sand blast cabinet

[can whlvr 994]

hi guys,i just bought a new sand blaster,im gonna build a cabinet and have a couple of questions,do you have to sift the ussed sand and if so with what and do i need to consider ventilation in side the cabinet so it doesnt get to dusty to see,i have used a blaster extensivly but never in a cabinet,we just wasted the sand and allwaya used new stuff,

[cwilson 0]

I don't filter or sift mine. I just let it collect in the well along the bottom. I can tell you what I plan to do with the Harbor Freight cabinet I have. The window/lid is plexiglass with a thick plastic sheet to protect it from the sand. It doesn't do a great job so I plan to replaceit with a framed piece of tempered glass. As long as you don't blast it directly it won't shatter.

As far as air filtering, one side has a simple hole with what looks like a air compressor/small engine type air filter over it but that's insufficient. If I had a choice I would put in some kind of system using a shop vac to clear the dust and equalize the pressure in the box. If you put a light in it, get a small fluorescent tube style and cover it with a plastic light tube protector.

[rickv1957 76]

Don,them cabinets work very good as I have used my friends for years and his had a screen to sift the sand that could be cleaned,Rick

[Indy w h 5]

The one that I use has a port for a shop vac. Ya gotta clean the filter a lot In the shop vac but it works great we clean the sand about three times a year through a screen door screen just put it over a 5-gal. Bucket and sift used sand through it. Pretty simple

Indy

[dclarke 4,108]

don, i switched the vac system on my cabinet from a shop vac to an exhaust fan and dust bag i bought from "dee blast" corp. it's wisper quiet and works very well. check out their web site, the system i have is on their model 3824 cabinet.

[Sarge 3,470]

Is that a fine mesh canvas bag, or otherwise? Been looking for a good replacement bag for my Snap-On cabinet for awhile now.

If you're building a cabinet, look at the model from Dee Blast that dclarke mentioned, it's a decent design with enough angle on the collection hopper to help feed the unit, some are too low of an angle (like mine) to work consistently when it gets humid. The air blower dust collectors work well but take some upkeep to make them efficient. Never let the bag get much over 1' of debris in it , they can get quite heavy and difficult to empty.

Sarge

[dclarke 4,108]

sarge, i would have to say it's some type of a canvas bag. a zipper on the bottom. you're right they do get heavy.

[can whlvr 994]

thanks for the replies,for the dust i plan to use a small furnace blower with a 4 inch hose and vent it out side,i thought it would be hard to see in there,im going to price tempered glass for the window.

[Sarge 3,470]

Be very careful about venting the dust outside-it can be quite hazardous. Many of the old parts you may be blasting have lead paint which can cross-contaminate a lot of other things-including kids. It's best to use a dust bag or collector drum with a scavenger system and dispose of the waste dust/dirt properly. Also, that dust is extremely fine and will get into things you don't want to have to deal with . Not to get on a soapbox, but I've seen a few homeowners get busted and have to pay for cleanups which aren't cheap.

Tempered glass isn't exactly necessary-it depends on what you are using for media. Short of coal slag, very coarse aluminum oxide or raw silica just the standard "double strength" glass lasts just fine. I opened up the window a bit in mine and just cut my own sheets using a gasket seal and some aluminum to hold the glass in tight. The tempered windows in many brand-built units run $50+, some are well north of $100 to replace. Keep in mind the angle you blast at will ricochet particles back towards the glass-most times it doesn't hardly hurt the window unless you're doing an odd part.

That's another point for home-built units, watch where your outlet port is positioned. Most good ones are at a high corner, with an intake grill/filter in the opposite corner. This will create a crossflow of air movement and keep the cabinet clear for better visibility.

Sarge