The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Abrasive blast cabinet input

Considering purchasing an abrasive blast cabinet (likely a Skat Blast cabinet), but interested in any input anyone is willing to share. Have too much stuff to have someone else do my blasting and likely their schedule will not be the same as mine.

Best (and most expensive) tool purchase I have made. I bought a wide one with two lights and an exhaust vacuum. I do not do long parts, so I now think a less-wide model would not only suit my needs, but also be better/easier for changing the plastic glass protectors/covers.

I use it with the largest Harbor Freight compressor and used the TP Tools schematic for black-pipe plumbing. I have no moisture problems.

That is a good company and unit. It is true you need vac also. Made my own system. Can't just use a shop vac IMO. You also need a big capacity compressor. 80 gal, 2 stage belt drive. Which will need 220V, 30A. More or less what Tim already said. I have a good blast cabinet and also blast big stuff outside.

I use a two-man Skat-Blast cabinet at a hobby shop I have access to. It uses a LOT of air, but the 10HP 120 gallon 2-stage air compressor it's hooked up to can keep up. I would love to own my own set up just like this, if that is the sort of opinion you're after.

I've used several brands of blast cabinets this past year, they're not all equal, but the air compressor (& capacity) is the most important part of the equation.

There's some pictures in this album if you'd like to see this particular cabinet's innards.

Brad

http://devestechnet.com/Home/SandBlasting

I did the same as everyone else above. If you go with a 3/32" carbide tip you can reduce your cfm and increase performance.

I just got the vac with the cabinet. The only complaint I have is, its too small. You can do a rim but you cant do a radiator bracket. I would have gone with the larger one if I had it to do all over again.

To all my mentors that contributed input, I can't thank you all enough as usual when I need help. I'm looking hard at the Skat Blast cabinet with the Hepa filter and the work area inside the cabinet 58" x 21" x 34" or something similar. I have the compressor that should be more than adequate (Ingersol Rand). Just have too many things to blast to get someone else to do it on their schedule and not mine. Who knows there is another project, for my wife, after I get this '58 Stove Bolt on the road and she gets to drive it. I may never gat to drive it after she does.

I purchased my Skat Blast cabinet in 2001 and have never looked back. In the last two days I have blasted at least 10 hours. For a while I used the ceramic nozzles and did OK but finally went with the more expensive, but better, Carbide nozzle. Works great. However, I usually set my pressure, and blasting media, by what, or how bad what I'm blasting is rusted ect. Mostly I use the fine blasting "sized" sand. 50 lb bag $4.40 and "most" of the time I run 80psi.

My cabinet is 48 long, and 28" high and 28 deep and has two lights in it. If it wont' go in my cabinet it goes somewhere else. I've had enough outside blasting!

Tip.....when it starts getting dusty inside the cabinet go ahead and change the media. The finer it is the quicker it can ruin the bearings in the vacuum system. I had to change bearings on mind about once a year. If you still have the Vac 35 I have about 15 extra bearings. I found them for 99Cent a piece!

Best money I ever spent. I don't know how I'd get along without it and things look so much nicer. The hardest part is cleaning the crude off stuff before I put it in the blaster. LOL

Definitely buy a bigger cabinet than you think you will ever need. I have a smaller Skat Blast which I've both deepened and widened over the years. I use a carbide nozzle and black blasting media from Menards for about $7 for a 50# bag. I used to use aluminum oxide but it just got too expensive. To save money on the lens protectors I buy bulk mylar from McMaster Carr and cut my own which I attach with clear packing tape. Costs about a buck apiece. My cabinet is used almost daily, a great tool investment.

Achipmunk and john1,

Thanks for sharing your input. I am headed in the right direction with a Skat Blast cabinet.

John (Raleigh, NC)