| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| fuslit |
Posted - 02/22/2010 : 15:23:05
I haven't fallen off the face of the earth this winter (although it might seem it.) I've been busy with small business & working on things in my garage, we picked up some old retro 50's metal kitchen cabinets that I'll be stripping down and re-painting.
Found out how long it was going to take (and how dusty it was) with a wire wheel, decided to trawl craigslist and found this for $200. (I couldn't pass it up)
bought it and brought it home, a tad rusty for my liking...
So, tore it apart, wirebrushed, repaired and repainted things and this is the almost final result. (Still in progress at the moment)
I've got a few parts I need to order for the dust collection unit as well as a few things to wrap up on the overall project, but i'll soon be able to sand blast some projects that will make my life a ton easier.
Along the way i've picked up an air compressor to drive this (also on craigslist) It's an IR 60 gal, but it may not be big enough to drive it, it's single not dual stage. And worked on many other car and garage related projects... (this has been a "as time and money allows" and it's starting to be wrapped up!)
I've got to wrap up the lighting get some tempered glass the top and order parts from the company (who are still in business believe it or not)
Overall, I think it's turning out fairly good for the amount of effort I've put in. I think the finish is pretty decent for using a foam roller.
-T |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| B-16_IC |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 09:54:53
Looks like you've done a fine job there! That is one tool I'd like to have in the shop but it's a long ways off for me. |
| sleepy |
Posted - 02/28/2010 : 00:58:21
If you do small parts like screws or pins you will find it handy to also lay a layer of window type screen over the expanded metal. It saves a lot of time looking for them. Alan |
| fuslit |
Posted - 02/27/2010 : 18:22:44
I suck at taking pictures, but...
aluminum pulley
before
after
(I sprayed primer just after I took the pic.)
It works, still need a few parts, (expanded metal screen for the cabinet, and some filter accessories) but I've started blasting stuff :)
testing it out on one of the cabinet shelves we got. It works great on that paint, but where there are multiple layers of some other type it seems to bounce.
So, I'm going to try a couple different types of blast media as well, all I have at the moment is aluminum oxide.
-T |
| olcowhand |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 10:04:36
quote:
Originally posted by fuslit
I haven't picked any up yet, but I do plan on getting some from TSC before I use it. (I was thinking about getting the abrasive there actually)
Unless I'm in Louisville to stop in Harbor Freight, I get all my supplies at TSC. |
| fuslit |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 21:47:06
I haven't picked any up yet, but I do plan on getting some from TSC before I use it. (I was thinking about getting the abrasive there actually) |
| olcowhand |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 21:32:12
Do you have the disposable view liners to put on the glass? TSC carries them around here in a couple sizes. |
| fuslit |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 18:54:44
Alan & Daniel
A good point, the manufacture has already added an intake point on the left side of the cabinet where the air is sucked in then it cross drafts across to exit out the upper right of the cabinet
The progress:
three coats of paint on the foot pedal assembly
cut the hose dust collection hose in half for the second dust collection point
took the gun apart then put it back together with the non-broken side of the blast tip facing out. (things did not want to come apart easy, but I was able to get things apart without breaking anything.)
testing out the lights, etc.
it seems to push air through and pull suction like it's supposed to but there is no media and no dust collection filters so I am not using it yet.
I think it's come along way, it should work as expected.
-T |
| olcowhand |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 09:56:18
All cabinets I've seen have the suction port, plus a inlet port on opposite end for venting. This provides a constant flow of air to purge the dust, and no vacuum will form inside the cabinet when gun isn't blasting. |
| sleepy |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 21:55:41
The light units I used were ther same ones as used in Dry Cleaners and in locker rooms at swimming pools. They are sealed, have tempered glass globe and a wire basket over it. They aren't that expensive but last a long time and protect the bulb. Depending on the suction of the vacum and the seal of the cabinet you may have to drill a small hole to keep the cabinet from distorting with the force. Alan |
| fuslit |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 20:54:14
Alan,
from my understanding there are two different thickness's of copper pipe, the thicker one would be the one I would look at. But, it is interesting to hear that it could become brittle with heat, I would rather not experience an airline blowout. I think Iron pipe is cheaper in terms of the joints compared to copper, but I will be putting together a spread sheet with part costs and breaking things down to figure out what it will cost.
I'll start another thread most likely when I go to start running the hardlines.
Got some glass to put over the top holes where the lights will go, it's fairly thin, but until I can get some tempered glass cut it should work ok.
I picked up some couplings I needed to attach the dust collection hoses to the blast cabinet, they are pvc couplings that the dust collection hose fits snugly in. I think it should work well. I turned on the dust collection unit and there is quite a pull of air on the intake side of the cabinet even with a few openings still in place.
Things left:
I have to order the filter bags, and large band clamp that holds the two barrels of the collection unit together. Debating on the grill for the inside, I think I'll order that as well. I'll will probably do that tomorrow or friday (most likely friday as it's pay day friday...)
thats the update, but I forgot to charge my camera so you need to wait for the most recent pics.
-T |
| sleepy |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 21:54:18
I forgot to say most iron pipe comes china or india which is not quality so don't skimp. The other thing is the larger the pipe ( within reason) the more air capacity you have in addition to the air compressor. Alan |
| sleepy |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 21:50:29
Copper is usually much thinner than iron pipe, also copper can become brittle with heat. It does take some time but can happen. You only have to see one shop that the air line broke to want the best the first time. Alan |
| fuslit |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 11:28:24
I've never used a sandblaster for my own stuff, but i know the results and I'm pretty excited it should be a huge . I'm planning to try auluminum oxide to begin with for abrasive.
Alan,
Thanks for the heads up on the compressor/lines. I've read quite a few horror stories on people that use pvc. I plan on looking into using either iron pipe or Thick walled copper silver soldered together. (Or the aluminum air line made by the transair company, they have quite an impressive product it is just very expensive...)
I'm only 31 but I've come to realize that in many cases, time is worth more than money to me (even at this point in my life) unless you're able to make more time (which I haven't found away) If the cost difference between the aluminum setup and the iron or copper setup is with in a price range I deem workable I might go for it. (As it will save me time) Otherwise, it will depend on which is the most cost effective.
Rest assured I've been doing research on what I need to put in. @Daniel: Yep, I do plan on putting in moisture drop traps inline.
Here is a setup diagram for various air tools that I've found useful in my research www.tptools.com/StaticText/airline-piping-diagram.pdf
Also, from my reading on the garage journal, it appears the black iron (not galvanized) or copper are a personal (monetary) preference, both have positives and negatives, I haven't decided which I want to go with yet.
quote:
The pipe line needs to be made with Black Iron pipe. The air moving thru has a reaction with other metals and can come apart
I have not read of anyone have their non-iron line come apart, (thinking silver soldered copper in particular) do you have some examples?
Currently I keep my compressor unplugged and all lines disconnected when not in use.
Thanks for the input!
-T |
| sleepy |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 11:07:54
The pipe line needs to be made with Black Iron pipe. The air moving thru has a reaction with other metals and can come apart. Some people use thick wall pvc but when it explodes you have a lot of schrapnel. Also you need to shut off the compressor before taking any trips as if the line should leak or break you will burn up the compressor. Alan |
| olcowhand |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 09:14:42
T...have you ever used a blast cabinet? If not, You're gonna love it! Do you know about putting moisture "drop traps" in your air line? |
