Glad you upgraded your lighting, it makes all the difference !!
late to the party but here is my desktop build & upgrade, still working it today !!
Eastwood Benchtop Blast Cabinet Item #30721 Assembly
as for media, i buy aluminum oxide and glass bead
i have 3 mixes, 1 all alox, 1 all glass, then a 50/50
i would start a NEW thread with Media recommendations or such as title, as anyone seeing this will think it is about blast cabinet lighting !! I always start a new thread when the subject changes !!
what i used to clean up parts when restoring my 1929 & 1930 plus other parts
alox is great for semi aggressive cleaning rusty parts and cleaning them up, glass is great for sheet metal and good clean finish on parts that i usually do not paint (aluminum casting parts), then 50/50 for things in the middle semi aggressive cleaning and and smooth finish. I get my supplies from Norton, since we have one locally
also note that alox comes in various GRIT !! as do most medias !!
https://nortonsandblasting.com/abrasives-media-and-grit/