Who Has a Sand Blasting Cabinet

[Norm's Coupe]

A few years ago I bought a bench top sand blasting cabinet from Harbor Freight. The thinking was it was cleaner to operate than just a sand blaster and you could use the beads longer.

However, even with the vacuum attached I still have small amount of beads and a little dust coming out of the seams of the cabinet. I'm thinking that if I was to caulk the seams of the cabinet that should stop it from leaking. Has anyone else with a blasting cabinet done the same thing? The cabinet is a lot cleaner, just trying to make it better, it does work great except for this. Mine is the top loader.

[Plymouthy Adams]

My cabinet is a Scat Blast and is 60 inches wide and with the large loading door I only lose media dragging stuff in and out...you should have a open vent to the top of the cabinet somewhere Usually farthest point from vacuum port) for vacuum draft..ensure that this true and unobstructed..in operation, you should draw a paper towel tight against the inlet...if all this is true and working..then maybe sealing will help..Harbor Freight is not known for industrial quality..some tweaking is needed at times. It does allow Joe-Blow to get usualbe items at a hobbiest price.

[Norm's Coupe]

Tim,

My cabinet does have the vent on the opposite side of the cabinet to open when using. Also has the light inside that helps a lot. The door is on top and I don't get anything out of there. The beads come out around the bottom of the unit at the seams where the legs are. Not a lot, just enough to be annoying. Like you said, it is not commercial grade but it does work. Plus, it is a lot cleaner than open blasting. Just trying to think of a way to improve it by stopping the small amount of beads coming out.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Smoke that wallet off your hip and spring for some RTV..I know you have to buy it for you never keep any remaining products left over from a previous job..sound like Coatney now don't I....lol

Think sealing is the right approach..

[Norm's Coupe]

Smoke that wallet off your hip and spring for some RTV..I know you have to buy it for you never keep any remaining products left over from a previous job..sound like Coatney now don't I....lol

Think sealing is the right approach..

Tim,

Can't smoke the wallet. It never has any money in it and wouldn't have a check cashing card, so it's not in there either. Sometimes I wonder why I even carry a wallet. The only thing in there I really need is my drivers license. Only time I need a credit card is when ordering through a catalog over the telephone, and that's rare for me to do that. So really don't need those on me either. Don't carry a check book either, don't remember the last time I wrote a personal check. Guess I'll have to go out in the back yard and dig up some cash from under a rock (or pull it off a tree) to get the RTV.

[Plymouthy Adams]

for some RTV today... I'll glady repay you Tuesday.....

[rearview]

Norm.. I've got some crusty dried up rtv I'd be glad to donate to your cause. I can offer two colors... some round booger shaped black pieces and some freshly peeled silver worms off my camper. you pay shipping:D

[Norm's Coupe]

Bob,

I have some of that rope caulk left over. Also have a tube of RTV laying on the work bench. In fact I have several tubes of caulk and RTV never opened. Didn't want to tell Tim that though and spoil my image. So we won't tell him.

[rearview]

I could hear your tight self squeaking two counties away!

[Norm's Coupe]

I could hear your tight self squeaking two counties away!

Bob,

Don't know if you will fully understand this because you are probably too young to remember Jack Benny. I am going for his image when he was in old TV commercials taking his car into a muffler shop for repairs. Also use to thrive on the same image in his TV show. I'm sure some of the other "older" guys remember his show though. Think I last saw him in a commercial in the early 70's, and by that time his TV show had been off the air for a long time.

[anthonyb]

Hey Norm,

I'll trade you a brand new tube of your favorite color of RTV for a small branch of that tree. :D

[David Maxwell]

...which are sold by Harbor Freight. The first came assembled by HF and leaked just as you described. The second I bought disassembled and put it together myself using silicone in all the seams. Guess what? No leaks! I actually joined the two cabinets together by cutting an opening in one end. I'm too lazy to take the other unit apart and fix the seams though.

[Norm's Coupe]

...which are sold by Harbor Freight. The first came assembled by HF and leaked just as you described. The second I bought disassembled and put it together myself using silicone in all the seams. Guess what? No leaks! I actually joined the two cabinets together by cutting an opening in one end. I'm too lazy to take the other unit apart and fix the seams though.

Thanks David. Mine was already assembled when I bought it too. Sounds like RTV is the answer. Not going to take it apart though. Will just empty it and try sealing that way first. Would like it to stop leaking. The whole purpose of buying the thing was so I could blast without making a mess.

[Ed Griffin]

Norm, sounds like you have a vent but had'nt seen you mention anything about a shop vac to suck out the air as you work. I have an industrial type that is hooked up to a shop vac to keep a negative air flow to prevent the "dust" from coming out the vent. Sounds like you could add one to prevent the dust. As for the leaking beads, you've gotton the best advice already, seal it up other than the vent.

If yours is one of those plastic type you can easily cut a hole on the opposite side of where the vent is to hook up a shop vac, Ed

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed,

Do use a shop vac with the blaster. No dust comes from there. The dust is coming out with the beads at the seams. Think if I stop the beads from coming out, it will also solve the dust problem. Actually the dust isn't all that much, it's more the beads.

[Ed Griffin]

I see what you mean Norm. Seems thats about all you can do then. I just use filtered play sand to blast with. Kicks up more dust so the shop vac is a must. Should be an easy fix for ya. Ed