DIY Blaster Cabinet Build - Thoughts and Ideas

[Gizmo.Y]

Got my hands on a free 1000 Liter water container, Roughly 4x3x3

My plan is, to flip it upside down so the Filling cap is on the bottom, then secure a collection hood over the opening, then putting some mesh over the top of the opening in the inside to stop large items falling down. Then using a simple hand held brush to push the media down the collection funnel.

The media will then be collected into a 25l Container, which will then be recycled back into blasting media.

I also plan to cut open 2 large openings onto the sides. One for a Clear Screen, and the other as an opening for a door.

I will also be cutting 2 round holes for some extra long gauntlets for protection.

I plan to fit 2 x Outside security/ Flood lamps to the inside to Illuminate the contents.

For the Air supply, I will be Double Filtering the Air entering the Cabinet, a Trap at the compressor (Which is used for Everything, From Air-tools to Spraying) and then adding an Isolated one on the Cabinet itself.

For Blasting, I will be using an eBay Mid-Range suction fed good. Ive seen one of these at work, and although not the best, will work for what i want it too (Which will be mainly Wheels and Suspension components).

Now, what I'm really stuck on, is Extraction. I'm not 100% Sure if its needed? However, I'm after a CHEAP solution to extraction if its needed - Would a hoover be sufficient enough?

The next bit I'm not 100% sure on, is Media. I Plan on mainly blasting Wheels and Suspension components. With a mix of Steel, alloy and Cast Iron (Depending on Vehicle)

Any thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rtbcomp]

I plan to fit 2 x Outside security/ Flood lamps to the inside to Illuminate the contents.

No - it will get too hot, LED ones might work. I use 12v halogens (Ikea). Fit the lights so they shine from the front. You don't want mains voltage anywhere near where you're working. Many smaller lights set at different angles are best to avoid casting shadows.

Best media for a cabinet is chilled iron for steel items, aluminium for ally items and glass beads for a nice finish.

For extraction I use a Clarke woodchip extractor,

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/album.php?albumid=1026

You need to get as much airflow as possible, so fit extra filter bags to the outlet, as many as you can so that they only just inflate. Provide an extra air inlet ( a hole with a baffle over it) to improve the scavenging airflow.

 

[Gizmo.Y]

Those extractors are quite expensive! is there not a cheaper alternative?

I didn't think about the heat, its a fair point, i would of thought the Air-Flow in the cabinet would of kept them cool.

LED's seem like a viable option.

 

[rtbcomp]

Not really if you want to collect the dust, it's not advisable to let it fly all over the place.

You could easily burn yourself in the light beam close to the lamp, and again, keep mains out of the cabinet!

 

[brightspark]

ive got a glass lid in mine and 3 - 28 watt 2d flourescent bulbs inside with a cover over. theres a lage fine filter up on the side to stop loss of decent media just the dust passes. its either pressuire fed with pot or suction gun depending on what needs cleaning it will take car wheels no problem theres a hole in the bottom of the hopper just put a bucket under with a sieve on top and its self cleaning ready for refilling the pot using suction gun just seal the hole and tip the grit in

 

[Shox Dr]

Dyson, works a treat, easy to empty and clean, sucks like a vacuum cleaner.

The local council tip is a good place for them

 

[Gizmo.Y]

Dyson, works a treat, easy to empty and clean, sucks like a vacuum cleaner.

The local council tip is a good place for them

Thats my Thinking.

FREE and easy supply, I have 2 Garage vacs, that i usually use to hoover up anything from Swarf to hoovering the concrete floor when I'm bored!

My budget is £100 to build the entire Cabinet, Including some Basic Media and the Blasting Gun/ Nozzle

Ive managed to score a free metal PC Desk which i plan to mount the cabinet onto.

 

[rtbcomp]

You can usually pick vacuum cleaners up on Freecycle. They're a bit noisy though.

 

[Gizmo.Y]

As long as it keeps costs down, I'm all for it.

