Subject: bench top sandblast cabinet

From: [email-masked](Roger V. Petrella Jr.)
Date: 19 May 1996 19:01:27 GMT

I want to build a small bench top snadblast cabinet for hobby use on
small items like train parts, etc.  The prices of these things are
atrocious.  Does anyone have an idea on where I can obtain the nozzle
section, preferably one with interchangeable tips for different grits
and materials.  I want to be able to use both glass and aluminum oxide.

Roger Petrella
Broomfield, CO

[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Bob Harbour)
Date: 19 May 1996 23:43:27 GMT

Roger V. Petrella Jr. ([email-masked]) wrote:
: I want to build a small bench top snadblast cabinet for hobby use on
: small items like train parts, etc.  The prices of these things are
: atrocious.  Does anyone have an idea on where I can obtain the nozzle
: section, preferably one with interchangeable tips for different grits
: and materials.  I want to be able to use both glass and aluminum oxide.

Try a Home Depot or a Home Base. In with the other air tools, they usually 
have a sand blaster kit. The one I got cost about $20 and came with a gun, 
a dip tube and hose, and several nozzles. I have put a few hundred pounds
of screened playsand through mine and haven't needed to change a nozzle. I 
am using a 2 hp compressor, and it is a little marginal.
 
-- Bob Harbour
[email-masked]

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From: Bob Bickers <[email-masked]>
Date: 20 May 1996 00:01:30 GMT

I found both at local supplyer of sandblast suppies, check your yellow pages. Bob

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From: Anthony EPucillo <[email-masked]>
Date: 20 May 1996 01:47:47 GMT

I've  tried what you are describing, and by the time I built a box the 
correct size, connected the hoses and gun and a clear acrylic window, I'd 
spent about 2/3 of what a cheap one from Harbor Freight cost, and it 
didn't work well (spewed sand and grit out the armholes, destroyed the 
acrylic window, and didn't drain the accumulated sand very well.

    Then I popped for the Harbor Freight benchtop unit with replaceable 
plastic shields (to protect the window) for about $90 on sale.  It does 
all of those things quite well.  (get the extra package of shields for  7 
or $8 (?)

    One hint, though:  almost all of these come with inexpensive 
"gravity" type sandblaster guns.  You will _never_ be satisfied with a 
gravity-feed system unless you are using very fine, very dry, virgin 
sand, using it about once and throwing it away. Even then, you will be 
stopping and fiddling with the sand-feed nozzle more than sandblasting.  
For another $150 you can get an inexpensive pressure-type sandblaster and 
if you have the compressor capacity, you can blast without stopping, but 
better yet you get done in a flash on any moderate job.  A frustrating 
1/2 hour ordeal with a gravity=type gun is about a five-minute breeze 
with even a small pressure-pot type.  You _do_ need at least a 3 hp 
compressor with a 20-gal+ tank to sandblast effectively, and more is 
better.

    I haven't yet found a difference between the inexpensive pressure-pot 
blasters for under $200 and the dimilar-sized units from the "retail" 
hobby outfits for $3-400.  Don't think there is any.

    And yes, there are different sized nozzles though I tend to use the 
same one and regulate airflow instead.  It will handle everything I've 
pushed through it and the ceramic tip is replaceable (wears out 
eventually).  A very effective home-made blaster I saw used plain 
galvanized pipe and a standard steel lever (90 degree on/off) -type valve 
with a small (3/8"?) nozzle, replaaceable by screwing in and out.

     A gratuitous observation: wear good arm protection.  The heavy 
gloves in these cabinets are necessary.  After blasting without them only 
once, I spent a couple of months with silica particles chronically 
resurfacing on my forearms, which looked like skin cancer or something 
and made me feel even stupider than I already did.

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From: [email-masked] (Bruce)
Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 13:56:46 GMT

>all of those things quite well.  (get the extra package of shields for  7 

One little hint here, I went down to the local hardware store and
bought something called flexipane its used for making windows, kinda
like mylar. I cut it the same size as my cabinet window and put it on
the inside now when I blast it etches the flexipane and not the glass
it sure  is alot cheaper buying that then saftey glass all the time I
find I get about 4hrs of blasting from one sheet. By the way I built
my own cabinet and dust collector from sheet metal if ya have a mig
welder and a friend that has a break this will save ya alot of money I
built mine for well under $200 its about 36w x 26d x 30 high next one
I am building is gonna be a tad bigger, and the dust collector is
getting an upgrade for more filter bags. Wish I had some plans for my
cabinet available but I haven't had time to sit down and finalize my
ideas. If anyone is interested in them drop me a line back via email
and maybe I'll get motivated to get them done. 

Bruce