Cabinet Media Blaster

[jgbanshee]

I am looking to buy a cabinet media blaster for my garage. What is a good brand? Do I need particular items to run it? What size air compressor will I need?

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What is a good brand? )</font>

I don't know enough about the different brands to know how much better one is than another, but the Cyclone TF5000 is the one I had, and I think it would be hard to beat. You can, however, certainly beat the price shown in the link; I just used the first one I came to, especially since it shows how much air is needed. I used glass beads in mine. You can use a shop vac, as shown, or not. I already had a shop vac, so that's one reason the link shows such a high price. It was a marvelous tool for removing rust from things that wouldn't fit well against the wire wheel on my bench grinder.

 

[dummy]

Take a look at what these people are offering. blaster Really depends on what size you're looking for. IMO, the dust collector/media separator is a huge factor.

 

[NewHollandOwner]

EMPIRE Abrasive Equipment
The BEST hands down, high quality (price to match) cabinet abrasive blaster.
I recently bought a 650lb Empire blast pot, got a chance to see their plant where they build the cabinets and blast pots, WOW. Quility stuff. Clemco is another big name brand, can be seen in Northern Equipment.

 

[AntrimMan]

The cabinet blasters are a nice tool. The abrasive you use will dictate a number of things so be sure to match it to the job and equipment. I like glass beads the best, they fracture on impact and scour the surface, aluminum oxide will tend to partially imbed itself into the part and I don't find that desireable, just my preference. They are heavy consumers of air. I have been fortunate enough to have access to shops with rotary compressors. Every cabinet I have used, regardless of make or model or vacuum attachment has left media on the floor and dust in the air. Here is something to keep in mind, you may want to move it outside to use it because it will leave a media residue on everything in the vicinity no matter how careful you are and I know I don't want to get my tractor dirty, you may not either. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
There is little chance of justifying one, financially that is, to only have occasional use for it, so consider taking the parts to an outside service, but if you are the type of person who likes doing it all yourself, buy one to fit your needs and capabilities, you'll like it. Better yet use a friends for free.
Best of luck,
Martin