The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest blast cabinet

I just purchased a table top blast cab. from eastwood, It has a hole in the side of the cab. is this hole for the dust collector. I asked the person taking the order if I needed a dust collector, they said no, so with that being said can I just pug the hole?

Thanks James

James B,

I don't know about Eastwood's cabinet, but I will say this. I have built several glass bead cabinets. Without some type of vacuum fitted on the cabinet, the atmosphere soon becomes too clouded to see through...you can't see what you're blasting.

Another item I found is that when you start pumping air INTO the cabinet, you better have some way for it to EXIT, or it will blow your viewing panel into your face.

The cloud and debris that this process generates needs to be contained somewhere...besides the lungs. A big shop vac would be just the ticket in my book.

Stuart

Thanks Stuart the guy from eastwood called me back & said it was for a dust collector, do I need to put some kind of screen over the hole or just stick the shop vac over the hole?

Thanks James

James, Automarc is correct. I would just stick the shop vac over the hole but the dust is so fine that you will need to keep the shop vac cleaned good so it can pull the air out quick. I have a SkatBlast cabinet with vac hooked to it and without the vac you could not see...especially after the glass/sand gets a little fine.
As a foot note be sure your vac motor has some kind of filter (sponge etc) to keep the dust from getting to the motor. The fine dust WILL get to any bearings.

James,

The ones I have built, and the factory ones I have seen, have the vac tube stuck right on/into the hole. My vacuum unit is wired through the light in the cabinet...turn the light on, vacuum comes on too.

Stuart

Well i just tried to use blast cabinet, I put in walnut shells,that's all I had,and nothing is coming out but air, sometimes a little bit of media but nothing to blast any metal.
What I am I doing wrong?

Thanks James

James,

Isn't your rig a syphon type gun? The supply air (max you can get) passes through a venturi and pulls the blast material in by suction. The material must be dry and fine enough to pass through the selected nozzle. Does the unit indicate it will work with walnut shells...they sound pretty coarse to me.

If you hold your finger over the nozzle and give a blast of the trigger, it will "backflush" the suction line and clear any obstruction.

What do the instructions say...I know you read them. I'm still amazed with the walnut shells deal.

Stuart

Yes it is a syphon type gun I have air pressure at 80 psi, the instructions states do not use harsh abrasives such as aluminum oxide,blasting garnet or sand. Use only dry abrasives such as glass bead or plastic granule abrasives. I will try to "backflush" the line to see if that works.

James

James,

Did the gun come assembled? There are little orifices and gaskets that go inside the gun, it won't draw material without them.

Stuart

James, most all blasters say use only this or that or do not use this or that. I have used MANY types in my cabinet with no problem. The key is to keep your nozzles in good shape...to avoid damage to siphon gun, and change it when it gets fine/dusty. They make a killing off the stuff you order from them.....and it also depends on just what you are blasting. I usually keep 2 or 3 kind under my cabinet.

I tried the backflush & the line was clogged, it works like a champ!

Thanks for your help & suggestions stuart & achipmunk. I really appreciate it

James

Putting a finger or any other body part over the end of the nozzel is not a good idea. The air pressure can and will blow throught the skin and damage tissue. I had an buddy that had to have the end of his finger amputated because the damage was too great. The source was a tiny hole in the side of the air chuck. Just my 2 cents. Work safe!

mainah1945,

Welcome to the Stovebolt. I agree with your concerns, but I think in this case, the finger that covers the end of the nozzle is inside of a heavy pair of "blast cabinet gloves"...pretty tough and thick to blow through.

Stuart