Sandblasters & cabinets

[Ratty]

MODERATION : I've moved the posts about using vinyl in a sandblasting cabinet to this thread as it more appropiate. RTB

OT - but does she use clear vinyl off a roll? If so where can I get it from? I need it for my blast cabinet, rather than keep replacing the transparent protector for the glass I'm looking at designing some sort of roll feed so I draw a section down each time it gets too pitted to see through.

I've tried it with cling film, the principle works but the film creases and doesn't last very long because it's too thin.

Sorry to sidetrack this thread..can't help with vinyl rtb but have a look at these - clear polyester film on a roll.. http://www.preservationequipment.com/ProductSearch.aspx (not sure that link is working properly, if not just go to main page and search 'polyester film'). Hope this helps.

...and with regards this thread..I noticed the same company sell roll dispensers! Might save you some work MnotG? http://www.preservationequipment.com/Store/Products/Equipment-$4-Tools/Machines/Dispensers-$4-Cutters-$9-Single-Roll-Rack

 

[rtbcomp]

Sorry to sidetrack this thread..can't help with vinyl rtb but have a look at these - clear polyester film on a roll.. http://www.preservationequipment.com/ProductSearch.aspx (not sure that link is working properly, if not just go to main page and search 'polyester film'). Hope this helps.

...and with regards this thread..I noticed the same company sell roll dispensers! Might save you some work MnotG? http://www.preservationequipment.com/Store/Products/Equipment-$4-Tools/Machines/Dispensers-$4-Cutters-$9-Single-Roll-Rack

Thanks Ratty, that works out at 95 p/metre but I've found vinyl on the roll on ebay at 50p per metre so I'll give that a try first.

 

[Ratty]

Thanks Ratty, that works out at 95 p/metre but I've found vinyl on the roll on ebay at 50p per metre so I'll give that a try first.

Vinyl might be better for your use but this one http://www.preservationequipment.com/Store/Products/Conservation-Materials/Other-Materials/12-Micron-Polyester-Film
works out at 39p a metre (+VAT = 46p) and is 1524mm wide. What did you find on ebay? could you post a link?..I'm interested as it could be useful for making clear mould boxes - I'm assuming it will be more flexible than polyester. Cheers

 

[rtbcomp]

Vinyl might be better for your use but this one http://www.preservationequipment.com/Store/Products/Conservation-Materials/Other-Materials/12-Micron-Polyester-Film
works out at 39p a metre (+VAT = 46p) and is 1524mm wide. What did you find on ebay? could you post a link?..I'm interested as it could be useful for making clear mould boxes - I'm assuming it will be more flexible than polyester. Cheers

That stuff at 46p is going to be way too thin, looks about the same as clingfilm.

This is the stuff I found on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=260120492391&rd=1&rd=1

 

[Ratty]

That stuff at 46p is going to be way too thin, looks about the same as clingfilm.

This is the stuff I found on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=016&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=260120492391&rd=1&rd=1

I looked at the ebay stuff - no good for me thanks, are you sure it's water clear? I can't really work out what it actually is..embossed? with what? high tack? does this mean adhesive? (did I get the right page? application tape, no mention of vinyl...) The polyester film (also known as PET) might be thin but it will be rigid, I think a version of it is used in food packaging, like the clear film lids on ready-meals. Clingfilm has plasticisers in which makes it stretch & therefore wrinkle. Preservation equip is probably not the cheapest of places, you might find something similar for less elsewhere. I'm now intrigued with this problem and shall look into it further - do let me know if you get the ebay stuff and if it works, meanwhile I'll see what else I can find..what width do you need? does it need to be sticky backed? What about that stuff that is used for temporary double glazing?

 

[rtbcomp]

I looked at the ebay stuff - no good for me thanks, are you sure it's water clear? I can't really work out what it actually is..embossed? with what? high tack? does this mean adhesive? (did I get the right page? application tape, no mention of vinyl...) The polyester film (also known as PET) might be thin but it will be rigid, I think a version of it is used in food packaging, like the clear film lids on ready-meals. Clingfilm has plasticisers in which makes it stretch & therefore wrinkle. Preservation equip is probably not the cheapest of places, you might find something similar for less elsewhere. I'm now intrigued with this problem and shall look into it further - do let me know if you get the ebay stuff and if it works, meanwhile I'll see what else I can find..what width do you need? does it need to be sticky backed? What about that stuff that is used for temporary double glazing?

I'm not too sure myself - this is the email I sent to him

Could you please send me a small sample of this product please? I need a transparent film on a roll to act as a glass protector in my bead blast cabinet. I'm currently using cling film but it is too thin and not very strong so it doesn't pull through very well.

and this is the reply I got

HI ROGER I WILL SEND YOU A SAMPLE TO-DAY I THINK IT WILL BE IDEAL AS IT IS VERY THICK AND EASY TO REMOVE.
KIND REGARDS ALEX

I'll keep you posted.

 

[rtbcomp]

I need a width of about 2 ft. It's to cover the inside of the glass window on my blast cabinet to protect the glass. When it gets pitted it needs to be replaced but the original protectors have glue round the edge and they're awkward to get in place without wrinkling. I'm thinking of a roll of vinyl &c at the top of the window, running down the inside of the glass and out the bottom, so all I have to do is pull a length down when it becomes too opaque to see through.

I don't want it to be sticky, but if it adheres like the cheap tax-disc holders that will be great.

That PET sounds interesting because it is very clear.

 

[Luke]

tried speaking to a florist about the stuff they use? sounds suitable.

 

[rtbcomp]

tried speaking to a florist about the stuff they use? sounds suitable.

