Sand blasting cabinet?

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone had any good advice on buying a small to medium size sandblasting cabinet? Would be used for cleaning up small exterior trim parts (including de-chroming), rusted suspension pieces, and stuff like that.

I've seen a few between $100-200, but there's a lot in that price range and no easy way to tell what features it needs or quality. Harbor Freight OK? Is it worth stepping up to something nicer? Is a bigger, cheaper cabinet better than a smaller, high quality one?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Assuming you can find one at H-F that meets your needs, that's probably all you'll need, IMO. As far as size goes, figure what the dimensions are of the biggest piece you want to put in it, and make sure it fits!

A guy I know has a nice one in his shop that you can open the end up and blast really big stuff with half (or more) of it sticking out. Not a good way to keep your shop clean, but nice when you need to blast something that won't fit all the way in the cabinet.

i got the HF $300 one on sale for $200. replace the tip with real one and you're good to go.

I got an HF one a while back. Haven't done anything to the tip, but I did spend some time checking/improving caulking before I installed it. That paid off, it doesn't leak at all. I really like having it.

Keith wrote: I got an HF one a while back. Haven't done anything to the tip, but I did spend some time checking/improving caulking before I installed it. That paid off, it doesn't leak at all. I really like having it.

This, the "stock" sealing is somewhat lacking.

Works great otherwise.

I have had one from northern tool for coming up on two years now I have love it. It does leak somewhat but I have found that if I keep the shop vac attached to one of the exhaust holes (were a mesh grate is normaly) in the cabinet it makes life a lot easier. It makes short work of any suspension bits and now any old part of the car gets blasted.

One thing you really need to consider is the size of your compressor and how many cubic feet per minute it will produce at probably a minimum of 90 PSI. I have a small blast cabinet and a 33 gallon compressor and spend more time waiting for pressure to build back up then blasting. You probably need something like 10 cubic feet per minute or you will be disappointed. Another thing you will really need is an air dryer or you will constantly be dealing with a clogged gun. Sand blasters are really air hogs!

Improve the sealing or there will be dust everywhere Add more lights or better lights Dry air The vacumm in a good idea.

We had a thread on this previously. OTOH I started posting on a Honda Accord forum and found out quickly that they love to blast people for not searching. They threaten 3x and you are gone.

I like GRM as everyone is down to earth and not blasting each other over little crap. I'm just worried about all that fighting under the me versus you thread.

I've got a HF unit. Top loader type on legs. It works but is very leaky. I've modified it to keep it working better. Mods included Moving to second floor of the garage, Projects keep getting dusty, 2nd floor is storage and has plastic and insulation in ceiling so nothing should fall through. Added two Shower drain flanges one over the air intake port that came with just a sheet metal baffle and one over the exhaust port that came with a paper cone filter that lasted on use. Both got plumbed the intake out a boarded up window with 1/5 PVC and the exhaust in to a cheap shop vac with it's exhaust out the same window. This way any dust sucked through goes out side and floats down over the back yard and I never worried about random beads coming out the intake if they bounce just right and make it past the baffle. (it happens allot). Adding some wire screen on the inside help keep the plexi glass from getting blasted. I've also replace the florescent lamp unit with a regular screw in lamp (porch light with globe...had it on hand)

I have also found that they hate humidity. The powder will clump and can clog, it all makes for very slow going. It didn't help that I was trying to blast in the august when Virginia has 100% humidity all day long.

One thing to watch with blasting is a little wear in the nozzle increases air usage a LOT.