Sand blast cabinet doesn't work
- Thread starter Jschara
- Start date
Jswain
Well-known member
Take some pictures. Regulate your pressure down to 60psi(preferably with a regulator on the cabinet) and start from there.
Close the breather on the metering valve, then with a gloved hand, cover the nozzle of the gun and blow some air through it backwards to dislodge any media stuck. Then, make sure the breather on the metering valve is open, start around halfish
Close the breather on the metering valve, then with a gloved hand, cover the nozzle of the gun and blow some air through it backwards to dislodge any media stuck. Then, make sure the breather on the metering valve is open, start around halfish
MarineScott
Well-known member
Look on YouTube for modifications. My bench top works great after I did the mods
finn
Well-known member
This. Likely the nozzle is plugged.
I have an old swap meet HF cabinet in the lean to that doesn’t work because the pickup tube is abraded away. Skat sells a kit, so I should either sell it as is, give it away, or fix it. It’s a backup now, just adding clutter.
Jswain
Well-known member
Also worth it to buy a Gold panning screen, or similar. Sized properly for the media you use. Anytime you put media in the cabinet run it through the screen. Sandblasting rusty scale? Drain the media every now and then and sift it through the screen back into the cabinet. Same with flaky paint etc.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
finn
Well-known member
Skat Blast (TIP Tools) sells one
txvwnut
Well-known member
TP Tools has a conversion gun kit for the import cabinets. I have one in my HF blast cab and it’s night and day different over what HF put in originally.
Jswain
Well-known member
I got mine from amazon, fits onto a 5gal bucket so it's nice for emptying the media back into buckets(how I store it) as well
Another vote for the TP Tools gun. I bought the S-35-S gun for smaller CFM compressors. I also added a DIY metering valve that allows you to dial in the media flow. It makes that cabinet work like it should!
Is your sand/media dry ?
What's the air pressure set at ?
Try putting your finger over the nozzle and pull the trigger. That will sometimes clear a clog by pushing it back out into the sand or break loose any crusty media
What's the air pressure set at ?
Try putting your finger over the nozzle and pull the trigger. That will sometimes clear a clog by pushing it back out into the sand or break loose any crusty media
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I use a simple kitchen strainer about 6 inches diameter to screen the media in my cabinets. The particles that are removed from items being blasted needs screening to remove debris occasionally. I screen all new media before it goes into the cabinets.
Damon L.
Well-known member
I actually just use aluminum window screen on the part grate. One of these days I will get around to making a frame to go under the grate as parts tear up the screen over time. The screen catches big pieces of paint, etc. and I use the shop vac to clean those out on occasion.
TP tools is legit. I got a replacement glass from them and it was shipped quickly.
How large is your compressor? If it's a little pancake it will make so much water that you won't be able to blast effectively.
If you have a large one with good CFM make sure you have a drier setup on there to trap water.
How large is your compressor? If it's a little pancake it will make so much water that you won't be able to blast effectively.
If you have a large one with good CFM make sure you have a drier setup on there to trap water.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
One of my f'n neighbours asked if he might blast a few small parts from his project. When he was done, I had to clean the cabinet and the pick-up tube. I tossed new contaminated abrasive in the garbage
He never bothered to degrease the wheel hubs. Hit him up for the cost to me. He did pay. I never lend tools. Now, I have added not allowing ANY persons to use anything of mine.
He never bothered to degrease the wheel hubs. Hit him up for the cost to me. He did pay. I never lend tools. Now, I have added not allowing ANY persons to use anything of mine.
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Thanks to all who replayed to my post. Unfortunately I'm still getting nothing. I have replaced all the hoses. Built and installed a metering valve. Installed a valve with a water separator running at 60 psi. Have plenty of air. Am using crushed walnut as media. It is new, clean and dry and checked that it fits through the nozzle. Checked that there isn't any obstructions on the line. I'm lost!
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Jswain
Well-known member
If you unhook the suction line down by your metering valve and press the trigger on the gun do you feel suction? You should. I also found that style gun had varying amounts of suction depending on the size of nozzle you have installed.
I believe I had the most with 4mm but it's been awhile
I believe I had the most with 4mm but it's been awhile
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I don’t personally like that type of metering device. The ambient air intake is too far away from the point that the media is at in that lower vertical Tee. The ambient air just enters and heads for the gun without drafting media with it. Drill a 1/4 to 3/8 hole in the horizontal corner of that vertical tee and close the air valve, and see what happens. Then play with your air valve. It may not be needed at all, most likely not. Yes, you will get some flywaste media from the hole when you back purge the gun.