Good thinking batman! Last time I bought anyone any flowers plastic hadn't been invented.

 

[rtbcomp]

Just done a Google on Cellophane, 800mm wide 120 metre roll, cheap as chips on Ebay

 

[Luke]

how thick?

 

[rtbcomp]

how thick?

Doesn't say.

Next time you buy me some flowers I'll measure it.

 

[Ratty]

Cellophane! mmmm lovely stuff ..you could wrap lots of sweeties in that. Does tend to rip easily..and crease..nick a bit from the florist to try afore ye buy, it might make your eyes go funny.

 

[Luke]

Next time you buy me some flowers I'll measure it.

Flowers? Next time?!

I haven't bought you flowers, i said you could borrow the portamig, there's a difference!

OK, a small one.

 

[Ratty]

rtb - No idea of the cost but this might be worth a look - http://www.nbyy.co.uk/coldlaminationpvcfilmgloss.htm
I googled 'transparent film' came up with one v interesting site but turned out to be in US. Damn those sponsored links!

 

[rtbcomp]

rtb - No idea of the cost but this might be worth a look - http://www.nbyy.co.uk/coldlaminationpvcfilmgloss.htm
I googled 'transparent film' came up with one v interesting site but turned out to be is US. Damn those sponsored links!

Thanks Ratty,

Or even this http://www.nbyy.co.uk/cleartransparentfilm.htm It's reference number is PET-TF which could refer to the PET polyester you referred to earlier.

I've bookmarked this site for future reference.

That sample hasn't arrived yet.

 

[Ratty]

Thanks Ratty,

Or even this http://www.nbyy.co.uk/cleartransparentfilm.htm It's reference number is PET-TF which could refer to the PET polyester you referred to earlier.

I've bookmarked this site for future reference.

That sample hasn't arrived yet.

...and any/either of whatever you end up getting could also be useful as a protective film for face shields! (just been looking at this http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2713)

 

[rtbcomp]

Sample arrived this morning.

It's great when placed on top some printed matter, but the adhesive on the back causes a fuzzy image when viewing something a few inches away. The adhesive allows it to be peeled off glass easily though. I really need a non-adhesive film.

If you're into vinyls and such, this is the guy I got the sample from

http://www.stargrafix.co.uk/home

 

[Ratty]

Thanks rtb, not really my area but worth bookmarking (I never know what I might need). I have just rung pres.equip, they are close to us and as I need a few things from them I'm going to drop by tomorrow and I'll pick up some samples of the polyester for you. If you pm me your address I'll post them on to you. I found another page in the catalogue I have here which lists polyester by the roll from 12 to 125 microns. I couldn't find it on the web page and my catalogue is 2003 so maybe they don't stock it anymore, I'll find out. Useful stuff for me as I use this thin stuff for casting resin tests to when I want to check transparency and colour overlays (and I'm running out of the laser transparencies I was given! )

 

[Ratty]

I've been having quite a discussion via pm with rtbcomp about sandblasters, arising from the hi-jacking of this thread. Started as an exchange about clear film for protecting the view window in blast cabinets, moved on to what/how to build a cabinet and then to what gun to buy.

He gave me some very useful pointers so I thought I'd share and open it up to any thoughts from other members.

To précis -
ratty - ...and thanks for the offer of help re; blasting cabinet. I was looking at a DIY cabinet kit from Frost but seems that £40 is for a cheap gun, piece of plastic and rubber gloves and the rest for a set of plans and a few fittings. If you know of any plans available to download that would be great. .... could you recommend a decent gun? Seen loads on ebay but don't know what I should be looking for and what sort of price a good gun should be. Any advice on good makes/ what to avoid etc much appreciated. It wouldn't get a huge amount of use but I don't want a mickey mouse jobby!

rtb - Nip down to Machine Mart and look at their free-standing cabinet and copy it. Those guns that suck up the grit (syphons) are no good, they use a lot of air, clog. and the nozzles don't last very long. I use tungsten carbide nozzles from these people http://www.acegrit.co.uk/acegrit/gritblaster/page7.html
I have an ACE pot which isn't a patch on the Rolson one that MM sell, but you can get that one cheaper on ebay, described as "10 gallon sandblasting pot". More like 8 gallons though!
The best gloves I've found are those cotton ones dipped in rubber.

ratty - ....Thanks for the advice about the syphon type guns, I couldn't find anything like the 10 gal type in MM catalogue (or in any of the tool places I use) but several on ebay ranging in price from £78.90 inc p&p to over £100

rtb - The MM one is branded "Rolson" and is on page 377 of the spring/summer catalog 2007. Order code 000 312 200 £105.73 inc VAT. I couldn't find it on their website and when I enquired instore they didn't have one and weren't too bothered about getting one!
As far as I can make out it's identical to this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAND-BLASTER-1...QQcmdZViewItem
and the same as the one I bought. As you noticed, there is a wide difference in prices!

ratty - ...my MM cat. is well out of date which is prob why I couldn't find it. I looked at the Ace and it starts at a much lower operating pressure than the cheap ones on ebay which could be useful for delicate materials - I want to use it for glass and also for cleaning/surfacing found sculpture materials other than metal (plastics, leather, bone, wood...)

rtb The ACE is a complete faff compared with the Rolson one.
I've used my cheapo one down to 20 psi and managed to remove a coat of paint without removing the primer.
Loads of info on this site http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_en...,p1010,,0.html

ratty - Complete faff and more expensive! Not a great combo - cheapo one it is then!
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Needless to say, I have yet to purchase one but not much point 'til I can work again. Anybody else have opinions/advice? Either on sandblasters or on cabinet designs. Ta