So I have been debating for the longest time about buying the Harbor Freight Blast cabinet. Problem is, it is junk, unless you tweak some stuff, plus it is made in China. So I figured that since I would have to modify the hell out of one, why not just build one from scratch. This should make a lot of the “keep the money in the States” crowd happy (You’re welcome Bundy).
I have most all the parts to build one besides the gloves and wood. I have a spare 36" light, access to all the free glass I could want, and a siphon type gun with hose. I have looked at several “build it yourself” plans, and gotten some ideas from them, but will be building my own idea of what I want.
So my question is, have any of you guys built your own, and if so, is there something that I should keep in mind beside the basics. I plan on using a small shop vac I have for venting as well.
I built one from an old small refrigerator, I removed all the guts and mounted a plexiglas window in the door and modified an old steel shelf to set parts on. A single bulb-in-a-jar on the ceiling and I was blastin’ away. The used sand was then swept from the bottom and the only problem I encountered was the plexi needed replacing after about a year of heavy use due to the blasting haze on the inside.
I have looked over there a little Al, and found one I really like. It used a mixing valve setup on the bottom rather than the siphon tube. I will likely order the kit to convert one day if I get frustrated with this setup, but for now I am also looking at buying wheels and tires.
I picked up the plywood this morning and am trying to figure out how to maximize the use of it. At 13 bucks a sheet though, I wont mind buying a 3rd. One thing I forgot to get was a set of casters. I am shooting for a 30X30X48, but am wondering if I need to make it bigger. It should fit most anything I need, and if I need something longer than 48, I can build an extention on one side. The only thing I could see being an issue is a motorcycle frame, but I dont see needing to blast one of those in the near future. If I do, I can always add on or build a bigger box.
I built mine
If I had it to do over, I would have made it so I can work standing without stooping (Kills my back). Foot valve is nice to have, I use standard size window glass that I glue in with silicone RTV. Glass gets etched quickly and easy to replace.
As the tip gets worn the harder your air compressor has to work and more air to be vacuumed out to maintain negative pressure.
Make a “ramp” on the inside of the door so the media won’t build up on the door flange and fall on the floor when you open the door.
Thanks for the tip on the ramp John. I have been trying to be aware of any spots that would accumulate media, and bevel them. I may have some scrap break metal laying around that I can use as a leg on the door like the one linked to. I built it so that it should be right at standing height, and may cut it down a little if I can work at it with my stool comfortably. Not sure If I will get the protector things or not since I have access to all the free glass I could want. If I do though, I found a part number at either McMaster or Grainger for a 20 pack of them for 20 bucks.
Day one of working on it:
It is bigger than I had pictured in my head. Will definately have to put wheels on it, I am running out of room in the garage. 2 car garage with a car on one side, and too many tools on the other. Going to be even worse when I find the table saw I am on the hunt for. I plan on painting it just so it doesn’t look so ugly, not sure what color though. I will paint the inside white just so it brightens it up inside.
And just a little warning, you could die if you cut wood in Cali-forn-i-a. Somone needs to come up with a dustless cutting device.
Thanks Mark, it was worth every penny. My door mat doesn’t say the usual “welcome” that most do, it says “leave”. Most people just laugh when I open the door.
Well, it is done, and I am so happy I built my own. It is much bigger, built the way I want it, works better that an HF unit, and cost much less.
It took 2 sheets of plywood and I think 6 2x4’s. I had the shop vac laying around waiting on a blast cabinet, and the blaster came from Tractor Supply years ago. The paint was left over from my office and the lexan window was leftover from a job I did. My Dad gave me the light not long ago when he cleaned out his shop, then I just had to buy the casters, latches, and the gloves. I have no idea what the glove were meant for, but they are heavy rubber and go almost up to your shoulders. I picked them up at HF when I was on the search for blast media, but ended up getting the media at Tractor Supply. All I have left to do is build a shelf for it, and I picked up a 4x8 sheet of expanded metal on a jobsite today. Talk about good timing to come across free expanded metal, any other time and I would have turned it down.
So far I have only used it to blast a hood hinge spring, but it works awesome with the black diamond media, and made no mess at all.
Looks good Mike. Although I am curious as to how long the plywood will hold up. I’ve used a piece of 2 x 4 as a parts holder for some of my stuff and it doesn’t take long to reduced it down to toothpicks.
Al, I thought about that myself, as I have done the same thing. Im sure it will wear down, but it should take a long time. For one, there will be a good amount of distance between the nozzle and the wood, unlike when you are resting a piece directly on the wood. Plus the expanded metal should deflect a lot of it since most of the time I will be aiming downward, and at the same time it will be aiming more towards the media pile rather than the wall. Now if I were running a shop and using it almost daily, I doubt it would hold up. For the amount that I am using it, it should last me years, other than replacing gloves and tips. We will see I guess.
Very nice Mike! I like the angle you placed the glass at, better visibility than looking more down on the work like most (including my HF unit). What are you using for a work surface? I think I remember reading the words expanded metal but didnt see that in your pictures. Anyway, nicely done.
Sorry so late guys, had a bit of computer issues. I hate typing long replies on my phone, so I just waited until i got my new hard drive and windows 7 installed.
The shop vac is to clear the air and to keep some negative pressure so that it doesnt make a mess in the floor. I do still get just a little coming out of the vent in the back, but that is nothing a cheap air conditioner filter cant fix.
Yes Bob, expanded metal, just havent had a chance to cut it and put it in yet. Have so many other remodeling projects going on around the house that it’s hard to make time for the cougar. I will get it in soon and start using it more, I really need to tear the car apart and get it in primer, I just need to find the time. So far I have blasted my hood hinges and springs, and am very happy with how well it works. I don’t think I will be getting that mixing valve setup afterall.
