Blast cabinet

[Trollhole]

Me being a cheap ass I'm buying this blast cabinet. Nothing fancy and since im not using it but for my personal use I think it will work fine.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200103074_200103074

My question is what type of media should I use. I thought about glass beads. But they come in many sizes. What is the best to use? Time is not an issue but looks are.

Can media be easily switched out? Should I get more than one type. I know sand is a no no though I have see friends use it.

 

[Trollhole]

Short review.

Cabinet is nice. Not perfect but what do you expect for $279. Took about 30 min to put together. Didn't have a air supply hose to the gun to the outside cabinet (you have to supply) Shorted me on the weatherstriping around the windows and a few screws but gave me 50 more nuts than what it required.

The supply hose for the media was a piece of crap and split everytime I tried to install it. So I used a small heater hose. I'd give it a 6 out of 10. Price makes up for the other 4.

I bought medium glass beads. They work pretty good but I really would like something a little more agressive. ANy ideas?

 

[Waorani]

I use glass beads for gun refinising and for cleanup of more delicate parts. They will work for rust removal but normally I use something that cuts better like aluminum oxide. I also reallly like silicon carbide but its expensive and wears out your nozzle parts fast. My cabinet came from TPtools.com and I usually get my media from them too.

Beware of the cheap glass beads from places like Harbor Freight. Like just about everything else there, the price means a compromise in quality. The couple of boxes I've tried have been so dusty I just dumped them.

Just out of curiosity I tried glass beads a few weeks ago on a radiator overflow bottle and it really cleaned up well.

 

[Mace]

AL oxide

 

[awp_cruiser]

AL Oxide works great. Fresh media really cuts well.

I've head that walnut shells does a really nice job on finish sheet metal without distorting the skins. Never tried it, but it sounds like fun to try.

 

[Trollhole]

I got Al Oxide and I will say it really works well for cutting the rust off. Good stuff.

 

[stingen]

Another Blaster Cabinet

Just wanted to add my two cents, I looked at the Northern Tools blasting cabinet and wasn't very impressed with it. My neighbor had just bought another brand from TP Tools, Skat Blast. I went with the 770 model and haven't been disappointed. It does take some time to put it all together, about 2 hours, but it wasn't to difficult. Also, there shipping runs about $50 and it was at my doorstep within 4 days.

 

[450 DUDE]

Garnet is some serious stuff.

ken

 

[El Cazador]

stingen, what did you pay for that blast cabinet if you don't mind me asking. Oh, too late, I just asked, huh?

 

[El Cazador]

never mind, i garfed the link, don't ask me how, then found my answer by going back and looking again.