Quickie Blast Cabinet Fix

[Graham08]

A while back I got a blast cabinet in partial trade for some work I did. It's a nice cabinet (Waterloo Mfg.) and it seems to work OK, with one issue: it covers the immediate area surrounding it in grit.

The reason for this is a pair of vent holes in the back of the cabinet, which I'm assuming are there so it doesn't build pressure. I'm running a dust collector on it, and there's a baffle in front of the holes (on the inside of the cabinet) but airflow is taking some grit with it.

So...somehow I remembered that a lot of Briggs & Stratton engines use an oval shaped air filter roughly the correct size to cover the holes in the cabinet. A trip to my local Tractor Supply yielded the right filter for about $20. Last night I had a few spare minutes, so I cut a piece of scrap aluminum the same shape as the filter, and installed some studs in the side of the cabinet, which resulted in this:



I'll be using it in the next couple days, so I'll report back on the job it does keeping the grit in the cabinet, where it belongs.

 

[cmanningjr]

Interesting, let us know how it works..

 

[MP&C]

Nice! Looks like it will do the job well!

 

[pepi]

Sorry to say this, had the same problem. The only way you're going to cure it is with a dust collector. I tried a shop vac, sort of worked not enough grunt, you need a neg. pressure in the cabinet, a dust collector will provide that.

Not a big HF guy but sometimes they produce a decent tool, this one qualifies have the unit for 5 years works nicely.

reference:
http://www.harborfreight.com/blast-cabinet-reclaimer-kit-60739.html

 

[Graham08]

I am running a dust collector, but apparently it doesn't pull enough of a vacuum.

 

[Zeke]

They don't pay the weldors much that build those.

 

[kkroger]

Sooooo my post got deleted????? What the heck?

 

[Graham08]

I used the cabinet for a little bit tonight and the filter setup seems to work. I would say it introduced a little more restriction because the dust collector seems to be pulling more vacuum. It's sucking the gloves tight on my hands now.

 

[ZRX61]

On mine (TP960) I just stuffed a piece of foam in the vent baffle doohicky at the back of the cabinet.

 

[Graham08]

Sooooo my post got deleted????? What the heck?

You posted over on OFN also...I posted this thread to two sites since I thought it would be useful in both places.

 

[kkroger]

They don't pay the weldors much that build those.

And its a good thing!

 

[Engine]

And its a good thing!

Those are the "hurry up 'n get 'er done" welds.

 

[kkroger]

I'll go ahead and post this.
I have had a Harbor Freight cabinet for years...
Several things that make them better (easier) to use.
Get a Triggerless Gun or strap the trigger down.
Add a PEDAL valve for the air.
USE a dust collector NOT a shop vac.. Shop Vacs **** for this...

Use the filter bag that Grizzly Sells sort of a fiber bag not a cloth bag...
USes a plastic trash type bag for a catch bag...

Get a Carbide Nozzle, I have been using the same one since 2006 and haven't even needed to change out the air jet...

The "Glass" I have a buddy who uses just single strength glass plates and when it gets where he can't see through it he just gets a new chunk of glass.
I try to avoid getting bounce back off the item I am blasting.
i.e. aim so the bounce goes toward the back of the cabinet not back at the glass. I have found that the guards that you buy for the glass usually don't stay on. the original one does but after that all bets are off.
Get Replacement gloves from TIP (Scatblast) far better than the others.

 

[PCO6]

Sorry to say this, had the same problem. The only way you're going to cure it is with a dust collector. I tried a shop vac, sort of worked not enough grunt, you need a neg. pressure in the cabinet, a dust collector will provide that.

Not a big HF guy but sometimes they produce a decent tool, this one qualifies have the unit for 5 years works nicely.

reference:
http://www.harborfreight.com/blast-cabinet-reclaimer-kit-60739.html

I'll go ahead and post this.
I have had a Harbor Freight cabinet for years...
Several things that make them better (easier) to use.
Get a Triggerless Gun or strap the trigger down.
Add a PEDAL valve for the air.
USE a dust collector NOT a shop vac.. Shop Vacs **** for this...

Use the filter bag that Grizzly Sells sort of a fiber bag not a cloth bag...
USes a plastic trash type bag for a catch bag...

Get a Carbide Nozzle, I have been using the same one since 2006 and haven't even needed to change out the air jet...

The "Glass" I have a buddy who uses just single strength glass plates and when it gets where he can't see through it he just gets a new chunk of glass.
I try to avoid getting bounce back off the item I am blasting.
i.e. aim so the bounce goes toward the back of the cabinet not back at the glass. I have found that the guards that you buy for the glass usually don't stay on. the original one does but after that all bets are off.
Get Replacement gloves from TIP (Scatblast) far better than the others.

I use a Shop Vac with my cabinet but I supplement it with a water trap as shown in post #10 of this thread ...

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159702&highlight=sandblast+water+dust

 

[MP&C]

I just added a high volume power head on my Skat Blast cabinet...

http://www.tptools.com/Skat-Blast-High-Volume-Power-Head,291.html?b=d*8027


My compressor is just over 33cfm so it had the reserve, and it is single-handed the best change I have made. The speed of paint removal increased to about 4 or 5 times as fast.

 

[kkroger]

I just added a high volume power head on my Skat Blast cabinet...

http://www.tptools.com/Skat-Blast-High-Volume-Power-Head,291.html?b=d*8027


My compressor is just over 33cfm so it had the reserve, and it is single-handed the best change I have made. The speed of paint removal increased to about 4 or 5 times as fast.

I used this one
http://www.tptools.com/Skat-Blast-High-Volume-Foot-Pedal-Cabinet-Gun,306.html?b=d*8027
with This
http://www.tptools.com/Skat-Blast-Carbide-Nozzle-Pack,287.html?b=d*8024
And something like this
http://www.miniinthebox.com/4-way-pneumatic-foot-knee-pedal-air-valve-switch_p378893.html

As well as a set of TIP cabinet gloves...
This DUst Collector
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-industrial-5-micron-dust-collector-97869.html
With the Bag that Grizzly Sells with this one

 

[Gamble]

Can't wait to see if this works. My cabinet blows dust all over the damn place.

 

[steel 35]

I use a Shop Vac with my cabinet but I supplement it with a water trap as shown in post #10 of this thread ...

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159702&highlight=sandblast+water+dust

Mine too, some fixes were quick some not.

Kart from a bed frame (lazy quick) Welded the wheels on; HF 279.- 359. with coupon. Dam they work good. lifted where It much more comfortable

Bucket with a hole cut in the lid for large tube with a small tube that's submerged in water This combination took a little longer. hole that was cut out is a water stop although with a SHOP VAC it can pull water all the way into the VAC.

Skipping to the inside, I bought a craftsman nozzle on the way home never tried the one with it. and added a blower to clean the edges.

This thing swallows Glass beads I wish I had plumed this contraption into the back like Pepi's is. but I got it for one job and just can't sell it like I had planed to.

Any questions just search bong

 

[kkroger]

I just can't figure how you guys can stand the shop vac screaming all the time.

The Dust collector doesn't make that much noise!
If you want to use your hooka with the dust collector that is fine too.

 

[PCO6]

I just can't figure how you guys can stand the shop vac screaming all the time.

The Dust collector doesn't make that much noise!
If you want to use your hooka with the dust collector that is fine too.

It blends in with the air compressor and blaster nozzle noise. Hard to tell which noise is which.

Seriously, it doesn't bother me at all.