How to build you own Blasting Cabinet

[rothaus]

Finally I had it with the small blasting cabinet.

Ordered some bits and pieces from TP Tools and got 2 sheets of plywood.

BUILDING A GOOD SIZE BLASTING CABINET 48 X 24 X 32 :)

http://airboxer.com/images/blast001.jpg

Cutting out for the window

http://airboxer.com/images/blast002.jpg

And the holes for the gloves

http://airboxer.com/images/blast003.jpg

Caulking all the cracks

http://airboxer.com/images/blast004.jpg

Building the bottom part

http://airboxer.com/images/blast005.jpg

http://airboxer.com/images/blast006.jpg

Cutting a hole for the light

http://airboxer.com/images/blast007.jpg

http://airboxer.com/images/blast008.jpg

Ready for primer and paint

http://airboxer.com/images/blast009.jpg

Still had that blue paint, and it goes nice with the lift

http://airboxer.com/images/blast010.jpg

Assembly of top and bottom part

http://airboxer.com/images/blast011.jpg

Now get some legs

http://airboxer.com/images/blast012.jpg

Here we go, it's standing up.

http://airboxer.com/images/blast013.jpg

I just used some wire shelf pieces inside.

http://airboxer.com/images/blast014.jpg

Building the top light

http://airboxer.com/images/blast015.jpg

I had the 100W 12 DC driver sitting a round, and also 2 HID ballasts and bulbs

http://airboxer.com/images/blast016.jpg

Some flashing left over makes a nice reflector

http://airboxer.com/images/blast017.jpg

The 2 HID bulbs use only 70W

http://airboxer.com/images/blast018.jpg

Here a quick test of the light

http://airboxer.com/images/blast019.jpg

Looks like I have enough light in there

http://airboxer.com/images/blast020.jpg

Here it is ready for a blast

http://airboxer.com/images/blast021.jpg

Here it is the top one to be done, bottom one is clean and ready for powder coating. Hope I can fit it in the stove.

http://airboxer.com/images/131222-01.jpg


Cheers
Engelbert

[VaSteve]

Clearly a labor of love to save $209. :)

http://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-capacity-floor-blast-cabinet-68893.html

Nicely done.

[Vicegrip]

Nice work! I like all the good light. A media blaster is a nice tool to have and once set up is real handy. Toss in some parts and clean away mess free. Your build reminded me of one I built a while ago right down to the blue paint. This one would cost under $200 all off the shelf but I had some metal shelving which I used for the legs and inside work grate. I designed it so there is little place for the media to settle other than back in the funnel. This makes contamination less an issue when you switch from one media to another. I also added in a fine mesh screen under the work area to catch small parts and any larger than media flakes and crud that could cycle back through and clog the gun. I have a desiccant filter and regulator built onto one side so I can tune the air to the media and work being done. Some media such as glass bead is damaged if shot at pressures that are OK for the hard cutting stuff. There is an air baffle on ether side for the air intake and vacuum suction. The baffles keep the media from bouncing out through the intake and being sucked into the vac. I also worked the access door into the front so the cabinet could be slid into a row of equipment and not need side clearance. I made the door so it can be opened without having media puke out. Messing the floor is something I noted in two com built units I have looked at. Considering the lack of thought some companies put into what they make and sell I think you can build a better than store bought cabinet.
For some reason I can't get the computer to cut and paste the link to the original thread so I will just grab the post.
Cut two sheets of plywood, slot for biscuits and glue up case with air intake and dust suction baffles inside case on each side. Seal all joints after glue dries. Make a inside grate from two wire rack shelves cut and welded up to fit and use rest of wire rack for rolling base. Make filter screen same size as work grate. Set up air group, glove group, hatch group, and lighting group parts. Paint and put everything together.

[Jazzbass]

Great stuff both Rothaus and Vicegrip. Two HoF posts in one thread. I'm lazy and bought mine. Need to install a light, though.

[VaSteve]

My HF one is smaller and didn't have a light. I got one of those stick on deals from Lowes but it didn't last. Decent light is key for these things. Also, being Able to replace the "glass" every so often.

The reviews on HF talked about them leaking at the joints and caulking them up. Mine came pre caulked but still needed more. Its now buried under the basement stairs....not a high use item.

[Jazzbass]

Its now buried under the basement stairs....not a high use item.

Yes, if only you has some project that you could use it on. Something involving lots of dirty parts.

[VaSteve]

Yikes! Not the engine!

[rothaus]

Clearly a labor of love to save $209. :)

http://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-capacity-floor-blast-cabinet-68893.html

Nicely done.

Not the same thing ! That HF cabinet is a toy. I was thinking of buying a big one. If you compare to the home build from Vicegrip and mine, you looking at least for 1000 bucks.

I got the set from TP tools, and it was worth every penny and every minute to build it. I can stand upright and don't have to bend over. . . . LOL

I know I will use this a lot.

