DIY Blast Cabinet

[JonnyAlpha]

I got my 1st lot of beads from guyson and were expensive the last bag was from a firm of the back of a waggon for a tenner so I don't know the proper cost

OK no worries - could you link that replacement blast nozzle again. The one on eBay is sold out?

 

[brightspark]

just looked round ebay and they all have disappeared they have been on for the last 15 years . edit just found it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223836318541?ViewItem=&item=223836318541

 

[JonnyAlpha]

just looked round ebay and they all have disappeared they have been on for the last 15 years . edit just found it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223836318541?ViewItem=&item=223836318541

Brilliant thanks - how do the fit on, do you need to by a barb for them?

 

[brightspark]

no just push it in on the end of the blast hose with a jubilee clip

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Well today I finally got around to testing my latest Soda Blasting setup. New Tungsten 3mm Nozzle and extractor.
The results BIG FAT FAIL.

The Nozzle was fine, and at the start I had a small blockage which I managed to clear, however the cabinet just filled up with Soda dust and visibility was zero. I tried to stick to one area anyway to see if anything was happening, but alas nothing.

I had the gauge on the tank at about 90 PSI but during use it was down to 60. The regulator on the Compressor was set to 100 PSI and my inline regulator about 90 - 100 PSI.

Extractor seemed to be useless, doesn't seem to have any pull on it, it has three settings and its on Max!!

First I turned on the outlet airline on the Blast Cabinet and then the media valve at the bottom, maybe I opened it up too far and should have had less media coming through, who knows but I've had enough of trying with this setup, just made a massive mess and wasted about £60!!! That's £100 I could have spent getting someone else to do it properly :-(

The part to be cleaned:

My visibility:

The result:

 

[MetalMonkey]

Be very careful with kiln dried sand, Silicosis is an unpleasant way to go - I'm sure @Parm can confirm.
I used to use it but packed it in. Really you should be wearing a respirator anyway even for cabinet blasting with an extractor, but you are probably better with aluminium oxide.

My 2p.

 

[Parm]

Be very careful with kiln dried sand, Silicosis is an unpleasant way to go - I'm sure @Parm can confirm.
I used to use it but packed it in. Really you should be wearing a respirator anyway even for cabinet blasting with an extractor, but you are probably better with aluminium oxide.

My 2p.

Yep sort of

Shouldn’t be using any type of sand for Abrasive Blasting

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Back to the Soda Blasting, I have just read (and reminded myself) that Soda should be used at a lower pressure (30 - 35 PSI), this may account for the complete dust out!!

Interestingly I cannot find any info on the web about how to actually use a Blast Pot with a Soda Adaptor? I think I am doing it correctly, but need to check the online manuals.

What is not helping is that the Media and Exhaust Valves have the short stubby control knobs on them and not the ones with long handles!!

I may try again tomorrow at a lower pressure?

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Ok so I had another go at it today, this time I decided to disconnect the blast hose from my cabinet and have a go in a cardboard box. I know this thread is about a DIY cabinet, but I needed to be able to see what was going on.

I turned the pressure down on the Compressor and the inline water trap until I had the tank at about 40PSI. After playing around a bit with the air lever to the hose and the media lever, I actually managed to get it to start blasting.

It was hard going, tedious and TBH not brilliant.

I also managed to make a big mess and really pi@#ed off the missus!!!

This was the part before:

And here are some close ups of the outcome, managed to clean out some of the crevices:

And the inside didn't come up too bad (didn't get a before pic):

But I couldn't get this tarnish off in the time I had:

I may have another go in the cabinet but TBH I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and get these parts Vapour Blasted.

 

[brightspark]

could a used sand then beads but there u go a 10 minute job

 

[JonnyAlpha]

could a used sand then beads but there u go a 10 minute job

I know, I know, but I’d already bought the Soda and the Nozzle and wanted to give it a go.
Only problem with the beads idea is that I only have a small suction gun cabinet and the Bell housing and Gearbox won’t fit