I just tried using a Harbor Freight blast cabinet to clean some parts. Worked great for about an hour and then the gun malfunctioned. I tried everything to clean it with no results. I'm happy with the cabinet, but the gun is toast. Anyone else out have the same problem? What gun can I subs***ute and continue on with my cleaning? Thanks OJ
I bought one too, the gun lasted about 3 weeks and went belly up. You need to buy another gun from a place like TP tools and you will be fine. I have been using mine for over a year and haven't had anymore problems.
i have a TP tools gun , cabinet also and have had it for 5years without problems real high quality stuff
I have a Snap On cabinet and it works great... you can buy all the replacement parts for the gun from Snappy. The only problem I've ever had with it is the nozzle wore out but I replaced that with the Snappy ceramic one that will last forever. It's been used so much that the gl*** in the cabinet is fogged and you can hardly see through it. I guess I need to replace that too
Change the gun. Our HF cabinet has worked well but it's important to keep the air DRY. Also a tip, Flower found some clear vinyl down at the fabric/sewing store that she got for about $2 a yard 50" wide. She cut it up and made a whole stack of "lenses" for protecting the inside of the gl***. You can buy "lens protectors" already made but they are really kinda expensive, these home-made ones are thicker and last much longer for pennies each.
they make a protective cover that goes over the gl*** to protect it every few days or weeks depending on use you peel off the old and replace it. It beats the heck out of replacing the gl***. Troy
Hey Guys I don't have one of the cheap HF sand blast cabinets but did look at them .. I was looking for a blast cabinet and found a few after doing some homework.. What I did find is you can get a American Made, Good old USA company that make them.. Plus a price that is about the same.. I don't know what you ended up paying but this unit is on sale at 249.00 36" cabinet.. It's at J&L tool supply.. or www.jlindustrial.com It's good to see some american goodies at a good price-buy american.. I don't know how it's gonna work but I should have mine in a few days and let you know.. But as a must keep water out of the system, other wise it clogs the lines and nothing works..
I have a BNP blast gun - seems to work really nice - needs very little air pressure to throw media - which tells me it is a pretty efficient design. Tips are more $ than the "TIP" brand but I suspect they may last longer to make up the difference.
John, is this the one you bought? http://www.jlindustrial.com/Machines_and_Accessories/Abrasive_Blast_Equipment/CYC-36000A/SEARCH:CATEGORY/Y/product.html
How to HotRod the Harbor Freight Blast Cabinet: Step: 1) Replace the gun with one from "Tip Tools" - mandatory and worth every penny. 2) Change out the restrictive air fitting connections with high-flow ones. I use Snap-On fittings that have a 3/8" I.D. instead of the standard 1/4" I.D. fittings. HUGE difference in performance. 3) Get rid of the lawnmower air filter for the cabinet vent and replace with a shop-vacuum evacuating the cabinet through a "water bong" filter made out of a 5-gallon bucket. It will keep all the dust from ac***ulating in your shop and also help visibility while blasting immensely. 4) Cover the plastic lense of the flourescent in-cabinet lamp with some replaceable clear shield immediately or soon the light output will drop to almost nothing. I used those flourescent tube covers from Home-Depot that cost about $0.80 each. I can email pics of the "water-bong" style filter if you like. Chad Royal Oak, MI
Chad, could you post those pics here, along with some details? I know I'm not the only one who'd like to learn more about this. Thanks. - Jay
Yes it is and it's on sale till the 30'th . Last month was the 48" model with the dust collector.. They have sales every week , plus the show room is just down the street for me so they have scratch and dent sales as well.. They have USA vices this week
You just cut two holes in the lid of a 5-gallon plastic bucket. Attach and seal hose fittings in the holes. The IN pipe should extend about halfway down in the bucket -- the OUT pipe should be short, up near the top. Fill the bucket just below the IN pipe. The dust comes in, sticks to the water, and air exits to the vacuum. I have a drywall sanding trap that works the same way.
The dead-man valve gun is slightly better, the guns don't get terminally clogged if you use dry, black diamond media you can get at Northern Tool for $7 a bag. The HF media is WAY to expensive. Play sand will always be wet and can cause a nasty case of death by silicosis.
i picked up a nice Cyclone cabinet off of craigslist for $100....normally about $500.....it needed two gloves and the lens was broken...by the time i got there he found one new ska blast glove..... i replaced the gl***, bought a new glove, some new black beauty........ i ordered one of the expensive carbide nozzles from TP....supposed to out last 30 or so ceramic... if you look at TP's ceramic nozzles (i think it was them) they US made and foriegn nozzle..... the fella down the street upgraded his gun and ran silicone around all of his seams on his harbor freight one......he gave $100 for it.....i've looking for that deal for about a year and half....they seem to be about 2 bills now on sale......it worked great.....i think he drilled a larger hole in his and ran his shop vac outside..... in one of the threads i asked about sand blasters a hambr suggested buying old posters from garage sales (the ones with brit spears, etc.) and us the pc of acetate (clear lexan) as a lens cover....with duct tape.......good and cheap idea! there was a heck of a deal on, i think, a cyclone cabinet in TX on craigslist......$350 and it sold new for around $1500....... i'd love to have a large one for keeping some aggresive media in and then switch this smaller cabinet to gl*** beads....
harbor freight cabinet is nice, the gun is ****, as is the lighting system. TP is good. get the biggest nozzles your compressors can tolerate. ... bigger the nozzle the more air is required to run it.... I recommend the carbide, last way longer and dont break when you drop them on your floor . also if you can swing it, get the foot pedal gun instead og the trigger type. I didn't and now wish I did. I buy thin plastic sheet and double tape it to the gl***. costs about 6 bucks for 4 covers
here's a different spin.....you could see when it's full...... http://www.instructables.com/id/ELU3E5F619ETOMLEAN/?ALLSTEPS
I have one. No trouble with cabinet or gun. My problems are with the lights. Burned out the first, sent for replacement. Guess what? Replacements are wired different with smaller plugs. So I rewired old plug to new light. Worked for about a week. Any one want a cheap cabinet? Come get mine for, say, $50.00. I am going to get one I can get lights for. Jim
i bought the plastic cyclone like that one (mine is blue) and the dust collector on sale both cost about $410 and i saved on shipping by picking it up at the tool store. great cabinet i just need to make some protective sheets.
I use the snap on cabinet... it is a killer rig, except for the semi truck air filters it uses...them ****ers are PRICEY.
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