Blast Cabinet Lighting - LEDs?

I am in the process of updating an older Snap On blast cabinet. Biggest change is swapping out the "hair dryer" and bag vacuum set up for a Dust Deputy cyclone dust separator and shop vac.

That was all I was going to do until I turned on the lights. Just two old standard bulbs behind some expanded metal. Not very effective.

So I am thinking about upgrading with two each two foot LED strips from Lowe's in a standard shop light fixture. This will be my first experience with LED lights and also my first blast cabinet renovation.

Is there anything that you know of that precludes using LEDs in a blast cabinet?

Can the LEDs be exposed to the blasting environment or do they need to be protected in some manner.

If LEDs are not suitable what is a good alternative?

Bib, I put LEDs in my HF blast cabinet. Don't see any reason why they'd be less durable than any other kind of lighting.

See here for details: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4968304#post4968304

Bib,
My ancient Van Norman cabinet has two bulbs that are supposed to have a clear "jar" type of cover on them but the covers have been missing for 20 years or so, so just two bare bulbs One of them recently burnt out so I got an LED 60 Watt replacement bulb for it. Man what a difference. Promptly went and got another bulb for the other side too. Now its like daylight in there.

Point is, maybe just try two LED bulbs first, might save you a lot of time making something else work.

BillK said:

maybe just try two LED bulbs first, might save you a lot of time making something else work.

Click to expand...

I'm going to give that a try. Cheaper than buying a 2' LED fixture and if I am not happy I can use them elsewhere. Thanks!

I tried 2 of the HF magnetic LED lights in my blast cabinet and it didn't work well at all. The sand etched the lenses and there wasn't enough light to see. Personally I would try the brightest haligon bulbs you can get in there.

My cabinet has a Florescent tube light... I am thinking I will put some LED replacements in there if I can find them. Otherwise I will put in two LED Floods with some Lexan guards...