The Abrasive Blasting Resource Thread

[Captainkrusty]

I recently purchased and did the "harbor freight sandblast cabinet mods" found throughout youtube and here. I tried the gun that came with the cabinet and it just didn't work so I cut it apart and cobbled something together that would allow me to start some projects. I have a mill and lathe (self taught) and though I could make one. I finished and tried it today and love it. What a difference it makes. It doesn't clog, pulls a great vacuum and is adjustable. I think I will try another one to make some changes. Instead of the set screws to adjust and hold the nozzle, I will thread the inside of the gun and the nozzle itself and use a jam nut to lock it. Thanks for looking. Tom

 

[GeoBruin]

Looks great! Before you make your next version, consider looking at some of the other tip and jet combos available. I know the skat blast tips are pretty popular. That might give you some more flexibility than just marrying yourself to the harbor freight style tips.

 

[Captainkrusty]

I will, thanks.

 

[GeoBruin]

I will, thanks.

I assume you're using a foot pedal up stream? I have the skat trigger gun but I have a tiny cabinet and the extra size/complexity of the trigger actuated gun isn't ideal. It would be great to buy/make a smaller gun and move the actuator mechanism outside the cabinet.

 

[Captainkrusty]

I assume you're using a foot pedal up stream? I have the skat trigger gun but I have a tiny cabinet and the extra size/complexity of the trigger actuated gun isn't ideal. It would be great to buy/make a smaller gun and move the actuator mechanism outside the cabinet.

I have not purchased a foot pedal and have a simple 1/4 turn ball valve behind the gun. Seems to work ok and I don't know if I want to change. Right now, it is on/off with a very good air flow. I could reduce the size of the gun depending on the style of nozzle for more room but my biggest issue is the stiff supply hose that makes it difficult to move the hoses in the cabinet. I am always searching for something about 1/2" ID that I could use but have not found anything suitable yet.

 

[Jeffncs]

I just found this thread…. Great info!

I have an ALC cabinet. The plastic edges are starting to distort, so I used some of the widest and thickest box store foam insulation. Seems to be working ok for now.

I also need to replace my viewing window. The old glass was replace with lexan - huge mistake. Im going to have a piece of tempered glass cut to fit then use the clear plastic sticky sheets to protect it.

 

[JHForman]

I picked this up over the weekend. needs a little work, and I gotta get my compressor up and running.

 

[dkmc]

I picked this up over the weekend. needs a little work, and I gotta get my compressor up and running.

Pressure pot yea baby

 

[930dreamer]

I picked this up over the weekend. needs a little work, and I gotta get my compressor up and running.

Cabinet back story?

 

[JHForman]

Cabinet back story?

Found on marketplace, was made aware of the broken view port, and also the electromagnetic valve was bad(he still had it). upon arriving after a 3 hour drive there was a littlemore damage than disclosed originally. the dust collector on the left(looking at it head on) was damaged also, along with a nice dent in the cabinet. Come to find out it fell off the forklift when moving it. Plugged in the lights, and the dust collectors to make sure they worked. the pressure pot(not much can go wrong here), the foot pedal, and the other solenoid all worked when powered up. I gave 900 for it. its got a 2019 build date. allsource 42000. its large enough for everything im going to do. pretty estatic to have it!

 

[dogzbody1]

Hi all

I just joined this world having purchased a use Econoline cabinet last weekend. It was missing a few pieces that just arrived in the mail. The cabinet is a 24x36 box and seems quite well made (https://www.sandblasting.com/assets/24-0, 30-0, 36-1,48-2 LED.pdf). I can't wait to get blasting, but let me start with a dumb and newbie question.

The gun (which was one of the missing pieces) has two lines that go to it, one is for the air and the other the pickup for the sand, the pickup hose was missing but I now have it. So the hose to pickup the sand connects to the gun at one and at the other - do I just bury it in the sand or does it connect to the metal tube that goes to the bottom of the sand? The metal tube (5/8")is marked air intake in the manual and goes down one side of the cabinet and comes back up the other. The metal tube is bolted to the cabinet and there is no line or indication anything was connected to it so I wanted to ask before I started taking things apart to "fix" them.

Thanks for your advice and insights!
Steve

 

[930dreamer]

Tips are sized to cfm of air compressor, TPTools has a bunch of info and parts. I'm thinking the media needs to cover the end of the pickup tube at a minimum.

 

[dkmc]

Hi all

I just joined this world having purchased a use Econoline cabinet last weekend. It was missing a few pieces that just arrived in the mail. The cabinet is a 24x36 box and seems quite well made (https://www.sandblasting.com/assets/24-0, 30-0, 36-1,48-2 LED.pdf). I can't wait to get blasting, but let me start with a dumb and newbie question.

The gun (which was one of the missing pieces) has two lines that go to it, one is for the air and the other the pickup for the sand, the pickup hose was missing but I now have it. So the hose to pickup the sand connects to the gun at one and at the other - do I just bury it in the sand or does it connect to the metal tube that goes to the bottom of the sand? The metal tube (5/8")is marked air intake in the manual and goes down one side of the cabinet and comes back up the other. The metal tube is bolted to the cabinet and there is no line or indication anything was connected to it so I wanted to ask before I started taking things apart to "fix" them.