One of my shop vacs is a Dyson, which i got for free as it didn't have much Vacuum.

So, i spent all of 20 minutes stripping it down, Removed what seemed to be a mouse nests in one of the Main Tubes, and shes a Good'un!

 

[Normsthename]

Trouble with using a lot of vacuum cleaners is the fine dust will just pass straight thru' and you will end up breathing that in, not good.....

Andy

 

[Shox Dr]

Trouble with using a lot of vacuum cleaners is the fine dust will just pass straight thru' and you will end up breathing that in, not good.....

Andy

Not with a dyson, but I still use a mask

 

[brightspark]

Trouble with using a lot of vacuum cleaners is the fine dust will just pass straight thru' and you will end up breathing that in, not good.....

Andy

that is verry true. i use a 4inch woodchipper extractor and 4 inch ducting and vent it out of the garage completely . theres allways a good suction from the cabinet irispective of using a pressurised pot or the suction gun type
doin the odd bit with a mask on is ok but when u have a lot to do get the right gear , one of my extracta hoses fell off a few month ago and i never noticed i certainly did a few hours later . was choked up for a couple of days feeling stuffy . not good

 

[Normsthename]

I can convert my CNC Plasma machine over to a CNC Wood Router.
When cutting wood I originally used a Machinemart Clarke dust extractor.
But the bags are only good down to about 5 microns, when cutting some materials (MDF for instance) the dust can go down to 2 microns and just pass straight thru' the bags
So I built myself a Cyclone to collect the fine dust, see picture below

The sawdust enters in the black pipe on the left.
There is a homemade helix that spirals the sawdust downwards into the bucket at the bottom.
I have cut bucketfuls of sawdust since, and none has ever entered the two white collection bags on the right.

Andy

 

[jackojacks]

i woul be very interested to see some pictures of inside this above setup if poss at some point.
thru my blasting experiances and trying different things for lights i now use large coffee jars with energy saving bulbs mounted in with the lids connected to the inside of the roof then when they etch up just unscrew the glass jar off and screw another new jar on so its all enclosed and you can put as many as you like i think i have about 8 . i have at times used flood lights shining thru the glass it dosnt work it cracks the glass and makes you sweat from the heat.

for extraction i have used a dyson but the best i have now found on a budget is a garden vac piped outside using std downpipe i just hang it up outside when blasting it works very well maybe too noisey for some. i run it thru the std bag at the mo thats why i would like to see pics of above filter system.

dont make your glass viewing panel too big cos you will find you only use a small viewing area and glass costs cash i just use std second hand greenhouse glass i have a stack of it .

for gloves i use the legs of a pair of jeans and sew a pair of welding gloves on the end i secure them with trailer cover elastic like a laccy band on the flanges i welded into my cabinet also good for quick access when your tip blocks. cheap as chips..


just bear in mind everything wears out on a blaster so costs can mount up if you just buy everything.

i use supafine grit from wolverhampton abrasives it is desposable but i have been using the same grit for years its about ready for changing it also doesnt wear my tips out just my ball valves slowly i use a pressure pot with my cabinet hope this may help someone.

 

[Normsthename]

i would be very interested to see some pictures of inside this above setup if poss at some point.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures of the inside
Where the black pipe enters the unit, the helix sits above the black pipe, this keeps it separate from the exiting silver pipe
The Helix then spirals the dust downwards.
Once it hits the lower funnel it speeds up and falls into the bottom bucket.
The silver pipe out of the top is just a short pipe
Look on the 'Net there are a few plans available on Woodworking forums

Andy

 

[jackojacks]

Hi Does the spiral screw need to be the full dia of the top bucket or is it say only 2 inches wide spiraling down the bucket sides . also does the screw stop at the bottom of the bucket ie no need for a screw within the traffic cone.

i have a suitable bottom container and funnily enough i also have a traffic cone sat doing nothing so i only need to sort out the top section i may have to sacrifice my brewing bucket. Thanks

 

[Normsthename]

traffic cone

Do you mean the Lower Funnel........
If I remember correctly, the Helix was approx. 6"wide
The Helix stops at the lower funnel (Traffic Cone )

Andy

 

[Gizmo.Y]

Heres a small Update.

