Sand blasting
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Sand blasting
Anybody else's sand blasting cabinet the most frustrating thing during the whole restoration? Bought a new cabinet the light has quit working and it's terribly slow and impossible to see in even when the light was working! Lost my patience with it tonight and had to walk away! Rant over
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
what air pressure do you run your cabinet at? I have been told to reduce it to 50 lbs or so and you will get less dust. I haven't tried it yet, does anyone know if it will work?
The other thing I do is hook my shop vac up. I don't let it run all the time but I turn it on once and a while to clear the dust. Just make sure you crack the door or have another vent open or you could collapse your cabinet
The other thing I do is hook my shop vac up. I don't let it run all the time but I turn it on once and a while to clear the dust. Just make sure you crack the door or have another vent open or you could collapse your cabinet
Trending Topics
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
I have one of the Harbor Freight models and it can be frustrating to use.
On mine the light burned out relatively early but the two most frustrating things about it are you need to use a fairly fine abrasive or else the nozzle will clog up and, for me, the most frustrating/irritating "feature" is how it doesn't really feed the abrasive to the nozzle. I'm always having to stop and shake the cabinet to get the abrasive back down around the syphon tube.
On mine the light burned out relatively early but the two most frustrating things about it are you need to use a fairly fine abrasive or else the nozzle will clog up and, for me, the most frustrating/irritating "feature" is how it doesn't really feed the abrasive to the nozzle. I'm always having to stop and shake the cabinet to get the abrasive back down around the syphon tube.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I use glass bead.
I got my blaster off craigslist fro $150 if I remember right. It's been $$ well spent for sure. My cabinet can be a paint from time to time if I get too much crud in with the sand & the lines clog. I haven't cleaned my filter since. Feb 2010 though so I think it's time again...
I got my blaster off craigslist fro $150 if I remember right. It's been $$ well spent for sure. My cabinet can be a paint from time to time if I get too much crud in with the sand & the lines clog. I haven't cleaned my filter since. Feb 2010 though so I think it's time again...
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 32
From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Chamberlain's VacuBlast Sales Co., Inc.
I have an older one that I inherited from my grandfather. It's a recycling model with built in filters. It has been great having. It's large enough for most everything I do (I can sit in the chamber...
) I've used it for body work by extending the feed and air lines out of the blaster to my driveway where my truck is. (sorry this is the only picture I have...)
If you go this big, make sure you can afford the compressor needed to provide the air. In my case, an electric one powerful enough would have been three phase, which we don't have at our house (and most don't). So I had to go buy a gas powered compressor to provide the CFM's. That's not to say you can't use a smaller compressor. You just won't have as fast/effective of blasting.
As for media, I use mostly Aluminum oxide, and some silicone carbide. When I'm working outside the blaster/recycle, I use straight-up silica sand. Lane Mountain, I believe. $7 for a 100lb bag. I've used the sand with the normal setup, but it clogs the filters pretty quick.
Jameson
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Spencer Mountain, NC
Blasting with sand is a health hazard. Don't do it unless you have a hood with CLEAN supplied breathing air. I emphasize CLEAN because there are also hazards with breathing air contaminated with compressor oil.
I have a Trinco blast cabinet I picked up used for $100 that I use for smaller items like intakes, wheels, small body parts, etc. I use glass beads for delicate work, aluminum oxide for less delicate work and black magic for heavily rusted parts. Usually keep the air pressure between 45 and 60 pounds. Most blast cabinet manufacturers specify proper pressures based on the blasting media used. Google will be your friend here.
I have a Trinco blast cabinet I picked up used for $100 that I use for smaller items like intakes, wheels, small body parts, etc. I use glass beads for delicate work, aluminum oxide for less delicate work and black magic for heavily rusted parts. Usually keep the air pressure between 45 and 60 pounds. Most blast cabinet manufacturers specify proper pressures based on the blasting media used. Google will be your friend here.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 32
From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Jameson
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kramttocs
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Feb 11, 2019 09:14 PM
ramirez7589
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
12
Jun 22, 2015 09:42 AM