sand blast cabinet question

[Hugh]

Hi there Everyone,
OK - I just got back from the symposium. Now I have to hunt up all the tools that I want to buy that they did not have at the symposium.

I think I have to have a sand blasting cabinet. I just got off the Harbor Freight web site looking at what they have. Has anyone had any experience with the Harbor Freight sand blasting cabinet? I know the quality of most of the stuff at Harbor Freight - but I just thought I would ask. This is at the research stage for me. Trent Bosch was talking about a company that sells a kit to build one? I need to look for that also. This is not something that I would be using on a real steady basis - but would like to try it and see what I can come up with.

Thanks.
Hugh

 

[KurtB]

Sand Blasting

I used to do some sandblasted signs, and the first thing I learned was that the home shop units are woefully underpowered. My recommendation to you is that if you're only going to do an occasional piece, go to your local sandblaster, which BTW might include your local gravestone maker, and strike up a conversation and collaboration where you let him know what you want and he uses his professional equipment, and together you come up with what you want. After seeing what professional sandblasting equipment will do, along with the mess, you may be very happy to go this route. Just a suggestion...

 

[GLENN ROBERTS]

Kurt, you are so correct. Unless you have access to a 'huge' air compressor, then it can be a very slow DIY process.

 

[Joe Greiner]

(Not necessarily in order of preference):

1. Contact Trent Bosch from the Resource Directory. Maybe he remembers the name of the source.

2. Google [sandblasting cabinet kit]

3. Take some sacrificial lambs to a local sandblaster, as Kurt suggests. Collaboration might be better.

If you persist with buying or building one, make sure the window is easily replaceable. Also consider sources and types of sand. In one of my previous lives, I was director of engineering at a precast concrete manufacturer in Northern Virginia; IIRC, we got bags of sand from Pennsylvania Glass Sand, which may or may not be in Pennsylvania.

 

[john lucas]

When I first got interested in sandblasting I had a friend who was doing it outside with the piece near the opening of a plastic bag. The bag was just to catch most of the abrasive. He didn't reuse it so he didn't need to capture, clean and recycle any of it. He wore a mask and face shield of course.
I thought I would do sort of the same thing but with one of the really inexpensive HF sandblasters and small cabinet. I would build a sort of funnel into the bottom to capture the abrasive. This would give me more control of the dust and bounce back of the abrasive but still keep in inexpensive. I don't plan to do very much sandblasting but then I didn't plan to have woodturning take over my shop either.

 

[Hugh]

Kurt, good idea. I might try it. I just know how I work and know that "I" want to do it. I know it is a control thing with me. Personal trait. But a very good idea and I might try it. I think it would be good for me to go see them do some sandblasting and then go from there.

I know I could just do the sand blasting outside. I just do not want to worry so much about all that silica floating around and I do not need a beach in my back yard. I have heard that a pressure pot works best. I was thinking of a pressure pot to feed the sandblaster and the box to contain the sand.

Another project. I am still in the research stage. Have a bunch of those type of things going on all the time. Keeps the mind somewhat active I hope.
Hugh

 

[Jim Silva]

Not to threadjack but what do you guys use for sandblasting abrasives?

I was considering doing some sandblasting on a few projects that I wanted to continue to turn after texturing by blasting. I'd think walnut shells or something of the like would be far less damaging to tools in this case but I've never used anything other than silicone carbide or glass beads and wonder if it would be worthwhile.
Any suggestions?


Jim

 

[Fog Tanner]

We have one of the fine Harbor Freight cabinets. My daughter does glass art and it was originally bought for that. I do use it for some wood work and it works fine for that. It is the standalone cabinet, which was on sale at the time for a little over $200. This is probably a bit overkill for a small bowl, but we got it for large pieces of glass. But, the extra room is great for manipulating pieces around in it.

The construction is typical of what you get from Harbor Freight. Its not the greatest in the world but it is usable. Suprisingly they did pay attention to some details. It has an opening with both a plug and adapter for a shop vac to get git of the dust. Works best using the shop vac. The gun that comes with it is adequate for anything except for fine detail, good enough for a bowl. However that did not make any provision for a grounding strap. You really need that to keep from getting static shocks. Overall it was work the $200 at the time, as "we needed it now". There are some "kits" available, if you search the internet for sandblasting, you will find a number of hits. We just didn't have the time, or we would have gone that direction.

We did try their pressure blaster, but it went back. It had too many leaks and other problems. They use less air than the normal suction feed that comes with the cabinet.

I have used garnet and silicon carbide on wood so far. Either one works OK in removing wood. I have walnut shells on my list of things to try in it next.

Fog

 

[Hugh]

Fog,
Thanks for the review. I am still working on the sandblasting idea and need to work some more I know. I have other issues other than the sand blasting cabinet like the size of my compressor, and things like that. Just working out the ideas here. Thanks.
Hugh