Blast Cabinet Visibility

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grimreaper

grimreaper

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Does anybody have any tips for maintaining visibility in a blast cabinet? I've been trying to figure out a good solution for some time but always seem to wind up with my nose pressed against the glass trying to peer through the dust stuck there by static electricity. I tried a regular dust collector but it didn't work well. Tried various other things and now have a shop vac pulling through a dust bag and then a panel filter. What works well?
 
It helps to change the protective film on the inside of the glass from time to time. I think you can get the replacement films that are made for each individual cabinet, but I just went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some thin lexan sheets and cut to fit.
 
Fresh media,
When mine starts to make dust I change it out, and use vacuum at all times.
#20-40 black diamands last about 3 hrs before it starts making dust.
 
Ya, Iv'e got a few rolls of the clear film and tape strips. I even use Plastix plastic polisher so it will last a bit longer and repel dust better.
 
grimreaper said:
Does anybody have any tips for maintaining visibility in a blast cabinet? I've been trying to figure out a good solution for some time but always seem to wind up with my nose pressed against the glass trying to peer through the dust stuck there by static electricity. I tried a regular dust collector but it didn't work well. Tried various other things and now have a shop vac pulling through a dust bag and then a panel filter. What works well?
Click to expand...

You may want to turn your pressure down
 
Is it a metal cabinet? Get a chunk of coarse metal screening and attach to the cabinet under the glass.

may also help to run a ground wire from the gun, along the hose, to the cabinet.
 
All good tips!! I'll be following this thread. We just bought this Harbor Freight cabinet last weekend.

image_11826.jpg


It was on sale for $219 and we used a 20% off coupon on top of that. I know it's not commercial grade and I'm normally not a big HF guy, but we won't use it but a couple times a year (after the initial run) and it should be fine.
 
Since I work at a auto/flat glass shop we cut our own glass for the cabinet once visibility is a issue.

I bet if you replaced the glass it would make a world of difference.
 
Mount window screen on the inside of the glass. My cabinet is used everyday and I dont touch the glass for over a year. I only use glass or light sand when needed. Black beauty will wear through the sides of the cabinet in time.

My blaster is a snap-on seen in the background in the pic below. It came with the etching protector screen and three dust collector fans with 3 foot dust bags on each. I also have a vibrator attached to the cabinet this keeps the dust from sticking to the sides and glass and keeps the funnel full. I can take pics of it if you would like. It holds steady at 120 PSI
 

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Interesting and very pertinant(SP) thread.....

I lOVE that orange Duster!
 
I make my windows from polycarbanate ( same as lexan) plastic, so i change them often. Luckily i work for an outfit that makes it so it's free. I also change the media fairly often and i intalled a high intensity lamp inside my blast cabinet.
 
There's a guy on GarageJournal who is selling blast cabinet protector screens. I'm intrigued but he's not really been too forthcoming with more info. I was able to get him to forward a pic but I'm still up in the air on giving one a try. They're $30. This is looking through it ...

View attachment lens protector.jpg

Anybody else given one of these a try? I don't even know the manufacturer's name yet.
 
Do you have any lights in the cabinet? Ours only had one at first and after a few minutes of blasting it would be pretty hard to see. My dad put two lights in out of a broken motion sensor and it made a world of difference. They are also nice and small.

motion%20detector%20with%20light.jpg
 
I shut off the top lights in my shop when I'm blasting and only use the light inside the cabinet. Makes a world of difference with visibility in mine.
 
stansblue72 said:
I shut off the top lights in my shop when I'm blasting and only use the light inside the cabinet. Makes a world of difference with visibility in mine.
Click to expand...

I'm doin the same thing. helps a lot, but not enough.
 
