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Blasting media for a cabinet

rlsbee

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Location
Southern New Jersey
I was wondeing what you guys use for blasting media in a cabinet. I've considered aluminum oxide and the crushed glass. The price on the glass makes it tempting but I'm leaning toward the aluminum oxide. I've got a cabinet that I made and it's pretty big (48"L x 32"W) and it's gonna take a lot of media to work decent. I've been using sand and it's okay but I want to try something different in it.
 
What's the cabinet made of? And, what are you blasting?

I blast a variety of things from gas pump parts to car parts and lots of stuff in between. Mostly it's used for typical paint and rust removal on steel or cast iron. I don't do any glass bead blasting. This is a cabinet in my home shop. It doesn't get used all the time but when I need it, there's nothing like it. I built the cabinet out of high density particle board. After 25 years, the sand has hardly scratched it. Sand just bounces off of it. That's one of my concerns 'cause I don't know how a different media will effect it. I just figured that I'd get a concensus of the best media, based on what people are using, and give it a try. If it tears up the cabinet I can always line it with sheet metal. Don, I looked at your website and plastic interested me but it seemed too expensive for me. One thing that is hard to figure is how much volume is in a particular container sold by weight. Because of the size of my cabinet I will need enough media to keep the funnel area filled for the suction tube. With sand, I usually buy three 80lb bags. I usually change it once or twice a year. The sand is okay but the dust gets real bad after it's been in the cabinet for a while. I do have a 'dust collector' made up of some filters and an old shop vac. It works, but it ain't like a pro unit.
 
How about some pics of your cabinet? You've peaked my interest. I just use sand in mine as well but I need to upgrade my service out to the shop and get a better compressor too. Just not sure I want to put that much into a place that I rent.
 
I use glass bead almost exclusively.

Once you try it, it's hard to give it up. I suppose there are media for different purposes, but bead in varying sizes seems best for me with all my small parts. I've even done little antique "Matchbox" cars with glass, and you can't tell I've been there.

Even if you go different routes, glass is a media you should try and keep a small bag on hand.
 
How about some pics of your cabinet? You've peaked my interest. I just use sand in mine as well but I need to upgrade my service out to the shop and get a better compressor too. Just not sure I want to put that much into a place that I rent.

Here are some pics. I painted this thing when I built it. You can see some paint has been blasted off and it has a little pitting. It still amazes me that it held up so well.
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rlsbee, i like the old stand up gas pump in the back. i've got a small cabinet that will take a 15' rim. i have been using the black aluminum oxide for control arms , spindles , sway bars , kelsey hayes calipers , on 5 mopars i'm rebuilding front ends on. works great before i powder coat, tim
 
rlsbee, i like the old stand up gas pump in the back. i've got a small cabinet that will take a 15' rim. i have been using the black aluminum oxide for control arms , spindles , sway bars , kelsey hayes calipers , on 5 mopars i'm rebuilding front ends on. works great before i powder coat, tim

Here's a pic of that pump. It's an Aqua Systems 850T. the 'T' designates it as a pump made for Tydol and I think I'll restore it that way. I'm always in the market for pumps but I haven't bought any in a while. I'm stuck on wanting to buy a Wayne 511 used for Sunoco 'Custom Blending'.

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Aluminum oxide is the way I'm leaning but the crushed glass is so tempting. I'd like to try the plastic but I'm not familiar with the different grades/types and it seems costlier than aluminum oxide or glass.
 
Nice job on that cabinet, great size! Makes me want to sell mine and build myself one just like it.
 
Well, I try to use Plastic, but, 8 out of 10 times, these cars are SO rusty, I have to add some AO to the mix and some walnut shells, so, the biggest factor I consider is the cost to the customer -- and what is the material that will get me done the fastest -- as I said, cheaper for the customer. If you are not damaging your particle board, then I would bet you air compressor has a low cfm; to me, low cfm is below 180 because I use 190 cfm in my operations.

Here's a pic of my blast cabinet I use! It's a good sized healthy item! I love it!
Jana_Defi_432433716123443lo.jpg
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Donny, you're very correct about my compressor. I have no idea what it really puts out. I'm sure it's way under the numbers you use. I built the compressor a long time ago (see a theme here?) also. I've replaced the pump a couple of times (my first pump was an old refigeration compressor).
 
Well, I try to use Plastic, but, 8 out of 10 times, these cars are SO rusty, I have to add some AO to the mix and some walnut shells, so, the biggest factor I consider is the cost to the customer -- and what is the material that will get me done the fastest -- as I said, cheaper for the customer. If you are not damaging your particle board, then I would bet you air compressor has a low cfm; to me, low cfm is below 180 because I use 190 cfm in my operations.

Here's a pic of my blast cabinet I use! It's a good sized healthy item! I love it!
Jana_Defi_432433716123443lo.jpg
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Nice. Dual stage I take it. :icon_mrgreen:
 
Well, I try to use Plastic, but, 8 out of 10 times, these cars are SO rusty, I have to add some AO to the mix and some walnut shells, so, the biggest factor I consider is the cost to the customer -- and what is the material that will get me done the fastest -- as I said, cheaper for the customer. If you are not damaging your particle board, then I would bet you air compressor has a low cfm; to me, low cfm is below 180 because I use 190 cfm in my operations.

Here's a pic of my blast cabinet I use! It's a good sized healthy item! I love it!
Jana_Defi_432433716123443lo.jpg
[/IMG]
That's not a blast cabinet...that's a compressor!!
 
How long does it take to blast a wheel?

A typical painted steel wheel with some rust spots will take at least a couple of hours. If the sand is new and sharp, maybe a little less. That's one of the reasons I'd like to find a different media. Re-using sand can reduce the efficiency quickly. We have a lot of sand pits around here and I've always been able to get it cheap but it's getting harder and harder. The wheel in the pic is an old chrome reverse. Blasting a chromed wheel takes a bit more dedication.
 
Don't know if you have Black Beauty avaliable in you're area but it is one of the best for rust removal and will last for a long time.
 
i use glass beads in mine.
 
Here's a pic of my cabinet I have, sand sucks to the pro's, the the novice's it's great! I can say that b/c I've been there and done that -- and no offense meant either to anyone. Use Alum Oxide, fine grit like 80/90 size, mix it with walnut shells (cheap), just don't buy this stuff at Harbor Freight, you'll pay way too much.
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