Home made sandblasting cabinet

[classic2cv]

Has anyone built one of these ?

I need to clean up lots of small parts for my cars

I’ve seen a few for sale but there mostly small or very expensive

and i'd like to be able to blast some large parts

 

[rusty69bus]

built one years ago (haven't got it anymore), i used a ex office two drawer filing cabinet took the drawers out, made that hole a door. took the top off and added a extra bit for a viewing area. think it was about 3ft l x 2ft d x 3ft h

 

[rtbcomp]

Have a look round Machine Mart and copy theirs.

Improvements you can make:

1) Don't use a syphon gun, use a pressure pot system.

2) Improve the lighting, I have 4 x 20 watt 12v halogens, try to get light coming from the front of the cabinet.

3) Make the top lift - it will be a lot easier to clean the glass

4) Don't use those expensive glass protectors - I have a roll of florists cellophane fed under the glass, just pull it down when it gets opaque. Much quicker than wrestling with adhesive strips.

5) Line the inside with sacrificial sheets, I use bits of plastic from scrap washing machine tops. The light colour reflects light.

Establish what you will be putting in it and build it so that you can easily turn the workpiece over without bashing the sides or top.

For larger parts you're better off with a blast room. I do quite a lot of scooter frames and it woud be impossible to do them in a cabinet.

I did my Landrover bulkhead, tub and wheels in a carport with plastic sheets at each end on a day when the neighbours were out.

 

[Ratty]

Have a look at this thread about sandblasters/sandblasting. Mr Fluffy suggested using an old dishwasher (on page 6), I haven't got around to it yet but it sounded a good plan.

 

[classic2cv]

thanks for the link Ratty

i like your ebay sand blaster in fact i'm temped to go for one of those myself

i'll have a look in a min to see if i can get as cheap as yours

is it still working well ?

 

[rtbcomp]

I've put 111 potfuls of grit through mine, the hose has burst twice near the mixer which is to be expected. I've gone through a few nozzle valves, but I don't use this unless I have to now. The ceramic nozzles last about 1 potfull, I've fitted a tungsten carbide nozzle to mine. Someone suggested you could use the ceramic bit from a sparkplug asa nozzle!

I'm about to buy another one to use with glass beads.

 

[Ratty]

thanks for the link Ratty

i like your ebay sand blaster in fact i'm temped to go for one of those myself

i'll have a look in a min to see if i can get as cheap as yours

is it still working well ?

I guess so tbh...I've not used it much, been busy making space in the cart shed so I can rig up a cabinet. Too many projects too little time

 

[Satsuma]

I'm restoring a 1975 BMW 2002 tii and have a bunch of parts to sand blast, I was planing to build a cabinet, some great ideas/tips rtbcomp, thanks.

I found this random google find amusing, Link

Thought it was fairly normal until I read:


"I've already got a small countertop blasting cabinet or else I'd make one.
I know you can regulate the pressure so the blasting is not so aggressive, but what type of blasting media should I use to clean up gun parts prior to refinishing?
Silica sand?
Glass beads?
I need to refinish a couple Uzi receivers and don't want to be too aggressive on the metal."

I do nuts and bolts they do Uzi sub machine guns?

 

[Satsuma]

Link

Too cheap?

I'm thinking it would cost the same in materials to build one?

Ben

 

[rtbcomp]

Link

Too cheap?

I'm thinking it would cost the same in materials to build one?

Ben

That looks just like my Machine Mart one - which cost twice as much!

I've done some mods to mine

1) Replaced the striplight with 12v halogens
2) Discarded the syphon gun and I use it with a pot
3) Replaced the glass protector with florists cellophone drawn down off a roll

 

[Satsuma]

I had a quick rummage on ebay, there is a sealy one which is the same cabinet, but its prices at £409 buy it now?

Sealey blast cabinet on ebay (£409 delivered)

the same as...

No brand Cabinet on ebay (£183 delivered)

Also the bench top one looks the same.

Bench top Sealy (£121)
Bench top No brand (£74)

If they are in fact the same, its amazing how much markup you can get out of a steel box on legs!

Ben