Thanks for your advice and insights!
Steve

My guess is, there is a hole at the bottom of the metal "U" tube for sand pickup. Arrow shows air intake which is along with the sand.
The manual calls it a siphon tube, so yes your abrasive hose connects to that.

 

[dogzbody1]

Thank you DKMC! I sadly am "down there" on Long Island, much appreciate the help.

 

[dkmc]

Thank you DKMC! I sadly am "down there" on Long Island, much appreciate the help.

Hey, good you're 'over there' and not 'in the middle of it'. Hope you get the cabinet working well.

 

[dogzbody1]

DKMC - you were right on target. I had to clear the bottom of the intake tube but once I did that it worked great. Now I'm dangerous and looking for things that "need" sandblasting.

 

[930dreamer]

A friend has two drums (55gal?) of coal slag blasting media, does this absorb moisture? Drums have been sitting a long time. I'll try to get some pictures.

 

[dkmc]

A friend has two drums (55gal?) of coal slag blasting media, does this absorb moisture? Drums have been sitting a long time. I'll try to get some pictures.

It doesn't seem to when it's in a cabinet or pressure pot. Work a pointed wooden dowel down to the bottom and check it for moisture. I'm sure it could be dried out in the sun in smaller quantities.

 

[930dreamer]

It doesn't seem to when it's in a cabinet or pressure pot. Work a pointed wooden dowel down to the bottom and check it for moisture. I'm sure it could be dried out in the sun in smaller quantities.

That's what I was thinking if it needed drying. His land might be selling and the Cat powered Gardner Denver air compressor needs a home....
Oh what's the common use for slag media?

 

[dkmc]

Slag is what Black Beauty is. Usually used on outside pressure pot blasting jobs.
Grab that compressor!

 

[930dreamer]

Another cabinet question;
What does this sliding hatch do? What position should it be in? Thank you

 

[dkmc]

Another cabinet question;
What does this sliding hatch do? What position should it be in? Thank you

Depends on where it's located.

 

[930dreamer]

Depends on where it's located.

With the dust collector running it blows air out of this sliding cover. It's just under this area where this steel ring is.

 

[dkmc]

With the dust collector running it blows air out of this sliding cover. It's just under this area where this steel ring is.

Possibly to limit suction on the collector so it can be tuned to only pick up dust and not media?

 

[LS1-IROC]

It's an adjustable damper for controlling reclaim velocity.

 

[dkmc]

It's an adjustable damper for controlling reclaim velocity.

Same thing I said I think?

 

[930dreamer]

I'll open and close it while blasting and see what happens.

 

[dkmc]

That's what I was thinking if it needed drying. His land might be selling and the Cat powered Gardner Denver air compressor needs a home....
Oh what's the common use for slag media?

That engine looks interesting, unfortunately I can't expand the 1-1/2" square picture.

 

[930dreamer]

Better pics! Has a pony motor also.

 

[dkmc]

Better pics! Has a pony motor also.

The pony motor confused me in the small pic. That thing is cool how many CFM?

 

[930dreamer]

365 cfm.

 

[dkmc]

365 cfm.

Hum......that might be enough??

 

[930dreamer]

Cleaning out the Clemco Pulsar III blast cabinet filter. New one is around $225 but I only paid $250 for the blast cabinet.
I need to figure out a better platform/pedal setup. Without a platform to stand on I can't see into the window, and having a foot pedal on that is uncomfortable.
I'm thinking I need the pedal set into my platform almost flush so I can stand normal. The light probably needs a new setup also.

 

[dkmc]

Cleaning out the Clemco Pulsar III blast cabinet filter. New one is around $225 but I only paid $250 for the blast cabinet.
I need to figure out a better platform/pedal setup. Without a platform to stand on I can't see into the window, and having a foot pedal on that is uncomfortable.
I'm thinking I need the pedal set into my platform almost flush so I can stand normal. The light probably needs a new setup also.

I'd shop around more and check EBAY that sounds crazy high for that filter element.

 

[930dreamer]

I'd shop around more and check EBAY that sounds crazy high for that filter element.

That's a Clemco price, I'm sure I can find one cheaper. Man that filter was caked with dirt.

 

[dkmc]

That's a Clemco price, I'm sure I can find one cheaper. Man that filter was caked with dirt.

Not everyone is aware that filters are designed to have a layer of 'dustcake' on them.....

What Is a Dustcake? | Menardi Filters

RESOURCES What Is a Dustcake? The most important thing to understand about the dust collection process is that the filter bag fabric is not a filter. There ...

www.menardifilters.com

Filter Cake Is Not A Dessert - Pure Air Systems

Filter cake is a term that is not used much anymore in the air filtration industry but it is a very important part of the mechanical method by which air filters capture smaller particles. Removing airborne particles by the use of air filters has been around for over 70 years. The filter medias...

www.pureairsystems.com

 

[930dreamer]

Testing the cabinet. I was thinking something like this would work for being vertically challenge.

 

[dkmc]

Testing the cabinet. I was thinking something like this would work for being vertically challenge.

Wow it rips. What pressure are you running?

 

[930dreamer]

Wow it rips. What pressure are you running?

100 psi.

 

[930dreamer]

I started to removed the glass but found it had a plastic peel-off on the glass inside. Put the middle gasket back on and added a touch of sealent. I'll relax at home and look for more peel-offs. Not a bad day.