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Best SandBlasting Cabinet/setup for $500 or less?

6K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Gilligan8 
#1 ·
Ok... this little rinky dink setup from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/garage-...net-42202.html

I've siliconed it up, tapped into the bottom with the siphon tube to be more like the big boys, even did the orifice mod by azlo found here on this site ( http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=88862 ).

It still drives my wife crazy at how inconsistent it is and some times she can get a piece done in 20 seconds and other times over 5 mins! Same piece... just doesn't want to blow abrasive and the constant flow of useless air causes the piece to get messed up making it a reject.

It has definitely served its purpose and paid for itself and made us enough to buy a better setup.

I don't have a large compressor... but I do have two of them. One is a craftsman the other might be also but both are 5hp 30 (maybe only 20 but I think 30) gallon horizontal compressors. Specs on the older Craftsman CLAIM "8.6 scfm at 40 psi and 6.4 scfm at 90 psi" not sure on the other one as it is at a friends place.

I know the one I have now works hard... it can't keep up with the wife steady blowing air. It catches up when she takes out the pieces she's working on and reloads the cabinet.

We only blast small (5"x4"x4") glass pieces but we do load about 12 at a time and only that few because it gets crowded at that point. We do anywhere from 2-200 in a session... averaging about 24. I don't see us doing anything larger... we got it for this purpose exclusively. That being said, I'm not opposed to a larger unit... just saying this size doesn't hurt us much.

We also have issues (as I'm sure everyone does) with the protection film. We've tried various alternatives since the OEM stuff isn't available.

We are using glass bead No.4 (30-40) right now, we were using #6 but local shop was out and 4 seems to be working (when the system works) and I imagine I'll get more use out of it since it won't turn into dust the first time it breaks apart... could be wrong on that assumption.

Ok... enough rambling.

Where should we spend our money? Am I being unrealistic with a (soft) ceiling of $500?

Also if it keeps me from upgrading the compressor could I "link" the two together? Maybe a larger volume tank that they both feed? That would increase my CFM's right?
 
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#2 ·
You can link the 2 together with both feeding into one line..Place the media hopper high so it will gravity feed..a good water trap system will help..sounds like moisture is clogging the system..does not take much moisture to clog the works..and look into building your own blast cabinet..lots of freeplans out there..

Sam
 
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