handle in the first picture.

I'm planning on getting aluminum oxide (removing coatings) and glass beads (blasting aluminum cases) to use.

Here is the one I'm using now, beside the one I was upgrading from. The big one is from HF as well, I think its about $1000 and the dust removal system is about $150. It's big enough to do frames in if you extend the hose and take out the grate floor but it's not fun. The biggest draw back to this one is it needs a big compressor. I have a 5hp 60 gal rated for 18.6 CFM and 90 PSI and it would keep up with the cabinet above 60 PSI. I demo'd a 7.5 HP 80 gal for a couple weeks here when I was coating heavy. The 7.5 kept up til about 90 psi through a #7 (7mm opening). For that size nozzle using big angular grit media it would take a 10 hp 80 gallon (about 33 cfm at 125 PSI) to have all I could use and That puts you into the $3000 range for the compress. I don't think I've ever done anything more boring than blasting, I hate it.

Was there supposed to be pictures in that? I like pictures.

My air compressor capacity is DEFINITELY a short coming. I have a relatively small air compressor (it's rated at 5 cfm @ 90psi) so much more than intermittent use of the blaster that I already have is prohibitive. I am going to be using the blaster that I already have inside the cabinet so I should be ok for the near future.

 

[92f150300six]

Wonder if you sprayed bed liner on the back of the metal before you hung it if that would help keep the noise down?

 

[sicivicdude]

Wonder if you sprayed bed liner on the back of the metal before you hung it if that would help keep the noise down?

I'm sure I could put some sort of sound deadening behind it to cut down on it some but for the time being, I think I'm just going to use the plywood as is and see how it does.

Even if it eats it up pretty fast, I still have so very little in the construction of the cabinet that I won't be out much at all.

 

[blasterBruce]

Nice work SCD ! , Not sure how I Didn't notice this yesterday

 

[dksix]

Was there supposed to be pictures in that? I like pictures.

Sorry, forgot to paste the link

We have a Harbor Freight local, I've been able to get some great deals on some bigger items. I have this compressor 60 Gallon Air Compressor - 2 Stage, 5 HP, 165 PSI . Looking at it now I see that I got the flow wrong, it's 15.8 CFM at 90 PSI, not 18.6. Running at 60 psi, the compressor cycles on and off. That's where is use it most of the time. I've done some heavily rusted parts, like exhaust manifolds, where I would go up to 110 psi (that's the maximum that I could get to the cabinet through 40' of 1/2" plumbing) but after 10-12 minutes straight the pressure will drop below 75 psi.

 

[sicivicdude]

Man, you guys have cool toys....

One of these days!

I did some work tonight actually and I'm fairly close to being ready to test actually... I cut the sides of the "funnel" part, cut the "door", boxed in the front panel (where the "door" will be)with 2x2's, and cut strips and attached them to the legs to box them in.

It's MUCH stronger now that it's boxed internally and the legs are straight and strong. I still have the front and back of the "funnel", and the strip on top to cut out.

Then I have to make the "drain" for the bottom of the "funnel", the grate for the bottom, mount the pieces to slide the plexi in, mount the "door" and start working on the cyclone system. Moving right along though! Pics later after I get them on photobucket.

 

[dksix]

Wood holds up better than you would think for the inside of a blasting cabinet. Wood being relatively soft absorbs the energy retained in the media from the distance that you would be holding the gun. You will get more wear on the walls of the funnel, with the media always sliding down.

 

[OConnor Racing]

Just so we're both on the same page Civic...............I'M NOT HARRASING YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! The stilts you're supporting the cabinet on look very weak. You may want to incorporate some 4 x 4 legs to support the weight of the parts, sand and your big ass. Trust me, once you get the gloves on and start blasting, you're going to start leaning on the cabinet. I would hate to see the thing tip over and break your arms, or a stilt snap and break your leg. Why not just build the base out of steel? It's cheap enough and it's a great foundation for future modifications to the cabinet. If you want to buy new, check out Sc at Blast. I have one and it works great. About $700.

 

[sicivicdude]

Just so we're both on the same page Civic...............I'M NOT HARRASING YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! The stilts you're supporting the cabinet on look very weak. You may want to incorporate some 4 x 4 legs to support the weight of the parts, sand and your big ass. Trust me, once you get the gloves on and start blasting, you're going to start leaning on the cabinet. I would hate to see the thing tip over and break your arms, or a stilt snap and break your leg. Why not just build the base out of steel? It's cheap enough and it's a great foundation for future modifications to the cabinet. If you want to buy new, check out Sc at Blast. I have one and it works great. About $700.

I know that not every post of yours is harassment just a "tense" time a little while ago

I thought about 2x4's for the posts but I had 3 2x4's and needed some 2x2's anyway for the internal parts so I went with 2x2's for the legs too. Maybe a gigantic mistake in the long run but if it is, at least the "box" was cheap enough to build that I can afford to throw it in the burn pit and roast some marshmellows over it if it doesn't withstand the test of time.

I went with wood because, well, I had some laying around. The crate that the Smithy came in was just sitting, disassembled, beside the shop BEGGING to be turned into a blasting cabinet! I:I so I decided to just use all of that plywood I already had to make what I needed.

