I have a small HF (HarborFreight) sand blasting cabinet,
it works OK. It's only good for small parts, about the biggest thing that I have fit inside is a SBC pil pan. I like it for what it is, I think I got it on sale for like $100.
I also have a HF pressure pot.
So far, it has been a piece of crap. It constatly stops up in the hose/valves/nozzle and it wastes a LOT of sand. I have even tried very fine media and sifting the sand, but it still plugs up. The outside of the rubber hose is already weather cracking (it is stored inside, under my work bench). I think I gave $80-100 for it.
I have had 50/50 luck with HF. Some stuff turns out great, and some stuff is complete junk. I will say that some of the stuff Sears sells is identical to HF.
Those little Centech multi-meters that HF sells for 2.99 are exactly the same as ones found at Sears for 10.99, only the sticker labels are different. DeVilbiss air tools are identical to Central Pneumatic. So I never really buy anything from Sears.
Go to tptools.com and they have ALL of the parts to make a build your own blast cabinet.
Glass, hoses, gun, gloves, rings to hold thee gloves....etc.
I also have a a burnt cabinet from my garage fire that I will let go REAL cheap. It is a good cabinet, just burnt. It needs everything to work, just a bar cabinet, BUT I have the gun and the expanded metal grate.
Plexiglass won't last long, you'll be lucky to get 1 hour out of it. Even with protective film, it will still pit.
You need real glass, it is a lot more durable. And you still have to use protective film on the inside.
While you are building it, put a good light inside of it. Two 100w bulbs would be good. You also need a way to circulate air (I use a shop vac, mine has a hole for it on the side, and a intake vent on the back), otherwise it eventually just turns into a dust cloud inside the chamber.
You might also want a ground strap to the gun. I don't have one, but I don't mind getting schocked.
I wish mine were bigger, but I barely have room for the one I got.
i went by northern tool yesterday and found one that i like. i dont want the cabinet so i can take it outside and do my axles, frame or anything of that nature.
I bought the big canister from Tractor Supply and have been very pleased with it. I've tired the cheaper sand in the bags from TC and it clogs very easy. I stick to the containers 60 or 80 grit and it works like a charm. I'd like to have a cabinet for the smaller parts.
I had a great webpage that talked about fixing the HF tank style blasters. I can;t find the damn thing. I have the blasting cabinet and love it. My tank clogs alot and is a pain. I have used a cheapo gun stuck in a 5 gallon buckets of sifted playsand and it works great. Here is a cool vid of a design. I love the nozzle Idea
Good clean media is the second requirement - not just playground sand. Sifted sand may work, but all the extra effort when you can get blast media from most rental stores for a little more.
I think I will try the HF 90# unit - seems to be a good mix of size (for storage and media use). I cant justify spending 1K on something I may only use once or twice.
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