Harbor Freight Blast Cabinet Sealed ??

[BearsFan315]

was out venturing around today, swung by Northern and Harbor Freight. Been looking at a simple Cheap Blast Cabinet.

Looking at the Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic Abrasive Blast Cabinet i have read a lot of threads on here and other forums, as well as you tube videos.

biggest concern/ complaint was the cabinet leaking and media coming out of the seams. when i was at Harbor Freight i noticed the floor model had a flat rubber like gasket material around the top between the metal. but did not notice it on the sides ?? is this common or is the gasket material a new thing ?? wish i would have snapped a few picts. Not sure if it was around the viewing window, but it was clear it was all around the top angled portion.

 

[BearsFan315]

I know it would need

1-Light, figure an LED or Fluoro Tube Style on front and maybe back. One with a plastic Tube style shield

2-Dust collection system, figuring use this guy [Dust Deputy] with either of my Shop Vacs. It seems to get great reviews, other option is the bucket system seen everywhere. 5 Gallon Bucket inlet outlet, etc...

3- Blow Line: add Tee in air line for air blow off line, to blow off parts in cabinet when done blasting

4- Media Vent/ Breather Tube: Saw somewhere someone added in a tube next to the suction line to allow air and to get consistent media feed thru the line

5- Box off the frame at the floor, put it on casters (LOCKING) makes it more rigid and mobile if needed to move. plus storage area for media.

 

[liflod]

Looks like you have all your bases covered. Mine doesn't leak media. I use a good size shop vac. If you don't use a big one, the air pressure will blow dust out of every little crevice. Just came on here today to look for dust collector / cyclone ideas for my cabinet. I don't use it that often but picked up a shop vac in the trash today to dedicate to my cabinet and cyclone.

 

[stsmytherie]

+1 on bases covered.

My HF blast cabinet kit came with double sided foam tape for sealing the seams. Some already applied to one edge, some provided as a roll of tape. I used the already applied tape, but supplemented that with silicone sealant on all seams. Messy, but I think worth the trouble. My cabinet only seems to leak around the window.

Also, do a search for replacing the seal around the door.

 

[engineer2]

I've had the older table top version for years. A few observations:

When the air filter gets old, it can't keep up with the air from the gun. This causes grit to come out of any leak. A shop vac sucking on the filter works, but you have to bleed off some of the suction to keep things in balance. Too much vacuum and the gloves get sucked in.

The light cover gets abraded after a while and cuts down on the light. I need to fab a new cover or replace the light fixture.

The viewing window gets abraded after a while making it difficult to see inside. Mine is plastic and I plan to replace it with 1/4" thick glass. I will fab a small window screen and mount it under the glass to keep grit off of it.

Sun exposure makes the red paint fade to pink. What do you expect for Chinese ****?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Mine isn't a HF unit but it came from Summit Racing, but I'm sure its either the same factory or next door to it. I replaced the light and sealed the seals with some gutter caulk. It helps but it's not perfect.

 

[54FordPanel]

If you get one, be sure to get the gun & pickup tube upgrade from TPI. Makes all the difference in the world.

 

[James-W]

I have two friends that have the Harbor Freight units and they both work reasonably good. I know because they let me use their cabinets to clean up lawnmower blades before I sharpen them. I know there are much better cabinets out there, but they are also quite a bit more money. In other words, you get what you pay for. But all things considered, for what the Harbor Freight unit costs and how well it works, I would say it is a pretty decent deal.

 

[slip knot]

I never could get mine to stop leaking around the window. I finally started putting a damp towel around the opening. much better now.

 

[CatSplat]

When I assembled mine (Princess Auto, but exactly the same), I put a good bead of clear silicone on every single joint and mating face. It definitely slowed down the assembly process and I used an entire tube of caulk, but it doesn't leak a grain and is basically airtight.

 

[BearsFan315]

let me ask this question...

what have you all spent on the MODIFICATION to this model to get it up to par ??
Based on my list above, and anything else relevant

around $100 or more

 

[D. Patina]

When I assembled mine (Princess Auto, but exactly the same), I put a good bead of clear silicone on every single joint and mating face. It definitely slowed down the assembly process and I used an entire tube of caulk, but it doesn't leak a grain and is basically airtight.

