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Blast Cabinet

N

nevertomany

Member
Howdy all, I'm lookin to pick up a blast cabinet to help be able to sandblast small parts on a garden pulling tractor project. I have 3 models I'm interested in and was wondering if anyone that might have experience with any of these could help me out. My options are a TSC-sourced Jobsmart-brand cabinet, a Eastwood Benchtop cabinet, or a Eastwood Modular blast cabinet. A large downfall with the two Eastwood units is freight, however I have so far not been able to find a TSC unit in the box at a store. All have been displays. The TSC unit I was gonna get today had gouges (i think thatd be the term) in the plexiglass top (i suppose that what it is?) and was missing the hose and one glove. So I thought I'd look on here for advice. Any help is appreciated, thank you and have a good day.
Urls:
https://www.eastwood.com/modular-blast-cabinet.html
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-benchtop-blast-cabinet.html
https://www.external_link.com/tsc/product/jobsmart-abrasive-blast-cabinet
 
I would lean toward the Eastwood, simply because they are an established brand. You will eventually be needing consumable parts.

One problem I see with all of them is the light is inside the cabinet. That will be a problem with media getting inside the fixture, and the light lens being damaged from the media. A better light source is from the outside through a replaceable lens or through the cover glass.

Do you have a sufficient air source? Is it dry and filtered? Any moisture will cause the media to clump and clog the hose and gun. Low air volume will cause you have to stop and wait for the compressor to recover.

An option you will want to add is a dust collector. Without it, it will be near impossible to see what you are doing. Even a cheap shop vac will help. I say cheap because it is hard on the motor,even a good one will be short lived. A factory dust collector is a better choice, but they are expensive.
 
The light is a good point, I can take care of that I think. I have a Kobalt (Campbell Hausfield) 60gal compressor that I hope would work for this setup (when I move eventuallyi hope to upgrade to a 80gal IR). Do you think that is enough for now?. I use it with my siphon out a bucket setup and it works good for what it is. I have two air filters at the compressor and would add another at the blaster if neccessary. I have what I believe is a 3/8 hose on a reel that had a filter quick coupled to it and a filter on the tank before the quick coupler and after the tank shutoff. My hope was to run the hose over to the blaster when needed and have a quick coupler and another filter at blaster, opinions? Moisture is a problem I've had in the past which is why i have two filters now. I should be able to obtain a cheap shop vac, I do have one but as you noted I do not want to ruin my good one. Once the budget allows I'd have no issue upgrading to the Eastwood dust collector. This is a tax return buy and I want to get the best unit I can for the money I spend and 250 is really the limit right now. I was leaning towards that 255$ Eastwood unit myself. Thank you and have a good day.
 
Also of note, I have never had a blast cabinet before and am unfamiliar with them so it would be a learning experience also for me on how best to use it. I normally use black diamond media that I get at tsc locally. Any thoughts on this? I have used a blast out of a bucket before. And has been what I've always used. But during winter last year I did some parts for a friend inside my garage due to a snowstorm outside and the small parts and frame had to be done that day and made a huge mess. Still to this day I'm cleanin up sand. Would a blast cabinet really help to contain this mess? That's the main reason I'm lookin into one. Again, thank you.
 
I have a blast cabinet. It is an OLD Snap On brand with its own filter system. Used it for years and it is handy but can be a pain to use at times too.

The troubles I have with it are:

1) The sand/blast system is a siphon one. So keeping it sucking the blast material is a challenge when it humid. Setting longer periods of time make the blast material clump up. Also the stuff you blast off will plug the gun too. So I try to knock off as much as possible before putting it in the cabinet. I used Black Beauty material for years. I finally just dump it out between uses and throw it away. I keep any on hand either unopened or in an air tight container. I have been thinking about glass beads instead.

2) The other issue is the blast material clouds/etches the window faster than you think. I have tried coving it with cling wrap and other things. They do not work very well.

3) Check on consumables. Mine is old enough (25 years +) that Snap On no longer supports it. So I have had to go to an after market gun system. It is not near the quality of the original. Nozzles will last a few hours at the best.

Northern Tool has a range of cabinets. From cheap to pretty professional ones. If one of there stores is around you I think they will ship it there for free.
 
nevertomany - You might also consider purchasing from Harbor Freight, they have two models - a free-standing unit for $180. & a benchtop model for $120. . If you phone in your order, or order online, they ship right to your home. - Harbor Freight: 800-423-2567
Blast Cabinets
 
I have checked and so far I've found the easiest consumables to find have been the Eastwood ones. There listed right on the website. Nozzles, replacement gun assembly, glass, and filters. And the Eastwood does at least have a one year warranty and I haven't had issues in the past. It may be possible to switch media or drain it out. I usually keep my media in buckets so it doesn't get moisture in it. Thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 14:46:42 02/11/19) nevertomany - You might also consider purchasing from Harbor Freight, they have two models - a free-standing unit for $180. & a benchtop model for $120. . If you phone in your order, or order online, they ship right to your home. - Harbor Freight: 800-423-2567

Youtube has plenty of upgrades how to's for HF units... Any cabinet cheap is in need of up grades.. That being said most any one will leak a little its the nature of the beast when the vacuum set up gets restricted....

