Waterloo blast cabinet

[Tizzy]

I picked up a used Waterloo blast cabinet, complete with a small cartridge looking water separator and foot pedal. As far as I know, it’s all original, including the gun. The tip looks to be in good shape. I’ve been reading the blasting resource thread and I’ve got information overload. I know I need to change the gloves, viewing glass and get some grommets to trim some of the hoses. Maybe add another light down the road.
I plan to use medium crushed glass unless there is a better option for a moderately economical “do it all” media. Also, is there a psi range for that media?
I’m looking for recommendations for dust handling/reclaim. It’s got a blower in the side of the cabinet and I don’t know if it’s a fan or an impeller. Looks to be original– not sure what I need to hook to it. Id definitely rather not burn up a bunch of shop vacs, but, it’s not going to see a lot of use either.
Thanks

 

[930dreamer]

Looking at another Waterloo cabinet picture it shows a vacuum hose out of the side. Do you think your fan is original? I have a slightly used tp tool collector sitting in my shop if you can use it.

 

[Tizzy]

Looking at another Waterloo cabinet picture it shows a vacuum hose out of the side. Do you think your fan is original? I have a slightly used tp tool collector sitting in my shop if you can use it.

After looking closer, the tag on my fan says “Swirlwind High-performance blower”. Now I’m starting to question my assumption that it is factory.

 

[Tizzy]

I guess my real question is –do I need a vac system with a blower? Or just a cyclone of sorts and a collection bag? I’ve read have a blower AND a vac mess with the evacuation pressures.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I think that the fan needs to be removed and a dust deputy connected in the port, then adapt the fan on the outlet side of the dust deputy. After that, adapt a standard filter bag to the outlet of the blower. Grit traveling through a blower without dropout filtration wears one out quicker from the abrasive grit. Filter bags of various sizes are available online. I get mine from IDS Blast.

IDS Blast

IDS Blast: Your Resource For All Things Blasting Since 1991

idsblast.com

 

[Craig Balzer]

I plan to use medium crushed glass unless there is a better option for a moderately economical “do it all” media.

I don't recall the source of this chart but using the part numbers ought to get you there.
Anyhow -- maybe it will help you decide on the media. Note that ground glass (same as your medium crushed glass?) is the most abrasive media. Depending on the substrate, that may be too harsh


Regarding improving interior lighting, I simply used a large, very bright bulb

 

[BurtEggley]

I don't recall the source of this chart but using the part numbers ought to get you there.
Anyhow -- maybe it will help you decide on the media. Note that ground glass (same as your medium crushed glass?) is the most abrasive media. Depending on the substrate, that may be too harsh


Regarding improving interior lighting, I simply used a large, very bright bulb

I would follow the chart above. I worked in a machine shop years ago and did a lot of blasting of parts. Have a cabinet here and use it often. Broken glass is very rough and will damage many surfaces. Glass beads work well, and they leave a nicer finish. Just keep the pressures down or they will become broken glass. Use media from a blasting supply, and not ones from the local hardware or tool store. The stuff they sell is not well controlled as to size and quality. It can also have all sorts of other contaminants in the media like lead.

ONE CAVEAT - make sure you have a dust extraction system that will keep broken glass and the dust out of the air. If you inhale it, you can get a type of disease of the lungs as bad as cancer. I run mine thru a cyclone seperator and then a hepa shop vac that also has a bag. The cyclone catches most of the broken beads, and the bag catches the rest. Then the hepa scrubs the air.

You will also need a pretty good compressor. I run two twin cylinder compressors with their tanks in parallel to keep up with it.

 

[Tizzy]

Thanks for that info! I’m ordering this https://www.oneida-air.com/heavy-duty-dust-deputy-2-inch-deluxe-cyclone-kit
And I’m going to use my 6.5hp craftsman with a hepa and a shopvac bag as you suggested.