Flow meter for blast cabinet

[Rowdy Burns]

Hi,
Does anyone know where I can buy a flow meter for a blast cabinet that I'm making. I'd prefer a round dial type as it's easier to integrate into the cabinet.
I've had a good look on the internet but the only type that seems available is the pea shooter type.

Many thanks.

 

[madkayaker]

What are you trying to measure? Flow of grit, air feed or extract rate?

 

[brightspark]

Hi,
Does anyone know where I can buy a flow meter for a blast cabinet that I'm making. I'd prefer a round dial type as it's easier to integrate into the cabinet.
I've had a good look on the internet but the only type that seems available is the pea shooter type.

Many thanks.

a flow for what ?? and whats the need

 

[Rowdy Burns]

I'd like to measure the actual flow rate of the air at the cabinet. For a 3hp compressor I believe it's supposed to be 14cfm.

 

[madkayaker]

The flow rate is not something you need to worry about its the pressure your concerned with. The flow rate is an indication of how much air the comp can generate at a given pressure

 

[Rowdy Burns]

I was hoping to add a pressure gauge and a flow meter to the cabinet to see what I'm actually getting.

 

[brightspark]

if u are using a 14 cfm comp aned a pressurised pot or a suction gun it will drop in pressure after a few minutes . u would have to stop and let pressure build back up before starting again i run a 28cfm comp on a 3mm jet and it can run it no problem at 90 psi constant and even cut out

 

[brightspark]

I was hoping to add a pressure gauge and a flow meter to the cabinet to see what I'm actually getting.

u will soon know when the pressure drops

 

[Rowdy Burns]

Thanks for the responses. I'd still like to add a pressure gauge and flow gauge to the cabinet chaps, any ideas where I can find them?

 

[madkayaker]

Flow is still pretty irrelevant! Use big bore pipe (12mm min) and decent fittings pressure gauge is an worthwhile inclusion as well as a water/ filter trap

 

[brightspark]

Thanks for the responses. I'd still like to add a pressure gauge and flow gauge to the cabinet chaps, any ideas where I can find them?

havent u got a water seperator filter regulator on your comp with gauge ??u will need one

 

[Rowdy Burns]

I've just bought a water trap and air filter. I've read that the media is pretty useless when it's wet. I'm just on to the next stage of adding a couple of gauges to the cabinet.

 

[madkayaker]

Have tried looking on google and have drawn a blank.

 

[Rowdy Burns]

Fair enough, thanks for looking. Looks like I'll have to give the flow meter a miss.

Have a good one.

 

[brightspark]

just put a pressure gauge next to the cabinet in line that is visible to look at. if pressure drops your on a hiding to nothing and will soon notice

 

[Rowdy Burns]

Cheers mate, will do.

 

[rtbcomp]

I've got two pressures gauges on the feed to my blast room. One on the compressor which is in another room, so I can't see it and one on the regulator inside the blastroom which has become obscured with the grit hitting it, so I can't read that either.

I set the pressure at about 90psi at the compressor and adjust the flow to the pot (with a gate valve in the air supply) by feel.

 

[Shox Dr]

^^ "by feel"

Once you have been blasting for a while, You get to know (by feel, and listening) what's happening , as you can see naff all

 

[rtbcomp]

Yes, there's a distinct change in sound when the grit is fed into the air stream.

I usually point the jet across the front of my hand lamp and adjust the grit until I can just see it coming out of the nozzle.