My really cheep, I mean inexpensive, blast cabinet

[Guest]

This just gets better and better, you've done well mighty13d!

And Zooks, good idea on the fridge/dish washer thing... that should work a charm.

 

[scrapper]

Really cool idea and just the right size for smaller items. I am wondering what is the cfm or psi you would need for steel. I got a smaller air compressor don't know if it will work. would it matter with the type of gun you use? I was really thinking it would be nice to have one just didn't think of making it, figured with the cost I'd forget about it, not now.

 

[mighty13d]

I run 90 psi for steel. and my tank is a 26 gallon one. my compressor runs a lot when I'm blasting steel though so if you had one less than mine, it would be on constantly

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

Put a hole in the bottom with a funnel to empty into a bucket

 

[Zooks]

Put a hole in the bottom with a funnel to empty into a bucket

 

[Guest]

I don't need gloves on the end because when I blast the aluminum it doesn't really bother me and I have some thin leather ones that I wear when I crank it up for steel. The sleeves are thin enough to let some sand through them so I think that eventually I will end up either putting some thicker material on there for sleeves with gloves or actually buying a real blast cabinet!

It really works good for what it is though. As you can tell though, what I use for a blasting gun is actually a plant sprayer for fertilizer and stuff like that. When I blasted parts of my frame, I took the gun part out and put the frame on a large tarp and blasted it that way in the driveway. You have to use a cheep welding shield and stuff when you do it that way and you make a mess all over yourself, but it works

I wouldn't neglect the rubber gloves part. Fine aluminium particle dust can get deep in your skin.

For the dust caption issue, you need a hood. The velocity in a 1 1/2- 2'' hole will be high. An old funnel would do the job. Cut a 1/2'' X 6'' slot on the opposite side , and there you go! You have a ''push'n pull counterflow dust collection system!!

 

[Jethro]

I love it! Well done, can't wait to see your home brew paint booth later on!

 

[ALB80-850]

Great idea. Have been working on a blast cabinet as well, only in reverse order. I started with dust collection 1st. I too am going to use a shop-vac. My idea was to run a short lenght of hose form the cabinet to a 30 gallon trash can for collection, and another short section of hose to the shop-vac. Let the heavier sand collect in the trash can while the dust goes to the shop-vac. I now know what I'm going to use for a cabinet. You do need to have an air inlet of some sort in the cabinet, if the vacume is too great it will bust the plexiglass before you know what happened. A friend of mine did that to his new store bought cabinet 1st time out. He got mad and I chuckeled to myself for 2 days.

Andy

 

[Planecrazy]

You do need to have an air inlet of some sort in the cabinet, if the vacume is too great it will bust the plexiglass before you know what happened.

Pssst ... that's why I suggested he cut some "pass through" holes into a section of the vacuum tube "just in case," but it never hurts to get the extra reminder of what can happen if he doesn't provide an inlet...

Regards,

 

[ALB80-850]

Psst... I did read that too, brain fart. My thinking is, with a port in the cabinet, you will be able to utilize all the vacume and have air movment through the cabinet. Your idea would work equally as well, not tryin to offend or slam the idea.

Andy

 

[mighty13d]

actually there is a lot of air that passes through the sleeves that I'm using. it's enough to keep a mild suction but just barely. I also do wear gloves in the booth, I wear Nitrile ones with leather ones over them if I'm blasting something small. It doesn't keep my arms clean because the dust can settle through the sleeves.

remember to use a normal drill bit through the lexan... do not use Dewalt bits like this:
http://fp.vendaria.com/vpop/VpopVie...&bg=FFFFFF&nm=BZOpener&err=0&title=&pf=t&fr=t
because where these bits flatten out will catch and break the lexan... Check out my pics if you want to know how I know lol.

 

[Planecrazy]

Psst... I did read that too, brain fart. My thinking is, with a port in the cabinet, you will be able to utilize all the vacume and have air movment through the cabinet. Your idea would work equally as well, not tryin to offend or slam the idea.

Andy

No worries ... I didn't take it that way. Personally I'd do it your way, for exactly the reason you mentioned (full use of the vacuum).

Regards,

 

[Gimpdiggity]

Nice work man.

This is what being a garage mechanic/body work/paint/custom worker is all about!!

I love it!!

 

[Billy Ricks]

I have a piece of plexi that is about 3'X4' I plan on using to build a cabinet big enough to put a frame in if I need to. I have a set of stock 350Z wheels I plan on blasting and polishing up to sell to help fund an engine build I need to get to work on.