Blaster Cabinet Help

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BillK
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by BillK »

VMC wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:05 am I've been using this unit for almost 20 years without any issues whatsoever.

http://toolsplususa.com/shop/blast-cabi ... 48x24.html

Having the front access hatch is a very convenient option. You can also load it from either side.
Can I ask how loud the dust collector is ? Say compared to a Shop Vac ?
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by Krooser »

You can build your own from plywood...plans are online.

I have owned several from those benchtop plastic jobs to a 72" wide two man deal.

Most important is good lights, seals and available consumables.
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by BCjohnny »

David Redszus wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:16 pm
Don't use sand, Silicosis kills people
Glass bead IS silica, just the shape is different. The longer it is used it becomes silica dust.

And, yes, silica dust is very bad for your health. Ergo the need for a good filter system.
Incorrect [-X

Silicosis is caused by breakdown of 'crystalline' silicon, ie sand, and the absorption of the sharp fine crystalline particles into the lungs, where it gets lodged causing inflammation, possibly leading to cancer ...... eventually

Glass Bead is made of 'amorphous' silicon and it doesn't fragment in the same way, thus not causing the same problem

Nor does crushed glass ...... because it's also 'amorphous'

Or something like that ......
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by Krooser »

BillK wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:41 pm
VMC wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:05 am I've been using this unit for almost 20 years without any issues whatsoever.

http://toolsplususa.com/shop/blast-cabi ... 48x24.html

Having the front access hatch is a very convenient option. You can also load it from either side.
Can I ask how loud the dust collector is ? Say compared to a Shop Vac ?
Much better... I mostly ran my shop vac outside with a hole for the vacuum thru the wall to keep the shop cleaner.
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VMC
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by VMC »

BillK wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:41 pm
VMC wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:05 am I've been using this unit for almost 20 years without any issues whatsoever.

http://toolsplususa.com/shop/blast-cabi ... 48x24.html

Having the front access hatch is a very convenient option. You can also load it from either side.
Can I ask how loud the dust collector is ? Say compared to a Shop Vac ?
Like standing next to a 747 revving up for take-off to be honest.

The dust collector isn't the easiest thing to service either, and I do plan to upgrade to a better unit (collector) at some point.
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by maxracesoftware »

Kansas Instruments Tumbler sandblaster
last latest Model???, has electronic controls/Timer on the Cabinet
looks just like this Pic :
Image
Image
https://www.purplewave.com/auction/160406/item/CD9790
i should have taken my own Pic , but forgot to :(

this Guy is my ex-Employee, worked for me about 1 1/2 years
he will oven bake + steel-shot blast w/Kansas Instruments Tumbler sandblaster + jet wash
1 pair of cast-iron Heads all for $40.00USD
Also has another separate Blaster for everything aluminum
i think he said aluminum oxide medium for aluminum ??

i have 23 pairs of cast-iron Heads to do
23 pairs x $40.00 = $920.00USD

8 aluminum Heads to do .... plus various other parts to do .
8 x $20.00USD = $160.00USD

$920.00 + $160.00 = $1080.00 USD

i'll probably go with my ex-Employee's offer ??
He does all the cleaning/sandblasting ... and i'm free to work on other Projects !
no Health issues either letting Him do all the work !

still , i'm thinking seriously of just buying my own sandblaster ,
i'm sort of a "Night-Bird" , work till 5am in the morning 7 Days a week :)

One found Memory i have many years ago , is from SpeedTalk Forum Member "GreenLight"
calls me at 12:30 at nite , and asks if i feel like decking
and boring a SBC Chevy engine tonite , i said sure , so i finish his SBC ,
and he leaves with it hours later in the morning :)
.... so i'd want my very own Sandblaster ,
and if i feel like bead blasting something at 3:00am in the morning , i can :)

SpeedTalk Forum Member "GreenLight" sent me Pics of
Don's Shop with 3 Sunnen Tumbler SandBlasters
i'm guessing Sunnen no longer sells SandBlasters ??
nothing on their Website about SandBlasters
IMG_4326.jpg
The 3 Sunnens and the Kansas Instruments Tumbler sandblaster
are all Front/Top Loaders ... this is the type i'd need
as this type fits the only place in my Shop i can put in right now !
i can't use a Side-Loader type !
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bentvalves
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by bentvalves »

nobody mentioned SKAT-BLAST.

they make some really nice units, all the way up to HUMONGOUS in size at very reasonable prices.

made in the USA!
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by smeg »

I would advise you not to grit blast blocks. Very hard to get all the remnants from blind oil galleries etc. I have seen the problems caused by this.
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by PackardV8 »

smeg wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:00 pm I would advise you not to grit blast blocks. Very hard to get all the remnants from blind oil galleries etc. I have seen the problems caused by this.
For true, but then it's very hard to get all the original crud out. There are very few blind oil galleries. Most are drilled through holes. We take all the plugs out, jet wash, blast, jet wash again, blow it out with air, run brushes through, tap the threaded holes and it's usually better than it was before.
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by BCjohnny »

The 'airless' automatic paddle blasters mentioned almost exclusively use fine steel shot, or 'chopped steel shot grit' ...... usually again S230-330 sizing

Pretty much any non-metallic media would struggle to have the kinetic energy to do the job ...... I'm not say it hasn't been used, just not that I've seen it, and I've been around a lot of blasting equipment over the years

Stainless steel shot, or the more aggressive 'chopped wire' version, work well in that type of machine but give a more 'shiney' finish that doesn't look 'as cast'

Most of the 'grits' ....... Alum Oxide, Garnet, crushed glass etc ...... are usually 'air borne', few rarely work better than out of a pressure pot

The 'foundry' by products are often messy, usually meant for outside work such as large fabs, ships hulls etc

I've an airless auto, and it makes more money than any other machine in the shop, pro-rata time attended

As I've said elsewhere, it's not blasting the part that's usually the problem, it's get all the stuff back out after ...... you only have to get unlucky once to have a major problem
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by HDBD »

Give these guys a look, my current unit. Very low maintenance, media change in 5 minutes, clean the bags and empty the dust drawer another 5 minutes. I use glass protectors and LED T8 lighting
https://badboyblasters.com/product-cate ... uct-page=1
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by David Redszus »

BCjohnny wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 4:19 pm
David Redszus wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:16 pm
Don't use sand, Silicosis kills people
Glass bead IS silica, just the shape is different. The longer it is used it becomes silica dust.

And, yes, silica dust is very bad for your health. Ergo the need for a good filter system.
Incorrect [-X

Silicosis is caused by breakdown of 'crystalline' silicon, ie sand, and the absorption of the sharp fine crystalline particles into the lungs, where it gets lodged causing inflammation, possibly leading to cancer ...... eventually

Glass Bead is made of 'amorphous' silicon and it doesn't fragment in the same way, thus not causing the same problem

Nor does crushed glass ...... because it's also 'amorphous'

Or something like that ......
For real technical information regarding blast media:
Graco.com
search for:
Choosing the right blast media for abrasive blasting.
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by BCjohnny »

Yes ...... whatever, David .......
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Re: Blaster Cabinet Help

Post by Fusion Works »

I have been using an ancient Empire Airblast suction cabinet for 10 years or so. Its an industrial cabinet, has held up well, has a good vacuum system and dust collector. Make sure you use the plastic window protectors, I messed up and etched the glass before I learned about those.

I have swapped between the garnet, coal slag, walnut shells, pretty easily. I use the coal slag for prepping steel parts for welding and fab work, plus paint and coating prep.
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