So after deciding to blast my guns before my painting project and pricing blasting media I decided it would be most economical for me to get a blasting cabinet! After pricing those I decided I need to build one! So what I was thinking that I would use a 55 gallon drum, although to do barreled actions it may need to be longer. So what is needed in a blasting cabinet? I know there need to be holes where the air can escape so the thing does not explode! Any help would be much appreciated! Also pictures if any one has built their own would be awesome! Thanks guys!
- Thread starter BenY 2013
- Start date
You struck on the big part - the air that goes in, has to come out. You also want to filter the air that comes out, so you don't cover your shop with media and dust. A shop vac can work for this purpose. Plan on building a way to get your workpiece in and back out, and there's no point in reinventing the wheel, so just use a set of replacement gloves for another cabinet. You'll also need an easy way to get your media back into your blasting can.
How about an old front loading washer instead of a 55 gallon drum?
I picked up the one in stangfish's link for like 169. It works well for what I paid for it. Just do yourself a favor and silicone every joint on it before you use it.
So the shop vac is hooked up to just suck air out as it is being blasted? That sounds like a great idea!
Also if I could find an old washer that'd be awesome, I have an old dishwasher, but looked at it yesterday and I think its going to be too small!
Ben your going to need a piece of safety glass and a clear sticker cover for the glass, You can use plexglass, but the media will have it messed up in no time. If you cant see the work it will be in and out, in and out yada yada. An impact resistant bulb in a light fixture is a beautiful thing.
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I have the plexiglass, what kind of clear sticker type stuff would you recommend to protect the glass? Also any suggestions on any specific light? Thanks
You can use whatever you can find that makes a box with a window. I've seen guys use an old pickup cab as their blasting cabinet. The doors are already there, the windshield is already safety glass, and the cab should seal up as it was designed, so all that's required is a way to get the media in and out, and the installation of a set of gloves.
I had the Harbor Freight unit, and The little light sucked, so I added more light, then the nozzle took a dump, so I replaces that with a near top of the line unit, so after all that is said and done, I'd just bur a nicer unit right out of the gate!
Thank you guys for those links! I know think that I may build this out of wood instead of out of the 55 gallon drum. I was questioning if the drum would be big enough any how, Also it is rusted on the inside and I don't know how to ever get that to stop since the media would eat any paint or coating off that I tried to keep the rust at bay with! Any disadvantages when building with wood? Should I stick with my 55 gallon drum? I have a plastic drum but I figure the media would eat through that fairly quickly!
I recently saw an article with a great wooden example. If you go that route use your camera and show us the progress and eductae us on any pitfalls you encounter.
Thanks
Fish
Thanks
Fish
I decided this morning to go ahead and do the 55 gallon drum! I will try and document the process but no promises. Depends on if I can remember the camera!
There was a thread here on the site a few years ago, that was about building a sandblasting cabinet out of a 45 gallon drum. It also contained a link to another site, where one was built quite nicely. I cannot find it anymore. The dude was building stock-cars, or bikes, or something. I can't remember. The cabinet though, was impressive.
As such, if you would let us see/know what you're doing, as well as what you're basing your intents on, that'd be great.
As such, if you would let us see/know what you're doing, as well as what you're basing your intents on, that'd be great.
I am just wanting to blast the metal of my guns before I cerakote them. I have a picture that I am using as a reference. If I can find the link I will show you guys more of what I am talking about!
I just made one out of a bunch of scrap plywood and old piece of glass left about 9"to get my hands in I can reclaim about 90% of the al oxide media that shits expensive
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