I did the same, but I used it for over a year and then cleaned it out and rebuilt. Makes a big difference. Next will be casters so I can move it. When it's full of media, it ain't going anywhere.

 

[Showkey]

let me ask this question...

what have you all spent on the MODIFICATION to this model to get it up to par ??
Based on my list above, and anything else relevant

around $100 or more

The actual gun is marginal at best and is the most important part ( air use, media suction, nozzle wear, clogging)................that's why 54panel recommended it be replaced.

There are better choices........but.......it might cost a little more up front.
Buy a good gun and built the cabinet is a smart alternative.........especially when HF was to be rebuilt any way.

Hashed and rehashed here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=322695&highlight=Sand+blaster


Here's a post on building a cabinet:

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c3-general/1900529-sandblast-cabinet-plans.html

 

[brownbagg]

yes, they leak, and pretty good about it too

 

[landlord30]

Check Craigslist. I got the HF large cabinet for $40. I replaced the light fixture and bought plexiglass and glass from lowes. Have about $70 in it total. Use it a lot in the last 6 months.

 

[sberry]

I took mine out, I never used it. I guess I just don't have rusty junk I really want to blast.

 

[Al Bundy]

Why don't you just buy this one and be done with it? I've been using mine for 5 years and it works great.

http://www.tptools.com/HOBBY-PRO-HP-75-Top-Load-Abrasive-Blast-Cabinet,8208.html?b=d*23498

 

[BearsFan315]

Al i was looking at that one and why i was wondering what people sink into the HF to get a decent cabinet.

How is that Hobby Pro One, considering it to is imported from China ??

 

[Al Bundy]

Al i was looking at that one and why i was wondering what people sink into the HF to get a decent cabinet.

How is that Hobby Pro One, considering it to is imported from China ??

I have no complaints at all. I use the plastic covers to keep the glass from getting marked up. And my Ridgid shop vac keeps it clear of dust when I'm using it. I've compared this to the HF version, this is no question a much better cabinet.

 

[BearsFan315]

Figured Pricing:

1-$25
2-$50
3-$15
4-$10
5-$25

so $125 to get this all done

$175 for Media Cabinet
$300 total to get rolling

not including upgrading gun or nozzle if needed

 

[lutter94]

I just bought the cabinet a month or so ago. It came with a tube of silicone, but I had already bought a tube, and ended up using 1.5 tubes total. Used white, easier to see if I had good coverage. Doesn't hurt my feelings not being clear. Went off the reviews and bought a $30 fluorescent light off of amazon, similar tube style, so I got to reuse the mount bracket that came with the cabinet. I heard the gun sucked, bought a $20 unit, and didn't use it, because it was a lot bulkier, figured I could change it out if I hated the stock gun. Used it for probably a few hours total by now, and have no issues with the stock gun. Bought $8/50 lbs. fine coal slag blasting media. Works good.

Also bought a couple shop vac tube accessories, and a vacuum hose kit ($20). Did the bucket dust collector that works great, already had the shop vac.

That puts me at $180 for the cabinet shipped. $30 for the new light and $20 for the vacuum parts. I can return the gun at any time, it doesn't get counted.

That's $230 WITH the dust collector. That being said, I really like the door on the Hobby Pro unit linked above, and may be convinced that its better bang for buck. But will not be attempting to sell mine soon on CL to upgrade. I have no complaints.

 

[lutter94]

Pics below, before I finished the bucket...





Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Short Round]

I've had the older table top version for years. A few observations:

When the air filter gets old, it can't keep up with the air from the gun. This causes grit to come out of any leak. A shop vac sucking on the filter works, but you have to bleed off some of the suction to keep things in balance. Too much vacuum and the gloves get sucked in.

The light cover gets abraded after a while and cuts down on the light. I need to fab a new cover or replace the light fixture.

The viewing window gets abraded after a while making it difficult to see inside. Mine is plastic and I plan to replace it with 1/4" thick glass. I will fab a small window screen and mount it under the glass to keep grit off of it.

Sun exposure makes the red paint fade to pink. What do you expect for Chinese ****?

Hmmm, I wonder if a layer of clear packing tape over your new bulb and occasionally replacing it would help. Kind of like the tear off screens on race cars.

 

[BearsFan315]

Harbor Freight was running a Weekend Sidewalk Sale, but no Blast Cabinets ;/

had plenty of compressors out there, small ones