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I would like to build a sandblasting cabinet. I have a new air compressor so that will not be an issue. I am looking for plans to build the the thing. At one time I saw some plans where they used a plastic 55 gal barrel and they used a piece of lexan for the viewing glass and then used heavy rubber gloves. Any help with sites or plans would be cool. Thanks Keith
Keith, I made mine outta wood a few years ago and it does the trick! Didnt cost much to build. Its like 3' x 2' x 3' basically. And I dont know about using Lexan for the window...at first I tried plexiglass, that lasted about an hour lol. Next I went with plate glass, and that lasted awhile but eventually became hazy also. Finally I got a piece of tempered glass and its lasted for a long time and is still fairly clear. If youre interested, email me and I can shoot ya some pics of it. CDJr@bellsouth.net
Just a simple box with a window to look through, a flouresant light that has a shield on it to protect it from sand, a hose coming in to a nozzle, and two rubber gloves that you insert your hands into . BUT. Harbor Freight runs these on sale often and they are pretty nice units. We have two of them and they work fine. By the time you dig up all the components you would probably have as much in it.
The one thing we are going to build is a dust collector to suck the dust out. It gets cloudy inside and obscures your vision very quickly. I have seen the ones that they sell, and it is nothing more than a squirrel cage blower like boats use for bilge blowers, except it is 120 volt, and it goes into a bucket that is sealed and has some filtering material in it to trap the dust.
If you like to build things and have the time, do it. I just feel sometimes a person is better off to buy something that is already done and get it over with. I'd rather be using that time to build a rod. JMO.
Don
From what I am seeing I guess I should go to Harbor Freight. I just didn't want to shell out 150 bucks so that I can clean up my window regulators and othe small parts. It might be time to call in some favors and borrow someones or go to there shop.
I think you will all agree that you can never have enough tools or toys in the shop, Keith in Missouri
I understand about the initial outlay, but it's like every other tool you own........after you have one you wonder how you ever got along without it. A blast cabinet makes short work of little brackets and other stuff that you would spend lots of time grinding.
Don
I've built them out of small deep freezes, and for small jobs like you seem to want to do, a big cardboard box works great. Use Saran Wrap for the window, it lasts as long as anything else and costs like nothing to replace. Dryer vent hose and gauntlet gloves work good and cheap, too. Get a box with a drop-on lid to be really classy, and put the window in the lid. I do things as big as wheels in one like that. Put a cast frying pan in there to do little stuff without blowing a hole in the box. Cleans the frying pan good, too! I had some 30" square plywood tea chests years ago, they were perfect.
I like the idea if a freezer and washing machine. A friend of mine made a parts washer out of an old dish washer. He filtered the cleaning solution and ran it back in. He put the small stuff in the top tack and let the spinning sprayer do the work. Keith