your opinions please:

tp tools (http://www.tptools.com/product.asp?base%5Fno=780%2DTL&str%5Fbase%5Fno=960%2DFL%2DFINISH%2C731%2DTL%2C780 %2DTL%2C951%2C952%2C960%2C960%2DLD%2C960%2DSE%2C96 6%2C970%2C976%2C&header%5Ftitle=Abrasive+Blasting+Cabinets%2DLight+ Commercial%2FHome+Abrasive+Blasting+Cabinets&page%5Fname=prod%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp&search%5Ftype=L2%7E54&size1=&size2=&gender=&ShowImages=yes&sq=0&cont=1&intPgNo=1&mscssid=X2EESA9X856P9GF18VBC99XV74490B66)

or

barrel blaster (http://www.barrelblaster.com/)

or

something else.

also thinking about a pressure blaster for outside work and a parts washer. your suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks

I want one so bad (I probably spent 50-60 hours of use on a professional blast cabinet on my previous resto. Thankfully it was at a shop where I worked, so no charge).

I have actually thought about either the TP kit (and build the cabinet myself/save money/have a bigger cabinet), or just buying a cheap cabinet (Harbor Freight), since I don't know how much I would actually use it...

I own a TP tools cabinet and I am very happy with it. I have no experience with the other one you posted.

To save some dollars I plan to build one from a 300gallon oval shape fuel oil tank, it will have a slide out tray, dust collector, multiple lights, 1 window and hopefully be large enough to fit a fender size object. I can't see paying the amount of money they charge for these larger sized units. Also I'm toying around with the idea of using pressure pot style abrasive feed instead of the slow suction style.
A good friend of mine built a very large one for his own personal use, dust collector etc. It can handle an object up to 70inches in length, very very handy. Snap On tools has inquired about manufacturing more for them.

I have built my own. I posted some of the detail drawings on my website feel free to use the plans I will be posting more soon.

I picked up a used Industrial and it came with 2 dust collectors. Anybody need a 3phase Dust collector?

TP is by far the best!!!

Robert,

I have the exact TP tools model you are looking at. It is a great cabinet for the price. I don't know how I did without one for so long. Get the TP cabinet. You won't be disappointed! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Mike

Don't get the Hasrbor Freight cabinet!!! graemlins/angry.gif It was the biggest mistake I have made yet. I shop there 2 for body stands die grinders etc... But trust me their cabinets SUCK!!!!

I bought the $199 (normally $299) Harbor Freight cabinet and I love it! There are only a few things I can't fit in there but it works great for me. I would never take a wire brush to anything again after having a blast cabinet. I don't know how I got along without one for so long.

George
george@spattaweb.com
TC #1921
ACES #5880

Just which Harbor Freight cabinet are you talking about that 'sucks'? I got one of the industrial metal ones with the dust collecter,etc. over 10 years ago,use the crap out of it,and still have the original ceramic insert in the gun. It has paid for itself 20 times over.

I bought the $79 Habor Freight bench top model.It did suck. I took it apart and built my own approx. 48"x28"x28" using the front panel with the gloves and the trough area, and the gun from the HF model.I made the window out of Lexan and use the H.F. tear away sheets to protect it.

Without a doubt. Get the one from TP. I have same model and it works GREAT graemlins/hurray.gif Try to find the abrasive locally, shipping from TP on blast media is somewhat high.

I looked at the TP model in your post. A couple things to consider here. I built a cabinet using TP plans out of 3\4 inch plywood, and all their accessories. They make good products, and their plans are great. The one I built has a side door with viewing glass built just above the hand holes. I really like that design. It gives a great view of what you are blasting. I used a friends cabinet once with a top door and window in the top door, and I found it more difficult to see than my "side window" design. But there are a couple key accessory upgrades you should consider getting. First, buy the foot pedal that operates the air. It relieves you of pressing the trigger in the hand gun which I am told becomes unpleasant after a time. The foot pedal setup is wonderful. Make sure you buy extra window plastic protectors, they peel off after they get scratched to save the glass window. You need good lite, get the best setup they have, and you must at least adapt your shop vac to suck out the dust as you blast. With a paper canister in my shop vac, there is no dust that I can tell floating in my shop as I blast, and you can see. If you don't suck the dust out, you will have a real hard time seeing what you are doing. Just my opinions here.

Originally posted by bhawk:
...Just my opinions here. Exactly what I need. Thanks.

I too have the harbor freight model. I love it too. The only thing that "SUCKED" about it was the flimsy hose that came with it. It kept collapsing. I just replaced that with a 5/8 heater hose, and a 90* elbow. It work's like a champ now. graemlins/thumbsup.gif Cal

It seems that baddbob71 and I are thinking along the same lines. Earlier this week I started building a sandblasting cabinet using an oval oil drum that had lain in my junk pile for years. It's 6 feet long and about two feet deep and four feet high - big enough to accommodate a rear axle or an entire fender.

3" angle iron (36" long) mig welded to the lower ends of the tank keep it from falling over and will eventually provide a mounting point for wheels. Two larger wheels, about wheelbarrow wheel size, and some handles would allow for tilting the cabinet and moving it much like a wheelbarrow to get it out of the garage when not in use. 2" angle iron fastened inside the drum, bolted about a foot above the floor, with cross pieces (probably best to bolt those instead of welding them so they can be removed for larger items) provides support for heavy wire mesh that lays on top of the cross pieces. The viewing window will consist of a 12" x 48" piece of lexan, shielded from wear with extra clear poly from the upholstry department at Walmart. A three foot high door at one end will allow access. A shop vac will draw out the worst of the dust.

I plan to use a pressure blaster with the hose running through a hole into the cabinet. For now at least, unlike the commercial cabinets, the media won't automatically recycle, but will need to be scooped out of the bottom of the cabinet now and then.

So far, my scrap/junk pile has shaped various details of the project. About the only expense has been buying a set of long-sleeved sandblasting gloves.

Still to think about is lighting. Some commercial cabinets shield the bulbs with plexiglass. Does anyone have any ideas for a simple way to put good lighting inside? Is it necessary to shield the bulbs? Also, does pitting of the plexiglass light enclosure from blasting decrease light levels much?

David

I was thinking of the cheap outdoor light bulb type lights that have a thick glass fully encapsulating the bulb, probably 2-4 should do nicely. Sounds like your project it coming along. The pressure type blast units outblast the suction feeds by alot. I also toyed around with the idea of just bolting an old funace sqirrel cage to the side and venting out the window but I'm sure the bearings will need regular replacement---cheap though, and efficient I bet. A friend of mine built a nice unit with a dust collector that I need to study before I start building this thing.

The TP Tool cabinet that I built uses a common flood lite bulb and holder, the kind you would screw to the side of your garage. It is screwed inside the cabinet, top left corner. It works great. Never noticed any pitting of the bulb and I've used the cabinet moderately for 2 years now. Check out their catalogue for pics. I bought the lite setup from them, but it seems like a hardware store floodlite would be almost identical. I am told that florescent lites don't give enough lite inside the dusty cabinet, so that is why TP went with an incandescent bulb. Can put any wattage in that way. Howver, be mindful mine is a standard siphon feed blaster, so the pressures are less than a pressure blaster. If someone wants pics, I could email some. Don't know how to post on the net.

Sorry guys I wasn't paying attention here. I bought the $79 one that sucked smile.gif

thanks to all who helped me with this. graemlins/thumbsup.gif i ordered the tptools cabinet today (i figured i should filter my air first). i can't wait! let the part stripping begin!