Blast Cabinet Help

[ARAMP1]

I need a bunch of parts sandblasted, so I figure now is the perfect time to buy a cabinet. Anyone ever use this one from Harbor Freight?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93608

Any other recommendations?

 

[cwn anwyn]

I had one of the smaller HF cabinets and it was to small for some of the stuff I was working on. So I bought a HF blasting pot and built something like this:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/sandblasting-cabinet-homemade-79837.html

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/newbie-but-not-new-118463.html

Nice and big enough and didnt cost a lot either.

Z

 

[ARAMP1]

I read some reviews online and ended up buying the cabinet last night. It works very well for what it is and I got all my parts blasted for not much more than I would have paid someone else to do it. After the first night of using it, here are some observations.

1. You need a filtration system. There's dust all over my garage and it's not safe breathing all that shiznit, so I broke down and ordered one from northern tool (I think) off e-bay. It was a couple hundred bucks, but it's got to be better than having a coat of dust on everything in your garage.

2. The gun gets clogged fairly easily if you're like me and blasting old RTV off parts. The trick is to scrape as much of that stuff off as you can before you put it in the cabinet. In the reviews I've read, a few people have replaced the gun with a nice one. I'll do that when this one breaks.

3. As with most Harbor Freight stuff, it's a little short for me. I'm 6'2" and it's about 6 inches too short for me. My back is killing me from bending over to work. I'm eventually going to build a dolly or something for it that will raise it up and make it more comfortable.

 

[doonjumper]

1. You need a filtration system. There's dust all over my garage and it's not safe breathing all that shiznit, so I broke down and ordered one from northern tool (I think) off e-bay. It was a couple hundred bucks, but it's got to be better than having a coat of dust on everything in your garage.

2. The gun gets clogged fairly easily if you're like me and blasting old RTV off parts. The trick is to scrape as much of that stuff off as you can before you put it in the cabinet. In the reviews I've read, a few people have replaced the gun with a nice one. I'll do that when this one breaks.

3. As with most Harbor Freight stuff, it's a little short for me. I'm 6'2" and it's about 6 inches too short for me. My back is killing me from bending over to work. I'm eventually going to build a dolly or something for it that will raise it up and make it more comfortable.

Point 1 filtration. buy a shop vac they work great. I have the largest HF cabinet and no dust.

Point 2 clogged gun. Just press the tip of the gun against a flat surface and it will blow the clog out the sand suction tip.

Point 3 Agreed my back kills me too lol. Im 6'2" alsp and its a pain to use. Im gonna put it on blocks eventually

 

[pseudomike]

I have the larger harbor freight cabinet and it woks well. I put some steel mesh grating (small expanded metal) in the bottom of mine to try and catch big stuff like chunks of RTV. I also use a shop vac for filtration, moves air inside the cabinet and makes it easier to see. I put mine up on a bench. Alll blasters will get clogged if you try to run chunkc of RTV through them.

Rolling Stone has a coupon in their magazine for 20% off any one item at harbor freight this month. Might be worth picking one up for a $100-200 item.

Mike

 

[86chevyk10]

Heres the coupon.... http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/MagazineLanders/3-general/images/20_c.jpg