Blasting Cabinet

[M@tt]

Having stumbled across this rather tidy blasting cabinet made by someone in the states i decided to have a go myself as i've always got various car parts in need of a clean up

So thanks to Craigthewelder i found a local company that let me have an oil drum with clampable lid for free The only minor thing is that the lid is clamped via a nut and bolt and ideally could do with a quick release handle but i can always sort that out at a later date.

So at the moment i've just started collecting the raw parts

So far we have 1 barrel, lid and clamp. Cost = Free
And i've bought a continuous hinge from Focus. Cost £5

Then i've bought some arm length rubber gaunlets from eBay. Cost £9.30 delivered(you get some very dodgy results if you type rubber gauntlets into ebay!!! )
24" Industrial Latex Gauntlets Chemical Resistant

Then i found these ducting plates which are ideal for mounting to the drum and attaching the gauntlets to. Cost £9.17 delivered
150mm 6" Duct to Wall Connector Hydroponics Vent

So thats where i am at present, not very far but i'll keep progress updated

 

[rtbcomp]

I got an old pair of jodphurs from the charity shop which I'll be using instead of rubber gauntlets, the gauntlets that came with my blast cabinet wore through very quickly and I found it awkward getting my hand in the glove bit. They were a bit long and my hand hit the back of the cabinet before the fingers got to the end of the glove!

I just wear an ordinary pair of rubber/cotton gloves, or Marigolds are fine for bead blasting.

 

[Richm]

lid

We get stuff delivered in those drums with "lever clamps" am sure will have some empty drums with those clamps around if you want one?

 

[M@tt]

Richm that would be brillant i'll drop you a PM, thanks!

I called into the local dump on the way home tonight and managed to convince the bloke there to let me have a rumage through the fridges there for some wire shelving which i could use as a base to put the blasting items on, not sure if dump raiding officially makes me a pikey now though!!

whilst i was there i noticed that the cooling rack on the back of a fridge/freeze would be perfect to make a single piece bed out of but i didn't have any tools with me so couldn't take one off but might snap up a fridge on freecycle if someone advertises one locally before taking it to the tip myself minus its cooling rack

 

[rtbcomp]

If you take the cooling rack off the gasses will be released - so taking the motor off aftrerwards wont

I can always use fridge motors

 

[M@tt]

if i get one it's yours

 

[rtbcomp]

Cheers - I found that blast gun I metioned so I've put your name on it.

 

[the snooper]

not a bad idea ive been looking and found this one made from wood think i will use steel harder wearing
http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23694

 

[malcolm]

I've been blasting wheels all afternoon. Found a fault with my cabinet that you might correct with yours. My arms rested on the bit where the gloves attach which is only an inch long in my cabinet. After a few hours my arms got sore. I'd go for a decent length to rest your arms on, especially if you are running low cfm like me. An hour a wheel! Which is still cheaper than having someone else do them.

 

[rtbcomp]

If you make one out of wood you need to line it with steel, I'd suggest the inner shell of a dishwasher to reflect light.

Wood will produce sawdust.

 

[rtbcomp]

......... An hour a wheel! Which is still cheaper than having someone else do them.

Were they wire wheels? How much were you quoted?

 

[malcolm]

Steel wheels. Normally I'm quoted £15 to £20 a wheel. Wasn't doing anything else this afternoon so my time was way less costly than that. I did have ideas of buying another compressor to double up on the cfm and going for a bigger nozzle, but that would have nuked the price per wheel.

The perspex I'm using to protect the glass was £2 per wheel in itself. All off topic - thread isn't to do with Renault wheels no matter if they make me weak at the knees.

 

[rtbcomp]

Use florists cellophane (ebay) or clear bookbinding plastic to protect the glass

http://www.care4books.com/packaging/page.asp?type=cat&pid=2&cid=1

Choose the smooth finish.

 

[malcolm]

I'll give that a try. Only 6 replacement sheets from £20 thin perspex, but for the same price from your link near 100 replacements.

 

[rtbcomp]

I use it to protect the visor in my blasting helmet, the cellophane is clearer but the book cover stuff is tougher. It's the same stuff they make those transparent document wallets out of.

 

[craigthewelder]

Good to see the project is coming together nicely Matt.

 

[M@tt]

i've pretty much finished the blast cabinet, i just need a couple of jubilee clamps to secure the gaunlets and fit the dust extraction pipe, but i'm pretty happy with the result.

A big thanks to Roger (rtbcomp) for loaning me his syphon gun

it needs some of the tiger seal tidying up as i didn't have a spare nozzel for the tube so had to smooth it by hand which resulted in it going everywhere but once its cured properly i'll tidy it all up, and proabably chuck a coat of paint over it all if i'm feeling particulalry daring

i think all in its cost me about £40 to make!

 

[rtbcomp]

The gun's yours to keep.

Instead of jubilee clips to hold the gloves try cable ties. I've got loads if you need any.

 

[davenport]

fantastic....

(love the white 205 lurking in the background.. )

i`ve considered making 1 LOADS of times but never bothered.. partly through time and partly due to my compressor not really having the balls to run 1...

 

[Coo]

Nice work !