[Trak Ratt]

Not the same thing ! That HF cabinet is a toy....I bought the "toy" for $174.95 (HF 40lb. x-mass red) just a couple of weeks ago. Had it up and operational in like 4 hours from backing into the driveway. It leaks a bit so will have to spend another hour or so sealing it. And the light is pathetic so will upgrade that to. It will be tall enough for me to standup to when I add the casters and a lot nicer when I fab a vacuum system. Using the ideas I've seen on Dorkiphus. $40 worth of Lowe's valve/gauge, air fittings and I can control the air pressure just fine. Even with the upgrades I "saved" a couple of days work, the need to dig out all my wood working tools AND met my deadline. But still I'll prolly build a nice big one patterned after the 2 above in a couple of years. But for now I'll just play w/my toys

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIf3iPn3cmafgcgxt3RWg3WfkiI59CV odgp-2J4BpW3l_XCjFt

BTW both of the above cabinets ARE very nice!

[turkis_tii]

Nice builds, thanks for the ideas. Back in grad school, a guy in the next-door lab decided to grab a tank of nitrogen to clean some parts in their box. Hooked up a hydrogen cylinder by mistake. Pretty big boom when something inside finally sparked. He was lucky and only suffered minor burns.

[Trak Ratt]

^ Have to admit I never thought of using nitrogen in my blast cabinet :? Hydrogen on the other hand is fun all by itself....
39100

[C3PC]

"Here it is the top one to be done, bottom one is clean and ready for powder coating. Hope I can fit it in the stove."

Now you have to build a oven! ;)

[rothaus]

Can Somebody fix my typo in the title. :bang:

Thanks
Engelbert

[VaSteve]

Can Somebody fix my typo in the title. :bang:

Thanks
Engelbert


All that attention to detail.... :)

[ducatithunder]

Cabinet looks great! Ill have to dig out my powder coating oven pics I built out here last tour, lol.

[Vicegrip]

BTW forgot to add that I should still have some of the tempered glass windows like the one I used. Free to anyone that intends to build one of the above. The tempered glass seems to resist being fogged by the media than regular glass. I don't bother with plastic film tearoffs.

[alw20147]

Cabinet looks great! Ill have to dig out my powder coating oven pics I built out here last tour, lol.

Speaking of powder coating, I purchased an insulated stainless steel food warming cabinet (24"x36" and 60" tall) from publicsurplus.com and attached 2 electric charcoal igniters coils that worked very well as a powder coating oven. For the past 2 years, it has been a storage cabinet for oils, paints, and other automotive fluids.

[Vicegrip]

Speaking of powder coating, I purchased an insulated stainless steel food warming cabinet (24"x36" and 60" tall) from publicsurplus.com and attached 2 electric charcoal igniters coils that worked very well as a powder coating oven. For the past 2 years, it has been a storage cabinet for oils, paints, and other automotive fluids.Plug it in and record some video!

[roundel]

Plug it in and record some video!

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130613172317/camphalfbloodroleplay/images/b/b7/Tumblr_static_explosion_gif.gif

[Dr K]

Plug it in and record some video!

I was thinking the exact same thing! :D

[cmartin]

Its been a few years, how are the DIY cabinets holding up? Any changes you would make? Happy with the setup? Has the wood held up?

I started off thinking about a HF and some caulk. Then thought a bigger cabinet would be nice, then more light, then... typical, I cant just KISS.

[rothaus]

It's holding up OK. I would make it bigger if I would build it again. The wood shows some wear at the back of the cabinet. I may put some sheet metal there. I still have some left over galvanized from the big oven. For the gun I would get a foot operated trigger.

Other then that, I'm happy with it. It's amazing what you find to blast when you have one.

Cheers
Engelbert

[TurboPooch]

When I built mine about 25 years ago I lined it with galvanized stove pipe that I unraveled, flattened out, then hooked back together to make one piece cut to size and then screwed it to the plywood. It was cheap and has held up well. I used a piece of expanded metal for the shelf which has worked well.

[Vicegrip]

Its been a few years, how are the DIY cabinets holding up? Any changes you would make? Happy with the setup? Has the wood held up?

I started off thinking about a HF and some caulk. Then thought a bigger cabinet would be nice, then more light, then... typical, I cant just KISS.Buy a kit and build your own box IMO. The HF stuff is hard to live with. Build it big. Design the hatches so you can open and shut it without loss of media and have a good way to remove the media. You need a powered vacuum system. Without one and using passive venting only you will get dust all over and it makes it hard to see the work through the dust cloud in the box.

I only use glass bead so there is little wear at all to the inside surfaces. Everything is working as intended. I too plan to add a foot pedal at some point. Your hand cramps after a while in the same clamped position. I used metal wire shelving as the shelf with a window screen under it to catch the chunky stuff. Some small parts have wandered through the shelving bars.

[cmartin]

Good info, thanks all.

I know what you mean about needing a vac. I've spent a few hours using a friends machine a few times. Between the fog of dust, sweaty gloves, cramps... its great! I started figuring size with a set of v8 valve covers, then it was a control arm, them a trailing arm. Pretty soon I'll rationalize room for a fender if I keep this up.

Thanks again, great info