Looking for a new Sandblaster???

[Mr. Duece]

Shop needs to purchase a new cabinet blaster. Our demand has changed and our old cabinet can no longer keep up. I need something very productive, well made, and easy to find parts for. Anyone have any experience? Eastwood has some nice looking stuff???? All comments appreciated. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif Thanks, Don

[VintageMusclecar]

Don;

TP Tools (http://www.tptools.com/dg/53_Abrasive-Bead-Blasting-Cabinets.html) makes some very nice equipment. When I was working in the aerospace industry a while back, we used this monster (http://www.tptools.com/p/41,53_1836-Double-Duty.html) in the clean room. I give them 2 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

I purchased one of these cabinets (http://cgi.ebay.com/New-48-x-24-Abrasive-blaster-sand-blast-cabinet-USA_W0QQitemZ140094725214QQcategoryZ633QQtcZphotoQ QcmdZViewItem) from a local company for my shop a couple of years ago, and I've been very satisfied with it as well.

Hope this helps. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Eric

[Charley Lillard]

I have a Trinco (http://www.trinco.com/) cabinet. There are two types of blast cabinets, siphon and pressure. If you want a efficient system you should get a pressure cabinet. Here is a paragraph from the Trinco site explaining pressure cabinets
"DIRECT PRESSURE MODELS
A direct pressure cabinet utilizes an A.S.M.E. coded pressure pot to hold abrasive media. When the foot pedal control is depressed air pressure is released into the pressure pot, pressurizing the pot and then forcing the media from the pot through the blasting hose to the nozzle.
Most pressure blast cleaning is done at 40-60 PSI. Due to these lower pressures, abrasive media breakdown is greatly reduced even though a high volume of media is being directed at the part to be cleaned. Most of the media is recovered through the recycling process.
Direct pressure blast cleaning is ideal for the very tough jobs, for applications where large surfaces must be cleaned quickly, for production blast cleaning or when the job requires the use of heavy mesh sizes of silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, garnet, etc. Other popular medias that are used in Trinco pressure cabinets are glass beads, Trin-mixes, Rad-mix, and plastic blast cleaning media. "

I have a pressure type and it is so much faster that I don't see how a resto shop could be without one compared to a siphon. The hours saved if you do alot of blasting would pay for itself in no time. Big cost difference though. I see siphon cabinets for 800.00 while a good sized pressure cabinet will be about 5000.00. If you have been using a siphon cabinet you will be amazed at how much better a pressure cabinet is. I can get you pics of mine if you want.

[HEMIBEE]

i have one from tp tools, they are good people and get suplies to you asap when you need them, they have a very good selection of sizes also, I would recomend them to anybody.

[sYc]

[ QUOTE ]
i have one from tp tools, they are good people and get suplies to you asap when you need them, they have a very good selection of sizes also, I would recomend them to anybody.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Donnie]

Don,
tp tools is the way to go. ive got this one
http://www.tptools.com/eccStoreFront/product_images/Images/960-SE_L.jpg

[Mr. Duece]

Thanks everyone for your opinions.

Charlie: The direct pressure systems seem great but probably a little "overkill" for what I need. I still have the option of sending the real nasty stuff to our local media guy. I spend a lot of money annually on paint and rust removal. Currently I am hiring an apprentice in the shop and if I had a more efficient Sandblaster I can keep most of that blasting in house while having an extra body around the shop. As far as the TP Tool units, I've been looking at them. Their equipment seems fair priced for what you get. Can any of you using their units tell me how efficient and how noisy that style dust collection system is? Can you see fairly well what your blasting? Also, I know this is a loaded question but approx. how long would it take to Blast an average lower control arm? Thanks again for the advice! Don http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[mockingbird812]

Don,

I have the 960-FL as well. Its dimensions of 30 deep x 48 wide allow pretty big stuff to fit inside. I bot mine 2.5 yrs ago and no problems. I would like another light source inside on opposite side to reduce shadows - only complaint. Shld be easy mod for myself to do (in spare timehttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif ). See if this is standard or offered as an option. Also can vent outside or self-contained inside if necessary - this is an option.

BTW, made in my home town! Canfield, Ohio .... Home of the fighting <font color="red">CARDINALS!!!! </font> http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/mockingbird812/cardinal.gif

[Mr. Duece]

Sam, If you read the description of the 960FL it reads:
Adjustable floodlight lights all areas of cabinet.

Is that how the lighting is in yours? How noisy is that thing when it's running? Does it sound similar to a Shop Vac? Thanks for the help. Don

[HEMIBEE]

I have the pro detailer, it comes with the better vacuum and it is very quiet (not neer as noisey as a shop vac) it also has a door on both sides (very nice for bigger parts) and i also got the extention housing that you can put in placeof either door for longer parts (bumpers, driveshafts,71 cuda grille) you need the extra space for these items, it lights up very well with two flood lights, and its very easy to change media, i do recoment the vibrator to keep the media in the bottom of the unit, that way you can use a smaller amount of media,

[Charley Lillard]

If you are in the business and will be blasting lots of stuff...time is money. I'm guessing a pressure cabinet is at least 3 times faster than a siphon feed. The good machine shops use pressure cabinets. I'm not knocking the siphons but if you do alot of stripping the hours saved will more than pay for the difference in price. Or talk to a vendor that sells both and have him show you a demo.

[mockingbird812]

[ QUOTE ]
Sam, If you read the description of the 960FL it reads:
Adjustable floodlight lights all areas of cabinet.

Is that how the lighting is in yours? How noisy is that thing when it's running? Does it sound similar to a Shop Vac? Thanks for the help. Don

[/ QUOTE ]

Out for most of the day. There is no problem lighting the entire cabinet as the light is on the far left side of the cabinet. Problem occurs when you put an item in the middle and most of the right side of the object is cast in shadow. Sounds like other model mentioned earlier addresses this with two lights. Not a big deal, but 2 lights should be in there in order to ensure you have blasted everything. It is not real noisy - not as noisy as an average shop vac. I did not consider it a factor. Unless of course you have folks sleeping in your shop area http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif .

[Mr. Duece]

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I'll definitely try to get a demo of a pressure cabinet before making my decision. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Postsedan]

Don,

If you like a demo of one...just go over to Redi-Strip. They may even sell you one of there`s....you`ll never know unless you ask. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Dan.

[Enoch]

Charlie,
does you cabint refill automaticly or do you have to manually refill it.
I bought a automatic refilling unit with a cyclone reclaimer pressure blaster last year and it is 3-6 times faster a siphon system. You need to watch as the unit is more sensitive to humidity and the media breaks down much quicker. But now that I have it I can't see how I lived with out it.
Rich

[Charley Lillard]

On mine there is a air valve that closes automatically when you step on the pedal. That is the valve that the media drains thru back into the pressure tank. When you let off the pedal the valve opens again and lets the media refill the pressure tank. It is so much faster than the siphon models it really will pay for itself.

[VintageMusclecar]

Charley;

How quickly does the media wear out in a pressure fed in comparison to a siphon fed?

Eric

[Charley Lillard]

I haven't really noticed any difference. I think in general you can run it at a lower pressure than a siphon feed. I would think the media would last longer that way but I'm just guessing. A vendor that sells both could probably tell you.