BrianT; I have the same one.upgrade the lighting you will be glad you did.I used a 150wt.out side light in mine.know I can see very good.and I use an old shopvac and set it out side with about 15ft.of hose.know I can blast for hours..........Artie
 
I found the plastic sheets to wear quick and be expensive. I went to a local glass shop and got ends from them specific for blasting cheap! Did a fair amount of blasting and still on the 1st piece of glass.
 
godfatherofchry said:
BrianT; I have the same one.upgrade the lighting you will be glad you did.I used a 150wt.out side light in mine.know I can see very good.and I use an old shopvac and set it out side with about 15ft.of hose.know I can blast for hours..........Artie
Click to expand...

Same here, but I used an el cheapo porch light fixture instead. The globe got frosted quickly ... but glass salsa jars fit perfectly! :-D


4spdragtop said:
I found the plastic sheets to wear quick and be expensive. I went to a local glass shop and got ends from them specific for blasting cheap! Did a fair amount of blasting and still on the 1st piece of glass.
Click to expand...

Ends of what, leftover windows?
 
I have the air intake where my hands go in (just holes) and the shop vacuum sucks from the back top through some steel wool. So the fresh air is drawn right past the window. The window is IKEA tempered shelf glass for the "as is " section, $2.50! My blast cabinet is made of fiber ceiling tiles held together by 3 inch nails I pushed in by hand and then duct taped the inside seams and strapped the entire thing with 5 huge zip ties. Talk about low buck, it cost me about 15 bucks to make and that included the 60 watt bulb socket I pushed through the side. It sits on an old dresser with a hole in it so the sand can get pushed into the hole and collect in the first drawer., That is where my pickup tube sits J nailed in place. Laughable but works! line the inside with rubber baby bed liners and it should last a while. Now that is Cheap a$$!
 
pishta said:
I have the air intake where my hands go in (just holes) and the shop vacuum sucks from the back top through some steel wool. So the fresh air is drawn right past the window. The window is IKEA tempered shelf glass for the "as is " section, $2.50! My blast cabinet is made of fiber ceiling tiles held together by 3 inch nails I pushed in by hand and then duct taped the inside seams and strapped the entire thing with 5 huge zip ties. Talk about low buck, it cost me about 15 bucks to make and that included the 60 watt bulb socket I pushed through the side. It sits on an old dresser with a hole in it so the sand can get pushed into the hole and collect in the first drawer., That is where my pickup tube sits J nailed in place. Laughable but works! line the inside with rubber baby bed liners and it should last a while. Now that is Cheap a$$!
Click to expand...

Man, you should be president of TCB!....team cheap bastard!
good job.........cheap is good (especially if it works)
 
Dust on the glass is usually the worst problem. You can run a dedicated air hose in the box for an air nozzle. Leave it attached and in the box. Now you can grab the nozzle to blow the dust of the interior of the glass without opening the door. This method scratches the glass or protective film much less than wiping.
 
pishta said:
I have the air intake where my hands go in (just holes) and the shop vacuum sucks from the back top through some steel wool. So the fresh air is drawn right past the window. The window is IKEA tempered shelf glass for the "as is " section, $2.50! My blast cabinet is made of fiber ceiling tiles held together by 3 inch nails I pushed in by hand and then duct taped the inside seams and strapped the entire thing with 5 huge zip ties. Talk about low buck, it cost me about 15 bucks to make and that included the 60 watt bulb socket I pushed through the side. It sits on an old dresser with a hole in it so the sand can get pushed into the hole and collect in the first drawer., That is where my pickup tube sits J nailed in place. Laughable but works! line the inside with rubber baby bed liners and it should last a while. Now that is Cheap a$$!
Click to expand...

Oh c'mon, a thousand words and no pic??? You're teasing us pish!!! :wack: :-D I'd love to see it personally. LMAO @ 383Duster ... but I'd second the nomination.
 
I built this one. obviously some idiot did. the windows went where the raw wood is. It had a two stage sloped wood cavity in the back that lead to where I hooked a shop vac to at the bottom. It had rabbit wire as a floor above the slope to lay my parts while I blasted. I ran my pressure blaster into it. But it pissed me off because the slope was not steep enough and like 50 pounds of sand filled up in the rear chamber and it was too cumbersome to use. So I burned it to the ground.
 

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