Thread: Who's got a Sand Blasting Cabinet?

Hi Sterob
I have one I made myself. I have a 14cfm compresser and it can't keep up really(and thats an old 14cfm(the new cfms seem to be much smaller ). So you start and stop to let the pressure build back up a little. I've read that you don't want to cycle the compressor motor to many times an hour as the motor isnt rated for so many starts although I haven't ever had a problem. Some people have an "on override" switch to run the compressor 100% of the time and just let the tank pressure valve vent. As for dust extraction, unless you are going to use it outside its more than desirable. Without it the ones I have seen tend to leak out everywhere. You might be able to make your own if you have a vac in your shed. Also you might be surprised how big a box you need. You need to be able to turn the parts around inside the box so you can get at all sides. Like you I think the ones on ebay look pretty much the same as H&F.
You're talking about something like this?
SANDBLASTER SANDBLAST BENCHTOP CABINET SAND BLASTER NEW (eBay item 400170731281 end time 14-Nov-10 11:10:24 AEDST) : Industrial

Stuart

Dust extraction will be needed weather you want to add it your self or buy it on the unit. You don't say the price range your looking at? If it's the SB200 one at $319 or the SB375 one at $869 one, $550 is a lot to pay for the extraction and would buy a lot of other tools.
The SB375 is only 105 mm longer 90mm wider and 20-30mm higher.
I am not sure of the vacuum system in that unit, but in the Dust Extraction part of this forum there are plenty of cyclonic plans to build one easily and it could be hooked up to your shop vac or any old vacuum for that matter.
DUST EXTRACTION - Woodwork Forums

Since you don't have many projects going,LOL I really do think you should make one like this and be done with it, LOL
DAVE PROPST ARTICLES - Blast Cabinet Part 1



Dave

Sorry guys. I added the prices in an edit but it didn't come through...operator error.
Dave is onto it, it was the SB-200( $319) or the SB-375 ($869).

Yeah, as if I haven't got enough to do ...lol

My pick would be the SB-200( $319) or equivalent off ebay etc, other than the colour maybe, they are all the same and probably came out of the same factory in china anyway.

I have yet to make mine, I have had a hand held one for 10 or so years and it works good. I got desperate for some little parts to be done in winter when I couldn't do it outside, so I used a cardboard box with some clear plastic as a makeshift one, it did the job and was disposable.
I have 3, 8x4 sheets of 2mm sheet here to make one, but if I make it I haven't got any room to put it.

Dave

what do you guys use for grit?
not supposed to use sand...ARE YOU!!

Unless you can get a much better price on the SB-375, I'm with Dave, get the SB-200 and build your own extractor. I'd start with a large shop vac and improve on it only if you find the need and then you'll have a shop vac.

Yeah I have that problem to Dave, I have one but really don't use it often enough for the space it takes. It wouldn't be to hard to make the top part fold down, but you're stuck with the bottom part unless you want to unload the sand and if I had to set it up before I used it I would use it even less. You could mount one "in a wall" if you have the room outside?

Yes eskimo I use sand. Yes, don't beathe the stuff. But I wouldn't breathe the other stuff either.
Stuart

Hi Sterob ,
I have a Chinese Cabinet exactly like the one you posted the photo of . And i have a 14CFM air compressor and i have the same problem as Stustoys the compressor cant keep the air up to the blaster fast enough . I use a cheap GMC shop vac for Dust extraction and after i put mine together i used caulking to seal up all the panel joint on the cabinet as the rubber strip you get with the cabinet does stuff all to stop dust pouring out everywhere . I only use Glass bead or Garnet sand in my blaster , I am keen to try crushed walnut shell but cant find a local supply of it yet.

James

Plushy Dust coming out suggests your vac isn't big enough. I haven't seen inside a SB-200 for a long time. Maybe you could add a large car air filter as a vent to let air in when you aren't sand blasting(this may help the vac clear the dust faster when you stop) and let the air out when you are sandblasting(so there is less pressure to force dust out the places you don't want it going).
Of course it may already have one, but I know the SB-100 had a tiny little filter on it.
Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Unless you can get a much better price on the SB-375, I'm with Dave, get the SB-200 and build your own extractor. I'd start with a large shop vac and improve on it only if you find the need and then you'll have a shop vac.

Stuart

Yes, it would be nice to have it all in one nice compact (ish) unit and not have to run an exterior vac or extractor but the price is a big leap just for that.......
I doubt I'd be able to squeeze them down enough to make it a bargain....lol

I will have investigate these extractors. I have not had any dealings with them at all.

Sterob

If you mean a cyclonic separator I wouldn't worry about it until you find you need it, I think they are more for woodworkers, I guess it depends on home many hours you think you will be using it for.
One mod you might like to think about, get a foot pedal and disable the trigger. I find it far easier to use when you can just grab the gun any old way and not have to worry about getting your gloved finger onto the trigger.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Plushy

Hi Sterob ,
crushed walnut shell but cant find a local supply of it yet.

James

I got a sack of the stuff some years ago for the case tumbler from
Burwell Technologies | Sandblasting Equipment | Abrasive Blasting

a lot cheaper than what the gun shops wanted per kilo

I was just using sand for free and so was my local blaster up until 5 years ago when work cover said they would shut him down if he found them using it again. So now he uses and gives me crushed glass and I find it cuts better but than glass and wears out a bit slower.
The gun I have, is just the standard alloy one with the rubber suction pipe that you buy for around $30.

Dave

One quick point about those guns. On the older ones the pick up was two pieces of pipe in inside the other. Don't push the rubber hose all the way on as air needs to be able to enter the outer pipe. They seem to have a new design now.
Stuart

I agree with you there, I have 2 or 3 guns here because sometimes I pick them up cheap. If you have a lathe the nozzles are easy to make as well.
One thing I forgot to mention was I have a older 8cfm and 12 cfm and running at 90psi they are flat out and cant keep up so I think you would need a 30cfm.
I did get an offer to use a guys big sandblast cabinet and compressor that was looking at buying the design and plans for the crane I built on the 4wd. It was a 6ft high commercial cabinet with a 32cfm compressor and it didn't keep up either, but never went below about 50-60psi.
I have always wanted to pick up one of those trailer mounted screw compressors and sand blasting unit with air fed helmet.

Dave