Is this a Harbor Freight cabinet?

[black00lightning]

Just got home after purchasing this sand blast cabinet off Craigslist for $45. It is complete with a trigger gun, gloves and siphon tube. The only thing I have to replace is the viewing glass. Use regular glass or Lexan?

It looks somewhat similar although the HF unit doesn't have the light box on top.

First pic: Finished hosing it off, it was very dusty.
Second pic: In new home.

 

[ZRX61]

On the one we had at the hangar we used regular glass. It was a standard size that you could buy pre-cut at Home Depot for a few bucks.
We also stuck strips of 2in wide clear tape to the inside. When it got frosted we'd just tear off one strip. Made the glass last a LOT longer. I've also done this on the lexan window in mine.

 

[CNGsaves]

Sure does look like the HF sand blast cabinet:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=sand+blast+cabinet

You did great for $45 used if everything is there, compared to $200 new price !!

Most complaints I remember about HF cabinet were leaky seals & cheap gun.

 

[Norcal]

Have a HF cabinet just like it & paid $200 for it, they change designs from time to time.


Edit, the lighting in it is better then the average HF cabinet.

 

[slip knot]

I would seriously consider moving that outdoors. you will get a ton of dust out of it in use unless you reseal it and put a really good vaccum collection system on it.

 

[DOC-BA]

Use regular glass or Lexan? .

I would recommend Alexander or something similar, it's easy to work with and when it gets hot it doesn't crack. I used tempered glass in one once, it was a very small cabinet and eventually someone was goofing off and shot the abrasive at the glass. It didn't shatter, but it did crack really bad.

 

[djjsr]

It's an HF cabinet. I have one just like it. Connect your vac to that port on the left to **** air out and open the port in the back to let air in. If you have a lot of humidity where you live, keep both of the ports covered when you're not using it. It will help keep the moisture out of the sand.

 

[black00lightning]

It's an HF cabinet. I have one just like it. Connect your vac to that port on the left to **** air out and open the port in the back to let air in. If you have a lot of humidity where you live, keep both of the ports covered when you're not using it. It will help keep the moisture out of the sand.

djjsr, do you use yours indoor? Does it blow out a lot of dust? Have you resealed the cabinet? Thanks

 

[txvwnut]

That cabinet should have a glass window with a plexiglass scratch guard on the outside and then you use the plastic tear off shields on the inside. TP Tools has the best widow protectors I've seen plus an awesome gun upgrade for it. Put some sort of dust collection on it as you won't be able to see what you are blasting if you don't.

 

[James-W]

A buddy of mine has one of those. The thing works OK, but you get an awful lot of dust from it. I have heard some people use a silicone sealant when they assemble the cabinet and that helps keep the dust down. He has a shop vac that he hooks up to it and it helps, but at times it is hard to see inside the cabinet.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . . to get the best DRY air for that sand blast cabinet, you will want it . .
. . . . . . . . . . FAR away from compressor as possible through copper or black pipe steel airline system with methods to extract water. Thus, you want the blast cabinet to be very last drop.

 

[djjsr]

djjsr, do you use yours indoor? Does it blow out a lot of dust? Have you resealed the cabinet? Thanks

Yes, I use it indoors. I keep about 80 lbs of sand in it so it's not easy to move around. Zero dust. I run the shopvac (on that left port) whenever I use the sandblaster and that shopvac has a bag in it so I don't have to keep cleaning the filter.

I bought the thing new so when I did the assembly I made sure everything was well sealed. The only sand I lose is a little when I open the door. Sand will accumulate on that ledge at the bottom of the door opening.

Yours is already assembled so I suggest that before you load it with sand, check for leaks. Close up both ports, turn on your air supply and feel around for air escaping. You may not get it "airtight" but you should be able to find gross leaks.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I agree with the rest, it sure looks like a harbor freight unit.

 

[black00lightning]

I run the sxhopvac (on that left port) whenever I use the sandblaster and that shopvac has a bag in it so I don't have to keep cleaning the filter.

Thanks for all the responses and ideas. I'll check for leaks before I start adding the glass beads. I plan on using my HD shop vacation with the dust deputy attached, so air flow should stay high.

Since my initial outlay was minimal ($45), I should be able to afford some upgrades and still keep total cost below $200. Thanks.

 

[black00lightning]

Replaced broken glass today and tried the blaster, cleaning an aluminum wheel prior to painting. Absolutely no leaks so the previous owner must have sealed it well during assembly.
We did have some pluggag using the small nozzle that came with it. Will buy larger nozzles and look at whether a larger siphon tube might help.

Has anyone added a online Strainer?