blasting media -- what do you use?

[milwaukeephil]

Thanks for all the great info -- I went with 80 grit glass beads from Harbor Freight. Got a 25lb container for $19.99.

I used a $7 rubbermaid tub for the cabinet and some clear acrylic I had lying around and just sealed the window up with liquid nails. I also ran a strip of weatherstripping on the top edge of the bin for a good seal, and I haven't seen a stray bead yet. It's been really easy so far to pour the beads back in the plastic container with a funnel. Harbor freight also had sandblast gloves for $6.00 that I just duct taped in place -- they're pretty solid.

The only other thing I had to buy was the blast gun from Northern Tool. Harbor Freight and Northern Tool are both in the city so I didn't have to order anything. Here's the gun I used: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... 3137_23137

And some pics:






...and for my first test I took 36 year old enamel off some tank badges:



-phil

[Kirk]

Phil Brilliant idea on the homemade blast cabinet.
Would love to do something similar, What cfm rating is your compressor?
Thanks,
Kirk

[milwaukeephil]

What cfm rating is your compressor?
Thanks,
Kirk

I'll check it out ASAP -- I believe it's about 26 gallons and I don't even want to guess at the scfm rate. I keep it way in the back corner of the garage and have enough hose to get anywhere on my property so I never have to move it. It runs nailers fine and a with a die grinder you get about 45 seconds before it starts to cycle. With the blaster, it's always running but seems to do the job even when blasting constantly. If you stop blasting and give it a few seconds to catch up, it does give a little stronger blast...

-phil

[kustommusic]

Phil and okie, What great information ! My son and I recently went halfs on a blast cabinet, but I'd love to try Phils homade set-up too. Thanks You Guys! Kustommusic

[4shorts]

I've spent many hours standing by my cabinet blaster. There the only way to go if you want to do the job right in my opinion. The only media I found was good for me was aluminum oxide. Glass bead just didn't hold up long and turns to dust in no time. Aluminum oxide has many edges to it and holds up way longer than anything I've ever used. Most of the top of the line cabinets are lined with rubber so that extended use of Aluminum Oxide won't wear out the cabinet. I've included a chart that you might find handy. Good luck, Paul

[Brandonrre]

Just had my first experience with glass media this week. It worked great on my carb and on some of the engine parts. I decided to try walnut media and found that to work even better on engine parts. It make the engine look like new again. Harbor Freight has a 25lb box for 24.99. Not a bad deal for the results that I got.

[danielmoto]

thankyou all, Just making a cabinet at the moment, have built the cabinet out of 22mm egger flooring and its measurements are 3ft x 3ft x 4ft ive done the door so i can fit a wheel in, and an old exterior light so i can see, ive managed to pick up some 10mm thick glass for the window and its all glued screwed and siliconed ready for the media, gloves and gun to turn up. Cheers for the media tips and i will put up a pic as soon as its finished.