DIY blast cabinet

[ckucia]

Have my new compressor hooked up - IR 5HP 80gallon. Basically the TSC model.

Have a pile of sheet metal I was going to scrap, but it is just the right size for a blast cabinet. In the process of converting my flux core welder to MIG so now's a good time to put all the pieces together and build my own cabinet.

First of all, is that compressor going to be sufficient? I don't need to media blast all that much, and generally it would be smaller bits. I don't mind slow going but it does need to work.

Next is how much of this can I build myself? If it uses just regular window glass, I can cut and mount that no problem. I figure I'll need to buy gloves and the gun. Anything else I need? I have about a half ton of scrap steel ready to go to the scrapper, so I figure I can scrounge a lot out of it before I send it away. Hate to scrap it all and then find I need something, but the wife wants it gone and so do I.

I guess I'm asking what don't I know that I don't know about building a blast cabinet?

I see a lot of kits but from the pics it looks like maybe I can build some of the bits myself.

 

[toplessHO]

make it open on both ends for longer objects
use poly sheeting to cap ends of then.
TIP makes some nice cabinets,go online and look at those
You will need some angle iron for the frame and the doors.
if you use regular glass make sure it sandwiched with plastic

 

[nadogail]

You can add some extra volume in your compressed air supply system. Shorten your duty cycle when blasting to allow your compressor to build a reserve.

Empty refrigerant bottles will work for reserve tanks.

 

[torqueman2002]

I built a blast cabinet using plans and some parts from TP Tools.

https://www.tptools.com/Abrasive-Blasting.html

I use a Husky branded Campbell Hausfeld, 80 gal. 4-hp. It has no trouble keeping up with continuous blasting.

 

[ckucia]

I built a blast cabinet using plans and some parts from TP Tools.

https://www.tptools.com/Abrasive-Blasting.html

I use a Husky branded Campbell Hausfeld, 80 gal. 4-hp. It has no trouble keeping up with continuous blasting.

That's a nice cabinet! I dig the color choice.

 

[torqueman2002]

That's a nice cabinet! I dig the color choice.

Thank you.

It's almost 12 years old and I use it to remove paint/rust on small shop tools, like bench grinders (I restore and sell/gift CM Block grinders), drill presses, etc ...

I've added a media 'shaker' that helps move the media (Black Diamond from TSC) to the pick-up tube. If it were made with sheet metal, I don't think this would be necessary, as there would be less friction between the media and the inside of the 'funnel'.

Also, I use a vacuum/Dust Deputy combination to remove the dust.

I use an automatic tank drain, set to cycle each time the motor is cycled. This helps keep the media drier. In the Midwest, summer can be hot and humid, but I've not found a need for a dryer.