best vacuum for a HF basting cabinet

[Jvvmusme]

i need a vacuum for the harbor freigth blasting cabinet. Any recomendations ?

 

[Tinkerman66]

I use a 5 gallon Shop vac after a cyclone separator I made myself.

 

[LXCam]

I use their cabinet vac and I got to admit it's damn impressive.

https://m.harborfreight.com/blast-cabinet-reclaimer-kit-60739.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided


I kinda slacked a bit on cleaning her out. And when I did a couple weeks back I swear that filter weighed every bit of 20lbs

 

[Tinkerman66]

Once you realize the supplied pick up tube and gun is ****, get the TP upgrade kit below. It will change your world.

https://www.tptools.com/USA-Cabinet-Gun-and-Pickup-Tube-Upgrade-Kit,2320.html

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don't have the HF blast cabinet but mine is a Clarke, I believe, and probably made in the same factory in China.

I didn't want to spend big bucks on a vac so I bought a 2.5 gal Cman shop vac. While it doesn't do the best job, it works fine for when I do need to use it. I think it cost me about $25.

 

[jumbo61]

I have a TP vacuum setup with the HF cabinet. A regular shop vac motor will give in to the dust from the blasting. I had used one before the TP and will also blow dust out the discharge too. https://www.tptools.com/USA-VAC-50-HEPA-Vacuum,8777.html?b=d*8035

 

[PoorOwner]

I have a cap that fits on a 5 gallon bucket and you fill with some water that will get most of the dust and easier on your vac. If you use vac use a hepa bag or filter or your motor will go out quickly.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a cap that fits on a 5 gallon bucket and you fill with some water that will get most of the dust and easier on your vac. If you use vac use a hepa bag or filter or your motor will go out quickly.

This is why I bought a cheap vac to see how it worked. I also have the exhaust for the vac venting outside the garage to help dust to a minimum.

 

[8mpg]

Use a shop vac and a cyclone separator. A cheap one like this works great:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQBJWR8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[6768rogues]

I have a TP blast cabinet and I use a cheap shop vac. They last for about two years of heavy use, then they start to sound bad. I buy one on sale for no more than $50, when it dies I toss out the head unit and use the bucket on wheels for draining antifreeze or whatever.

 

[firebirdparts]

I use a 5 gallon Shop vac after a cyclone separator I made myself.

Same here.

 

[finn]

I was using an old shop vac.

After about ten hours of use on the cabinet, it sounds like it has CPOD.

Started building a separator, but got sidetracked......, as usual.

Maybe I should just buy one.

 

[Tinkerman66]

It's amazing how well the separator works. I tested mine when done by sucking a 5 pound flour bag out. There was only a slight film of dust in the shop vac, no bag installed, and 99.99 plus percent was in the separator bucket.

Edit to add, I already had the shop vac for garage use, just made the separator. I made a quick connect using a fernco and a hose clamp with a "t" added for a handle so the vac is still mobile.

 

[mikegt4]

Like several others here I use a cyclone separator (Dust Deputy in my case). My shop vac is nice and clean inside and no doubt will last a long time. A Dust Deputy is a lot cheaper that buying new vacs from time to time. One could make a water trap from a 5 gal. bucket if you are cash strapped.

 

[Jvvmusme]

Once you realize the supplied pick up tube and gun is ****, get the TP upgrade kit below. It will change your world.

https://www.tptools.com/USA-Cabinet-Gun-and-Pickup-Tube-Upgrade-Kit,2320.html

how it will change my world ??

 

[Jvvmusme]

Use a shop vac and a cyclone separator. A cheap one like this works great:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BQBJWR8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

i have a home made cyclone separator and it works fine. the vac "died" today

 

[Tinkerman66]

how it will change my world ??

You won't realise just how crappy the HF gun and tube set up is until you get one that doesn't clog and will feed constantly all the time. Parts are easier to find and last longer too. Just a far better set up.

 

[8mpg]

Theres a great video on youtube about doing the TP Tools style setup for much cheaper.

 

[mikester]

I tried to use a small shop vac on my Eastwood bench top and it sucked the walls and window in a little. What do you guys use for a bench top blaster ?

 

[Falcon67]

Some cute little thing I got at Target for $20. Plus a hose reducer and a plumbing fitting. The idea was that blasting media chews up vacuums, so small and disposable. Well, it's been on there 4 years and still works just fine in spite of ingesting copious amounts of blast media. It's a sucker too - it pulled the boots out of the mounts on first fire up. Draws really well.

 

[rlitman]

...The idea was that blasting media chews up vacuums, so small and disposable. Well, it's been on there 4 years and still works just fine in spite of ingesting copious amounts of blast media...

Along the same idea, I picked up a bagless vac on CL for $10 and have been using that for years. One day when it fails, I'll pick up another.