Blast Cabinet Window Protector Advise?

[Don-F]

I recently purchased a Cyclone PK36 blasting cabinet. Its a USA company with mostly good reviews so I thought it may be better than my benchtop HF cabinet. After messing with it a few hours, I am not so sure its an upgrade at all quality wise but will move on with the repairs before making a decision. Anyway the acrylic window was so blasted that it had turned white. I purchased a new piece but now the question. I want it to stay clear. I know there are thin sheets that I can get, this window is an odd size 23"x15" What is the material most often used so I can get a roll and cut my own? I figured I would just use double sided tape to stick it up there on the inside of the window.

 

[Walkers]

Mine has the Skat window in it. I bought tempered glass for it for less than 5 bucks a sheet, as 12 x 24 (iirc) is a common size for glass shelves. Then I found out the protectors cost more than new glass. I just bought 10 sheets of glass.

 

[Don-F]

I will not be able to screw the hinges in to glass. If you look at the cabinet, this is what's its stuck with an acrylic window. I know I can get the 12x24 sheets that are 11x13. I figured I might as well make one that covers the complete window? To make it last as long as I can. I did keep the Skat gun I had in my HF cabinet when I upgraded to this new project.

 

[Walkers]

I will not be able to screw the hinges in to glass. If you look at the cabinet, this is what's its stuck with an acrylic window. I know I can get the 12x24 sheets that are 11x13. I figured I might as well make one that covers the complete window? To make it last as long as I can. I did keep the Skat gun I had in my HF cabinet when I upgraded to this new project.

Ohh, no side doors?

 

[ZRX61]

2in wide scotch tape across the window. When it becomes difficult to see through it just peel off the first strip.. when that part of the window becomes difficult to see through tear off the next strip etc.
With a 15in tall window just use 7 strips.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought a, Made in
Canada, MOD-U-BLAST 2448 unit with built on dust capture. This company offers replaceable clear plastic covers for the viewing port glass. The covers come in packs of 10. The see-thru material is like a heavier gauge kitchen cling wrap with double side sticky tape around the edges. When I replace the damaged glass protector, I clean the glass on the outside then apply the new vinyl cover. I then flip the glass over, fasten it down then remove the foggy cover. I buy the replacement filters at NAPA. I use a filter cross-over and get 4 filters for the price of one OEM.
This blast cabinet has end-doors, and the front opens up, full width. I have had this cabinet for 8 years. It cost much more that an imported copy, at that time. I paid $2450.00
This cabinet does a fantastic job. I put it on wheels to make moving it easy.
I have an Ingersol T30. It is a good match for this blast cabinet.

 

[Don-F]

Ohh, no side doors?

Yes but the window area is much larger for the biggest parts. I bought the cabinet from a powder coating company. They say wheels fit best through the window.

 

[vwpieces]

Like Walkers I have the Skat and it has 12X24 window. I just buy standard glass precut, in stock, at the hardware store for about $4ea.
Glass isn't hard to cut, and it sure beats messing with protective sheets. Never looked, but I would guess Skat charges more for a protective sheet than I get glass for.
Been there done that on the protective sheet and it isn't worth the time to scrape off the double sided tape.

 

[Don-F]

I can not install glass without loosing the window access door. I mentioned this several times already. I may end up with a different cabinet later so I will keep that in mind. For now I was just wondering about a protector for the new acrylic. If people are using scotch tape and cellophane. It must not be critical as long is its clear and stays on the window.

 

[Benw455]

I buy my window protectors from TP Tools. Not cheap but worth it.

 

[Don-F]

The tape and cellophane comments helped as it must not be too critical. I started searching thicker Mylar rolls as that is what some blasting cabinet suppliers specifically call their precut sheeting. I found one 20 inch wide x 12 foot roll on amazon that someone else used for this same thing and gave it a very good review so I went that way for now. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Jswain]

Make a 3/4" thick wooden frame that sticks to the metal with magnets, then staple some metal window screen to it. Say goodbye to changing the plastic/tape/window

 

[gregs]

I did this on my HF unit.^^^^ Seems to help a lot. Not sure how you would make the frame work, but I did just what Jswain did.

 

[Spareparts]

I just use the window screen on my HF cabinet let it hang a little loose and it works great

 

[Jswain]

I did this over 2 years ago and still on the same screen & window and it still looks great.

 

[Indexmill]

^ What is it that you discovered?

 

[AMXJohn]

Use a sheet of acrylic for the window so you can screw it to the hinges.
Go to a fabric store and purchase a roll of clear table top protector, its very cheap. Cut multiple pieces to fit the acrylic and tape it on with blue painters tape. When the clear protector becomes obscured, tear it off and replace. I have a SkatBlast machine with a glass window and have been doing this for years.

https://www.joann.com/20-gauge-vinyl-54in-clear/7973274.html

 

[rlitman]

My wife was recently cleaning out a drawer with all sorts of cell phone accessories (charging cables, cases, etc.), and she pulled out a bunch of junk screen protector sheets from old phones we no longer had, asking if she could toss them. That's when I had the aha moment that they'd be excellent blast cabinet screen protectors, so I put them aside. Next time I have to blast something (which isn't too often), I'll see if they're any good.

 

[finn]

How do you dispose of the used glass? Our garbage doesn’t take glass, so it requires a trip to the transfer station, along with a fee to get rid of it.

I buy the precut film from a blast cabinet seller at swap meets. Not exactly cheap, but less hassle all things considered.

 

[Don-F]

I ended up getting a roll of clear film off of amazon "Grafix Dura-Lar .005” Ultra-Clear Film". Its thick, thicker than the store bought protectors I used to get for the HF cabinet. That and some clear double sided tape did the job for this odd sized window. Thank you for the advice.