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Posted by: Qarl Jun 17 2003, 06:19 PM

I finally finished setting up the bead blast cabinet I bought from TP Tools.

I've never blasted before. Boy is it fun and it works great!

See below.


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Posted by: Qarl Jun 17 2003, 06:20 PM

These parts had a lot of surface rust and grime on them.

Now just the bare cast metal! Woo hoo!


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Posted by: yarin Jun 17 2003, 10:32 PM

How much was the cabinet with vacuum and lighting?

What type of sand do you use? Silica glass? I used one with and it works REALLY well.

I found plans to build one, its not very difficult. No time yet.

Posted by: Qarl Jun 17 2003, 10:37 PM

Cabinet was $299. Lighting came with it. I just plugged my ShopVac into the ferrule.

I paid $65.00 for an accessory kit (extra gloves, viewing glass protective film, sifter, carbide tip

http://www.tptools.com/product.asp?base%5Fno=780%2DTL&str%5Fbase%5Fno=731%2DTL%2C780%2DTL%2C6612%2D780%2C951%2C952%2C960%2C960%2DHS%2C960%2DLD%2C960%2DSE%2C966%2C970%2C976%2C1400%2C1500%2C1536%2C1636%2C1836%2C6613%2D00%2C6612%2D00%2C6731%2DK%2C&header%5Ftitle=Abrasive+Blast+Cabinets%2DAbrasive+Blasting+Cabinets&page%5Fname=prod%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp&search%5Ftype=L1%7E53&size1=&size2=&gender=&ShowImages=yes&sq=0&cont=1&intPgNo=1&mscssid=JMS1U7H19NQV8GU520P1TVDB1XTJ27C2

Posted by: rdauenhauer Jun 17 2003, 10:41 PM

Damn! I have Tool envy!

Posted by: ChrisReale Jun 17 2003, 11:17 PM

Ok, Karl, look for my front A-arms, rear trailing arms in next weeks mail

Posted by: Qarl Jun 17 2003, 11:25 PM

This really was not an inexpensive proposition...

In addition to the cabinet and accessories, you've got the BFC (big f-ing compressor) too. But that can be used for many things... (like inflating tires)... ha ha! You need a BIG compressor with 60 or 80 gallons and a high flow rate. This one is an 80 gallon at 18 cfm flow. I crank it up, build the pressure and it auto-shuts off when it's pressurized... it kicks on as needed.

I was looking for anything rusty this evening to clean it... an old axe head, tools, etc.

I blasted the headlight holder/adjuster assembly as well. Was full of surface rust. It's now just plain metal. I will paint with POR-15 gray to keep it rust-less in the future. I plan on blasting lots of parts.. including the pedal cluster, suspension components, some of the hardware, etc.

It's also very quick. I did the parts pictured above in about 5-6 minutes.

Later!

Posted by: Gint Jun 18 2003, 09:31 AM

Nice cabinet Karl. I've had a very similar setup for the last couple of years. It's really cool to just take your rusty part to the cabinet and have it totally clean in 5 minutes or less.

You want to have some more fun? Get a powder coat gun and clear coat some of that freshly bead blasted steel. It makes an awesome and unique finish.

Posted by: airkewl Jun 18 2003, 02:24 PM

Harbor Freight has a similar unit
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39170
on sale now through July 7th for $199 (normally $299), includes the nozzle. I am planning to go get one.
Tony

Posted by: Qarl Jun 18 2003, 02:27 PM

Looks like a nice cabinet for the $$$$.

Make sure your compressor is up to snuff. I can drain the 80 gallon tank in minutes because of the air this thing sucks out.

Posted by: Gint Jun 18 2003, 02:31 PM

That's the one I have. I did add a whip hose to the gun and mounted it permanently to the front of the cabinet with a coupler on the outside. Initially it comes with a hole in front of the cabinet and a cheasy hose and clamp for the gun. Well worth the extra $10-15 bucks. Other than that, it's a great unit.

But as Karl said, you need a lot of air for a blast cabinet. I have an 80 gallon 2-stage compressor also. My pump will build pressure in the tank while I'm using the blaster, but that tank will drain in no time. If you use a 5 hp compressor, single stage or smaller tank unit, you're going to be pushing the duty cycle of your compressor big time.