You are pressurizing the cabinet something has got to give that's why a good vacuum is important... Air supply is the tip the more the better...
Click to expand...
 
The blaster will have the air CFM requirements listed, and can be varied by using a different nozzle.

Compare the requirements with the specs on the compressor.

Whatever you can do to get dry air will help. A lot of water condenses in the lines after the air leaves the tank. If you can come directly off the top of the tank, and keep the tank drained, that will probably be the driest air.
 
I have one of the Harbor Freight free standing cabinets!! Works very well, I installed better lighting and am currently using a shop vac but plan on go with a dust collector!!!! I strongly believe most important factor with any cabinet is having sufficient air supply! I use an 80gal high output air compressor!!!
 
I have one of those HF bench top that I put on a roll around table. Also put some LED lighting inside. Really like it. Never thought of hooking up the shop vac to it but sounds like an idea I will try.
 
My box is homemade with the plans from Trumans in Ohio. It is a large box. Gloves are purchased from Trumans along with the window. Or a window out of a trailer door.
 
I also built my own from a kit.
1/2" plywood and some fabbing. I have a door on the side for the long stuff and the front also opens.
They make a replaceable plastic film for the window.
2 lights inside, no problems.
I have a bathroom fan blowing in on one side and a gunny sack catching dust on the other, works good!
 
Visit www.tptools.com I have had one of their model 960 cabinets for over 20 years. Pricey yes, but I would not trade it for anything that has been listed yet.
 
I think I'm gonna get either the larger Eastwood cabinet or one of the TP tools ones. I'd prefer one that opened at the top as the items I want to do would be easier to drop in than get in through the side. Thanks to all for your help.
 
I am with naylorbrothers on this one. I suffered with the cheapies for many years but didn't know I was suffering until I ran a ScatBlast from TP tools. Ordered one as soon as I got home. I know it is easy to spend others money but go the extra route of the foot pedal gun and get the LED light bar. I have a 960 and absolutely love it.
 
I have the TSC unit but I stopped using it many years ago and will likely be passing it down the road in the near future. It did a decent job. Not in love with it but it worked. The big problem was that I noticed a lot of fines getting out around the seal on the cabinet lid. I was breathing these so I started using a mask when I was using it. This got me to thinking about how reasonable the local guy was who did it. Did a much better job too. So I take my parts to him, my health is that much more secure and everyone wins. If you want one, buy one...but don't buy the cheapest one on the market and make sure it seals good.
 
I agree with naylorbros. TP tools is a great company to work with. I also have a 960 series cabinet which I use quite a bit since I purchased it in 2007. If you ever need parts they have them too as they are the manufacturer of the cabinets. They also sell many other restoration tools and products. I bought a 5hp 2stage 80 gallon Champion air compressor from them in 2007. I moved last year and that air compressor got left at the old place as the new owner wanted it. Once I got the new shop built I called TP tools and talked to a guy named Carmen, a nice guy with a lot of knowledge. I ended up getting the same compressor I had at the old place, free shipping too. Champion is a great compressor!

DWF
 
Well with everyone's advice I've just placed an order for the Eastwood Modular Blast cabinet. I hope that this cabinet will last a long time and be useful for me. I have 4-7 days to prepare for its arrival they say, so it leads me to another question. I know that I want to attach another water separator to the system. Unfortunately my garage is not plumbed and I will be using a hose. For my siphon blaster outside I use a 3/8" 50ft and Eastwood does not recommend this. I was thinking of getting a new 25' 3/8" ID hose and some Hi-Flo 1/4" fittings for it, thoughts? Also for this water separator, I already have a Kobalt and a HF separator inline at the compressor, so would the best course of action be to add it at the cabinet? My current setup is below if I attached the picture correctly. The coupler I am pointing too would be replaced with a Hi-Flo and both on the HF sep would be changed. Advice folks? Thank you folks for all the advice.
cvphoto12655.jpg
 

https://www.amazon.com/Motor-Guard-M-30-Submicronic-Compressed/dp/B000GI0H2M

Pix of my set up in this post.

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.c...&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

My filter/drier is mobile I can move it around if I am going to paint something it goes in that hose I have never had an issue with dirty air are moister using this type if filter...

Back in the day when dad was painting cars this type of filter was on every air line used to paint with he would install a new roll before he painted. Its rare I paint so swap out the roll maybe once a year...
 
I built mine out of plywood. Painted the inside white. Bought a good quality siphon gun. I use the shop vac to pull vacuum on the cabinet. My wife sewed a heavy pair of rubber gloves onto the pant legs of an old pair of jeans of mine. I put them through the holes in the front and stapled them on. This thing works great! I made it hinged in the front so I can put it all the way back against the wall.
 
Howdy everyone, thought I would post a quick update for anyone who may be interested. I ordered one of the products Hobo, NC suggested after some research. I think I will like it. I also got some hi-flo fittings coming from Eastwood, hope there enough. We'll see how this setup all works out. Cabinet should be here tomorrow, filter saturday. Still need to aquire a new 3/8" air hose by 25' air hose to use with it, been lookin around for a good quality USA made one. Found a few but seemingly ridiculous shipping costs. Thanks everyone for your help and opinions.
Greg
 
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