So I have had my blast cabinet for 25 years or so and it just didn't work as good as it did years ago. After searching on YouTube, I was about to start some modifications. But I had a thought, maybe the siphon tube has some debris in it. Sure enough the siphon tube had a piece of wire in it at the gun. Then I thought that the siphone tube in the bottom may also have something stuck in it. I removed the metal siphon tube from inside the cabinet and found my problem. Where the tube bends to go through the expanded metal there was a hold in the tube. It could not siphon enough media to the gun. After welding a patch over the hole it worked like new. The difference was amazing. If you cabinet doesn't seem to be working ....check your siphon tube for a "new hole".
The media had eroded a hole through it over the years. A local commercial sandblaster had the same problem with his sand delivery system. He solved it by cutting the elbows apart and welding 1/4 inch key stock inside to trap some sand. As the sand got trapped it stopped the eroding of his elbows but allowed sufficient flow.
It took 25 years to show up because it is just used occasionally for hobby purposes. I would change out the pipe on the unit at work way more frequently.
Sandblasting always feels like for every hour of blasting I get done, I need another hour of tinkering with the equipment. A very finicky process. But when everything is dialed in and working smooth, it's super satisfying.
The Jalopy Journal