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OccupantRJ
Well-known member
The principle is that you need a flowing ambient air suction stream to the gun, then figure out how to dribble media into that flow. Then you will have success.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
Is it possible, if you have a vacuum, to remove dust, attached to the cabinet, the vacuum might be offering more suction than the pick-up tube to nozzle? Disconnect the vacuum and see if this makes a difference.
My first blast cabinet was a blue import. It had all of the problems that the identical red cabinets have. My MOD-U-BLAST does not have a stalling problem. It has a built on vacuum system. The blue cabinet leaked media. The blast nozzle would not pull up the sand when my Shop Vac was hooked to the cabinet, and running. I gave this POS away and my wife gave me the MOD-U-BLAST for Father's Day/
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I can't tell what your media size is but it looks like it is either turning to mush, mixed with moisture, or too large. I would venture to say you should try some aluminum oxide, proper blasting sand, or perhaps some crushed glass as a test but more importantly, what are you doing for moisture control? What size is your compressor and how much time is it running after you start blasting. The more your compressor runs the more it will generate heat which will generate moisture as it comes out of the blast nozzle. If there is too much air in the supply when it comes through the suction zone it will not draw, cause the moisture to deposit itself on the media, clump or stick together and give you the issues you seem to be having.
Also, FWIW there is a version of that very same "Mody Blast" cabinet that you can buy from harbor freight if you need a reference price for their quote, but a better cabinet will serve you no better without a better supply of clean and dry air, in sufficient quantity.
Link to much better 1100 dollar HF cabinet - https://www.harborfreight.com/abrasive-blast-cabinet-with-dual-doors-60738.html
Also, FWIW there is a version of that very same "Mody Blast" cabinet that you can buy from harbor freight if you need a reference price for their quote, but a better cabinet will serve you no better without a better supply of clean and dry air, in sufficient quantity.
Link to much better 1100 dollar HF cabinet - https://www.harborfreight.com/abrasive-blast-cabinet-with-dual-doors-60738.html
Tbender78
Well-known member
When I first got my cabinet I put in a whole 50# bag of black beauty. the media wouldn’t come out of the gun. Looked at everything 3 times. Took half of it out and it works perfect now.
Plugged the nozzle with finger and still no go. Air pressure at 40-60psi with dry media. ?
welder4956
Well-known member
Thanks to all who replayed to my post. Unfortunately I'm still getting nothing. I have replaced all the hoses. Built and installed a metering valve. Installed a valve with a water separator running at 60 psi. Have plenty of air. Am using crushed walnut as media. It is new, clean and dry and checked that it fits through the nozzle. Checked that there isn't any obstructions on the line. I'm lost!
I'm guessing the problem is in the pickup underneath the cabinet and the media is clumping or clogging in the area of the tee. My HF cabinet has the TP Tools upgrade kit with the pickup tube inside the hopper and works great.
https://www.tptools.com/Skat-Blast-...maJYJi438zgMl1klJ4Y6lO5-vnlbp6_oTQrW1FMtin2jz
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Media is new and dry. I also fitted a valve with a water separator.I'm guessing the problem is in the pickup underneath the cabinet and the media is clumping or clogging in the area of the tee. My HF cabinet has the TP Tools upgrade kit with the pickup tube inside the hopper and works great.
https://www.tptools.com/Skat-Blast-...maJYJi438zgMl1klJ4Y6lO5-vnlbp6_oTQrW1FMtin2jz
Jwallace1
Well-known member
i would guess as stated above also that its the media size, the walnut shell i have seen is much larger than glass bead or aluminum oxide media and just doesn't flow through the hoses in this style of blast cabinet. might try switching the media and see what happens.
I'll give that a try. I have tried every thing else. Thanks
I'm not sure where my directions are but I'm sure I have my air pressure set where the directions say, @ 90PSI.
I just went back and read more of the thread as my post above was a reply to your quote.
Seeing the pick up out of the bottom of the hopper, did you plumb that or was it set up that way ?
Or is that a recommended modification from someone ? I haven't seen that before.
Seeing the pick up out of the bottom of the hopper, did you plumb that or was it set up that way ?
Or is that a recommended modification from someone ? I haven't seen that before.
welder4956
Well-known member
This could be the issue. Was the connecting piping for the metering valve designed and sized for the media, or is this hardware store fittings? Also, does the air inlet valve need to be closer to the tee? Having it on the reducing tee near the hose connection may be causing an issue. Also, does the cabinet have a vacuum with a cyclone separator and an inlet on the cabinet for air flow? If the cabinet is pressurized, it may interfere with the metering valve flow.
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