TP Tools Blast Cabinet Build

[JFoshee]

My wife got me a kit from TP TOOLS to build my own blast cabinet for Christmas. I finally got it done and thought I'd share the experience. The kit comes with instructions to build a cabinet from two sheets of plywood. I decided to build mine a little larger. My cabinet is 24"x48" inside.

This is the contents of the kit.

This is the box once it's built. Sorry there are no in between pics, but my dad helped me and taking pictures was not part of the job.

Finally got it painted.

Here is the finished product. It works great. I did some research on the dust collection, but for now I just went with a 5HP shop vac. It seams to work very well, other than the noise, but I'm working on that. Thanks to all who posted answers to the many questions I had before buying the kit and about the dust collection.

 

[spongerich]

Nice. I have a shop-built cab (built by someone else) that I really like.

Good call on making it a little larger. When I did my motorcycle frame, I had to hang it out and rig up a cardboard 'outrigger'.

Blasting dust is really hard on shop vacs. Get a bag for yours if that's an option.

I built a water trap that works pretty well... you just need a tall plastic can with a lid and some PVC. Of course, it's not working that great right now with 4" of solid ice in the bottom of it.

 

[JFoshee]

I found a water separator on net somewhere. I am thinking of building it. For sure now that I know it works. It is pretty much like a "bong". (Not that I know what one is, but I've seen them in stores) The dust is pulled under the water level and the shop vac pulls a vacuum on the top side of the water. The vac does have a filter though.

 

[JimmyM]

I built the same exact one 10 or 12 years ago, I live not to far from them so I drive down there a couple times a year if I need parts or supplys for my cabinet, I put the light switch on the top left corner and the 6X6 air vent on the back, get you some
1X12 and make you one of theese http://www.tptools.com/Product.aspx?display_id=254 it works pretty good and might save the life of the vac a little better the shop vac might not last very long due the dusty conditions, I have the vac 34 good job on the build

 

[welpracing]

how much was the kit she got you? That cabinet looks great! how does the plywood hold up to the blasting?

 

[JimmyM]

as posted above I did mine 10 years ago or better, it doesn't really get used all that much, I walk over to it and dust a part off here and there the plywood will take some minor abuse, I put a piece of sheet metal on the inside back wall of mine, heres a link to their web site with all of the information you need about pricing etc https://www.tptools.com/ good luck with your cabinet build project

 

[banzaitoyota]

Go to HF or Lowes and by a $125 Dust collection system. Your shop vac will thank you

 

[JFoshee]

Go to HF or Lowes and by a $125 Dust collection system. Your shop vac will thank you

I have considered the HF DC, but I'm thinking about trying the water method discussed above first.

how much was the kit she got you? That cabinet looks great! how does the plywood hold up to the blasting?

The kit was $300 including shipping, but I wanted the foot pedal. You can buy the hand trigger for less money. I had to buy some hinges, foam sealer, paint, and some metal for the legs. I already had the plywood. All total I have around $450 in it. Kind of expensive I guess, but it was time spent with my dad building it and I can always point to it and say "Yep...me and daddy built that."
I have only used it about 3 hours, so hard to say about the plywood. So good so far.

I put the light switch on the top left corner and the 6X6 air vent on the back, get you some
1X12 and make you one of these http://www.tptools.com/Product.aspx?display_id=254 it works pretty good and might save the life of the vac a little better the shop vac might not last very long due the dusty conditions, I have the vac 34 good job on the build

I am considering adding a light to the right side. It seams I am always working in a shadow. My shop vac has the x-tra fine drywall filter. I looked in it today and there really wasn't much media, but the filter was very dirty.

 

[spongerich]

how much was the kit she got you? That cabinet looks great! how does the plywood hold up to the blasting?

The one I have got a lot of use from the previous owner and there was noticeable wear on the back wall. I stapled some old vinyl flooring to the back and that's holding up great. I read that it also makes your media last a little longer and it seems to make a bit less dust as well. The beads tend to bounce off and fall back rather than breaking up.