Posted by: goobu Jun 18 2003, 03:57 PM

Is this like a parts cleaner? I have seen ones that use solvents to clean the parts. This seems more like sandblasting.

What are the pros and cons of each?

Posted by: Jeff Bonanno Jun 18 2003, 04:08 PM

your fingers usually survive a little solvent

Posted by: Qarl Jun 18 2003, 04:11 PM

You don't use your fingers for the bead blasting... You have heavy gloves you hold the parts with or, place them on a grate in the box.

Bead blasting uses glass, or aluminum oxide, or some other media. Glass produces a nice soft finish that isn't as harsh as sand blasting.

Bead blasted surfaces replate and powder coat well.

Regards,

Karl

Posted by: mr914 Jun 19 2003, 09:40 AM

Blasting is good therapy

Posted by: Jeff Bonanno Jun 19 2003, 10:06 AM

kidding Karl, just kidding!

i have the portable blaster - nozzle, feed tube, plastic tub with shoulder strap. i have resisted getting the enclosure because the duty cycle issue Gint mentioned above applies to my compressor. i may build one for the small stuff on this project.

Jeff

Posted by: Mueller Jun 19 2003, 10:11 AM

I bought the 299 Harbor Frieght model a few months back...the idiots didn't drill the thru hole in the gun for it to suck up the media !!!!

Not that big of deal, but still annoying.

7.5hp Rotary Compressor, 60 gallon tank...
no problems with airflow

Posted by: Jeff Bonanno Jun 19 2003, 10:16 AM

Karl,

aren't you building a new house? are you outfitting the garage(s) custom to accomodate all these great toys?

the movers are going to love you...

jbb

Posted by: Qarl Jun 19 2003, 10:46 AM

Yes Jeff...

Holding parts with your bare hands while blasting would be blood blasting... ha!

Yes, I am building a new house. I will have a shop area in the garage to house the compressor and cabinet, plus tools, blah blah.

Yes, the movers will love moving that 550 lb compressor around. I left it on the pallet for now until I move to make it a little easier. But still that is really heavy.

I am going to install some black and white checkered flooring as well (maybe Racedeck or Kiwi tiles).... anyone have any experience with these products or something similar?

Later!

Posted by: Jeff Bonanno Jun 19 2003, 11:05 AM

Karl,

i saw a longish post on garage flooring material - think it was over at the PP 914 BB - ah yes, here it is:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107108

jbb

Posted by: seanery Jun 19 2003, 11:32 AM

Karl,

Craig Laughlin (Boxter) has the black & white checked floor, might PM him for his opinions.

Posted by: 72Signal914 Jun 19 2003, 12:38 PM

how large of objects can you fit in there? Does it just take rust off or can you do other stuff with it. Just curious if you had one that was big enough could you refinish an aluminum rim and then put polish on after it was blasted to get the aluminum finish back w/o manually sanding it down.

My rims look like hell up close

Posted by: Qarl Jun 19 2003, 12:45 PM

I think a wheel is going to be a tight fit... It's is like 22" by 30" x 18", but you have to be able to move the gun all around the object too.

I wouldn't want to blast an aluminum rim. AL is too soft.

It takes rust, paint, grime and pretty much everything off.

You can user harder or coarser blasting media to take off more difficult stuff, but the surface isn't as nice.

Karl

Posted by: Mike T Jun 20 2003, 05:18 PM

ooooo, I want to do that with my brandy-new garage floor as well. Thanks for the link.

Mike T

Posted by: Aaron Cox Jun 20 2003, 10:08 PM

looks like you "had a blast" , (yes, i amuse myself) thats a cool setup....im too have tool envy

Posted by: Gint Jun 20 2003, 10:32 PM

Fits great (in mine anyway). Your's (Karl) should be no problem either.

As for aluminum wheels, no sweat! Once you've used your cabinet more you'll see. Just turn down the pressure a bit if necessary. I've used glass bead and plastic media on aluminum wheels. Works great.

Posted by: Lawrence914-6 Jun 21 2003, 10:31 AM

I've spent about 10 hours bead blasting my front suspension, and have about 2 more to go.

If you bead blast, I've found that your abrasive material lasts longer if your parts are pretty clean before you put them in the cabinet. I solvent wash grease and grime off of everything, and quickly run a wire brush over the parts to knock off loose crap.

-Rusty

Posted by: Qarl Jun 21 2003, 10:49 AM

post some pics!