Blast Cabinet Light Recomendations

[Lazurus]

I have one of the small blast cabinets which I am doing a few mods to, I would like to upgrade the stock lighting which is a flourescent tube arrangement. Can anyone recommend a replacement / upgrade?

 

[RWD3M]

Hi Lazarus,

I haven't done it myself yet but there was a thread on here that talked about fitting strips of LED's and wrapping in cling film (I think) so the covering can be easily (and regularly replaced.

I'll be following this one with interest!

 

[stuvy]

Iv seen people use florist cellophane as it’s cheap and can cover the light and the screen windows and be removed when it’s to hard to see through

 

[Dcal]

This is what I did on mine
A bit OTT but it does work a treat.

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/cheap-blasting-cabinet-and-pressure-pot-upgrades.99212/

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I tried the led route and fitted them into the tube where the fluorescent goes. Useless. The tube still gets covered and led's don't project light any where near as good as a proper lamp. The problem with the cabinet's light position is that is is in the path of the blast material. If the light was behind the gun, then it wouldn't be subject to attack by the blasting. On the other hand on the subject of the sacrificial window. I got 50 A3 acetates and three rolls of 12mm double sided tape and made my own. Dead easy and just as good as the ones that cost over a £1.00. Works out about 1/4 of the price each. I'm definitely going to find a way of not having to keep tipping the cabinet up to redistribute the media on to the pickup tube. I think it needs to fall out the bottom into a tub and then get picked up again by the siphon. Mine was very cheap but if I were to buy another one it would definitely be the type that drains into a tub.

 

[Lazurus]

I have a metering valve on the way as I dont like the pick up tube. although to be fair it does work ok, this is what prompted me to look at other aspects that need addressing.

 

[RWD3M]

Hi Lazarus,

I haven't done it myself yet but there was a thread on here that talked about fitting strips of LED's and wrapping in cling film (I think) so the covering can be easily (and regularly replaced.

I'll be following this one with interest!

Found it. Turns out it was one of mine!

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/christmas-present.88530/

Some good ideas on lighting.

 

[MoreWellie]

I'm definitely going to find a way of not having to keep tipping the cabinet up to redistribute the media on to the pickup tube.

I had this issue and kept buying more media, now I am up to 30Kg or so in a smallish cabinet and it works much better, I still have to point the gun into the mesh at the sides every now and blip the trigger to let the air blast push the media back down

 

[brightspark]

I tried the led route and fitted them into the tube where the fluorescent goes. Useless. The tube still gets covered and led's don't project light any where near as good as a proper lamp. The problem with the cabinet's light position is that is is in the path of the blast material. If the light was behind the gun, then it wouldn't be subject to attack by the blasting. On the other hand on the subject of the sacrificial window. I got 50 A3 acetates and three rolls of 12mm double sided tape and made my own. Dead easy and just as good as the ones that cost over a £1.00. Works out about 1/4 of the price each. I'm definitely going to find a way of not having to keep tipping the cabinet up to redistribute the media on to the pickup tube. I think it needs to fall out the bottom into a tub and then get picked up again by the siphon. Mine was very cheap but if I were to buy another one it would definitely be the type that drains into a tub.

I did a post on altering my small one made some tapered sides for it in the hopper someone else on here has done the samehttps://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/small-clarke-blast-cabinet-improvement.20261/
[

 

[brightspark]

this will fit in the small Clarke cabinet just need a transformer to run it https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1...UIHXWsCrkQ9QEwAnoECAIQHA#imgrc=5b2fpCYz6XG0WM:

 

[bricol]

I put a couple of the ebay 10W LED outside lamps inside mine the other week - one each side worked well. Glass is well frosted now, but it lets enough light through. Extraction, or forced air in to blow through to shift the dust is essential, especialy as your media starts to break down. I got a bit more use out of my crushed glass be passing it through some sieves sold for bonsai growers. The dust absorbs the light, or refraction form it hinders view of the part.

I dumped 25kg in mine - works well with standard suction and gun - but I might have been running well over 100psi I realised later. Only blocks when the crap I'm blasting off gets sucked up - a gloved hand over the nozzle and pull the trigger to get a "woomph" down in the media clears it for a time - then sieving needed to get the crap out.