Maybe at some point in the future I'll get a wild hair and build one out of steel or purchase a new one from TP tools etc. For now, I'm working on a budget of $0 and the angle iron isn't an option

Link to the one you're talking about?

 

[sicivicdude]

It wasn't boxed in at all last night...

Now it looks like this and I was toying with the idea of making a shelf to go between the legs and "funnel" to solidify it some more. Make a nice storage spot too for small parts like other nozzles for the blaster...

 

[dksix]

Scat Blast cabinets are sold by TP tools, thats where I linked for the parts. Ken is right, the Scat Blast cabinets are really good heavy, last a life time cabinets and have the best siphon tube set up on the market. The double tube makes a big difference and they aren't all equal. The tube set from the China cabinets look the same but I'd guess the Scat blast tubes get 50% more media flow. I've got an extra trigger gun with a new carbide tip and maybe some jet nozzles that you can have. I've kept it for a back up but I've not used my cabinet in a year or so, I'm probably not going to be needing a back up.

 

[sicivicdude]

Scat Blast cabinets are sold by TP tools, thats where I linked for the parts. Ken is right, the Scat Blast cabinets are really good heavy, last a life time cabinets and have the best siphon tube set up on the market. The double tube makes a big difference and they aren't all equal. The tube set from the China cabinets look the same but I'd guess the Scat blast tubes get 50% more media flow. I've got an extra trigger gun with a new carbide tip and maybe some jet nozzles that you can have. I've kept it for a back up but I've not used my cabinet in a year or so, I'm probably not going to be needing a back up.

Scat Blast! I didn't put two and two together when there was a space in there....

I knew the place before actually, a coworker of mine has their 780 (pre 780 Top Load model) and I looked at his for a lot of the size ideas for my box. His is a really nice unit (their stuff is truly built for life!) but by the time he had it delivered, the "$450" cabinet was $600 sitting in his garage.

Their siphon system is also VERY good but also uses quite a bit more air than I have available. I know this little gun I already have works relatively well with the limited air supply I have currently even if the blasting rate is lower than that setup. Concessions at the expense of productivity but the advantage of cost....

One of these days maybe I'll get a TP tools model cabinet and matching large compressor...

 

[dksix]

We had a Scat Blast at the plant (a 960 Pro), which was without an issue for several years. The huge side opening door left no desire for a top opening door, except when trying to get a new window cover on straight. I would have bought a Scat Cat for myself but the week before I was going to order it I got a HF sale paper with the 3 door on sale for $599. I had become acquainted with the manager of the local HF store and he really done his customers right. He agreed to take the small cabinet back for full current price ($299) if I ordered the 3 door cabinet, also letting use a 25% off coupon. I ordered it then with the agreement that I could keep the red on until the 3 door came in. I had originally bought the red cabinet on sale for $199 with a 20% off coupon. So I ended up with the 3 door for under $400/$200 out of pocket. That left $1000 in my pocket, which I spent on my Colo-610 Colo 610MH .

 

[sicivicdude]

I got the front and back panels for the "funnel" cut out and braded on today. It formed a near perfect square even thought I just kinda eyeballed the measurements.

I boxed in the bottom with 2x2's and then ran a support under the two sides to the plywood braces on the legs. After attaching those, the cube is very rigid

I went by Northern Tool today and purchased 24" ALC blasting gloves:

ALC Pair Replacement Blasting Cabinet Gloves — 24in. x 6in. | Cabinet Accessories| Northern Tool + Equipment

They're cotton lined from 6" out and have a very strange roughened finish on the entire "hand" part. Should aid greatly in gripping parts.


I also bought 25 lbs of ALC "medium" glass bead media. After opening the tub, I was surprised at how fine it is.

ALC Medium Glass Bead Blasting Abrasive — 25 Lbs. | Blasting Media| Northern Tool + Equipment

I went looking for a decent little "housing" light (not necessarily at the expense of an explosion proof housing but just something to shield the bulb some). Northern tool has one for $12.99

Canarm Ceiling/Wall Light with Cage — 120V, Model# BL04CWG | Hanging Fixture Lights| Northern Tool + Equipment

Of course it's on backorder and no stores have any in stock 8-| so now it's onto plan B, a 100 watt flood light assembly in one upper corner.... I was trying to stay away from an open socket type light because I've heard people say that media gets into the socket threads and can "lock" a bulb into them.

Pictures tomorrow when it's more light out than tonight.

 

[dksix]

I have a light fixture on a magnetic base inside mine that I can move around and aim to where I'm working. It is a big help to blast in a dark room. Have you decided what size glass you are putting in?

 

[little3mil]

good stuff civic. cant wait to see it all done

 

[sicivicdude]

Not done yet but it's getting there.....

The trap door on the bottom, just a hinge on the back and clasp on the front:

 

[nboldman]

I like it! something i might try in the future if it works out!

 

[sicivicdude]

In order to keep down the dust inside the cabinet, it needs to be evacuated all the time. Easiet method? Just stick in a shop vac, just one issue... straight exhaust from the cabinet would block the filter in no time. The solution? A separation cyclone...

Nothing too high tech here, just a tape measure:

Use a piece of wood to guide the plasma cutter:

roll it up:

Weld it to the rest:

It's going to hang on the cabinet sort of like this:

 

[Blaaster]

It's going to hang on the cabinet sort of like this:

Looks nearly good enuff to hang on a bike.