This is what im using.

This hole was on the top for Filling the container, is now on the bottom for Emptying. a Bucket will be placed under this hole, and Rather than Funnel the Media into the bucket - a simple and quick solution is to use a small hand held brush and manually brush it into the collection bucket

Sat in its Resting Place. I noticed that the Old Metal framed desk im using is a Tad Fragile with just the Container on top - this is before ive added lights, windows etc - will replace this with a wooden structure of some description soon.

My plans for the Window and gloves. Window is approx 20"x10"

Im also thinking of removing the bottom left window pane, and replacing it with a wooden plank with a ventilation hole.

Also, since the Container is upside down, the Valve used to empty the contents, is now on top - and is in an ideal location near this window. Another bonus is that my workshop Dyson is also a snug fit in the valve entrance.

-----------------

Now, Some questions.

The Window - Whats the best to use for this? a Glass Pane or Clear Plastic?

Next, The Tools.

To be honest, i'm not looking to spend an awful lot of money on the Gun, It will be mainly used for personal uses, so it wont be used that much - So i don't really want to be spending £££'s on an all singing and Dancing one.

Ill be honest, and have been looking at these £15 Jobbies on eBay. For example this one - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIR-SANDB...Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item231719ff2f

Are these any good? All i will be doing is a few sets of wheels and suspension components for my projects.

Next, I understand that the Guns will wear due to abrasion, What are the common issues with this - will an "eBay" Gun have readily available spares if needed?

Gauntlets - I plan to fix some gauntlets onto the container, Will just plain old Long-Arm gauntlets do the Job? Example - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RUBBER-GA...=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item1c1a0ddb69

Next is Lighting. I'm after a cheap solution to lighting - Which is where the Floodlight came in, as it was FREE! However, a lot of comments in here about Mains is Bad - Why is this?

As a solution, what about a 12V System? I have a pair of old Fog lights if my Parts box - Would this be a good solution to Lighting? Simply just connected to a Car battery in a 12v Circuit?

And Finally. Air supply.

I have a 14CFM 150ltr Tank - I guess this will be sufficient enough to provide the firepower i need. I'm currently using 1/4" Hose, Will this be sufficient enough as well? The compressor is just to the left of the cabinet, and the connecting hose from the Tank to Cabinet will be no longer than 2m

Cheers chaps!

 

[rtbcomp]

Mine has safety glass protected by a rigid plastic sheet on the outside and flexible sheet on the inside, held round the edges with adhesive; just pull it off and replace it when it gets pitted.

Don't use greenhouse glass, it will break if you send a lump of metal flying at it.

I have one of those MM guns, the nozzles don't last 10 minutes. I replaced it with a professional one from Anglo Abrasives with a tungsten carbide nozzle, about £50.00

I use an old pair of Jodhpurs and ordinary rubber-dipped cotton gloves for protection.

You don't want mains in there for the same reason as you don't want greenhouse glass, if the lamp & bulb burst you have an unnecessary hazard.

As I mentioned earlier, I use Ikea 12v halogens, they need to be bright enough to shine through the dust. I run them of a 12v leisure battery.

My siphon gun works OK with 1/2 inch hose, 1/4 might be a bit optimistic.

You should be OK with that compressor if you don't do long continuous runs.

 

[jackojacks]

If your on such a tight budget on the build i would use greenhouse glass and spend more on your blasting equipment .
i have only broken 1 piece in 10 years regular blasting of mini subframes scooter frames and all maner of components. and i broke that 1 shining a flood light thru it the heat cracked it.
you can upgrade to safety glass at a later date when you realise just how much you use your cabinet. spend the money on the main components first.
i use a pressure pot so cant offer any info on suction guns.

just be careful with greenhouse glass there is a potential safety risk but there is with crossing the road.