good video. Dry air, keep the feed tube short and don't use too much media. Been using a flea market blast cabinet siphon feed trouble free for years. A screen under the rack in the cabinet does keep the crud out of the supply.
Don't be shy about ADDING compressors. You can add all you can support and connect them together with large bore hose and Chicago couplings which are barely a restriction.
having blown out gloves doing the gun clean out, or reverse flow, I recommend having a scrap piece of metal or just a plastic lid from a peanut butter jar, etc. and using that as the 'stopper' against the gun barrel
Question. Just up graded my blast cabinet to gravity fed. and added black Coal media. Bag says I need 5/16 nozzle. Biggest nozzle I have s the 7mm so I installed it. Played with air pressures from 40 -90 psi but can not get media to flow. Used plug finger over nozzle to clear out nozzle and gun. but just cant get the media to flow for much more then a second or 2 then it drops back into the hose and stops flowing. Is it possible my gun has a issue or could it be my media hose is to big. I'm using 3/4 ID hose. I've herd a lot of people say they use 5/8 ID media hose. My stock hose was 3/4 and my gun has a 3/4 nipple to attach to but the media cabinet was originally siphone.
I can't thank you enough! I picked up my small blasting cabinet second hand a few years ago and it never worked right. I watched your video and cleaned my gun the way you recommended and used your trick to blow-back and back-feed the pick-up tube, and instantly it works amazingly well!! Totally blown away by how well this worked (pun intended) ! Thanks so much!!
I made a gravity feed for my cabinet... I found that the siphon system was useless for me. Changed over to gravity feed... Much better. I can use a very minimal amount of media for the job. I also made a filter screen for inside the cabinet to prevent those bits of crap getting thru and blocking the gun up... It's not perfect but it's better than nothing
This video was ABSOLUTELY awesome! I have been refinishing firearms for years. Recently, I've changed compressors and have been having blasting problems. You have given me a bunch of culprits to look at! Also, I must say that it is so great that you have given people tips to correct problems rather than simply PUSHING people to BUY more expensive cabinets! This is very rare these days and I must commend you on this. Also, I can tell from your video that you REALLY enjoy WHAT you do. I'm sure this will lead to long term success! Loved this video and am now SUBSCRIBED. I plan on giving you a call for additional assistance. Please keep up the great work and I plan to share this video and information with other firearm refinishers that I work with! GodBless and Godspeed sir.
Very well put together video, very easy to understand, very informative. Made much more sense of my siphon cabinet that I struggle with down here in Wet Louisiana. Thank you.
Food for thought, I will need to check the nozzle the next time I seem not to get any grit out and the to tubes that go down into the medium. Informative video, thanks
I use a length of 1/8" stainless TIG filler as my universal unclogger. They're ideal for nozzles, pickup tubes and more. Bend a loop on the end and hang it off your cabinet. I extend the drain valve plumbing on my tanks for easy access. If possible get a large industrial "receiver tank" at auction etc as they greatly increase surge capacity. While wiring large electrically driven compressors is expensive, adding smaller compressors is often cheap and your air system doesn't care where the air comes from. That also lets you run a small compressor for little jobs or turn them all on for more CFM. Consumer compressors are mostly garbage but used industrial compressors are not complicated (if you can work on the most primitive car you can install and plumb compressors). I put mine on steel frames with scaffolding casters (horizontal tanks of course) and if I score any industrial vertical tanks will convert them to horizontal for easy handling. Receiver tanks can live outdoors if space is tight. Plumbing matters and switching to red pneumatic hose with Chicago couplings for my compressor interconnects and the hose to to my blaster greatly improved air flow. I use only flex hose for my air plumbing for extreme convenience. It's easy to place, easy to modify and if I expand my shop or move.
@@Tonisuperfly By the aforementioned red hose and Chicago couplings which are also standard on many commercial sand blasters. Both comps have a gate valve (gate valves are more durable over time than other styles and less likely to leak hence their industrial use in these roles) between the compressor and the Chicago coupling connecting them to the system. They're on opposite sides of my shop with the receiver tank outdoors. The receiver tank connection includes a simple galvanized and stainless (stainless is cheap online and I prefer it where practical) manifold with valved Chicago couplings to feed my blasters and smaller couplings to feed my other tools. Adding pipe fittings and chucks is cheap. I always build for future ease of maintenance so a few valves is a bargain for the convenience of being able to isolate any part of the system for repair and modification. My low-demand small air hoses inside my shipping container shop areas also hang but under my self-fabbed steel shelving (stout enough to support a Harley in mid-air via cargo straps for full access during custom building) inside simple circles sawn from pipe. I use bulkhead connectors where I want outside air and connect the hose to those via a chuck at each. I can change anything easily and would absolutely do this if I rented because I could empty my shop(s) of air equipment in a couple of hours. This is MUCH easier than it sounds and putting everything heavy on scaffolding or similar casters means I can maintain it easily well into old age. I'm 65 and pretty much crippled but that doesn't interfere with using my shop. I pushed hard to finish it so I can enjoy my sunset years instead of quitting like so many do. If you solve all lifting and movement problems long before it's pure win. For example when I bought my receiver tank and compressors no way was I going to wrestle them. I used basic rigging, self-built dollies, hand winches and the insanely handy 12V small Harbor Freight winch as a tugger run off my Clore jump pack. The winch got a simple base I can chain or hook or strap to any suitable deadman. I use snatch blocks often which really make life easy.
Well you truly earned a subscriber with this video. It balanced perfectly between a relaxed, newbie-friendly, plain-talk style, and a face-paced, information-packed, detail-rich, technical video.
That's a hell of a comment. Thanks for the praise! I'm glad to know this stuff is helping folks. Planning to do a couple more tech-driven videos on non-related topics within 30 days.
This is so helpful! I’m about to buy my first sandblasting gun and I was confused about whether to get gravity fed or siphon fed. You explained that and a whole lot more. Subscribed.
After watching your video here, finally able to sort the gremlins in my gun, put a bigger nozzle and it's now working a treat, thanks for the heads up, now a new subscriber
The best thing is to do as I have done. I put a solenoid valve on the tank that drains the water automatically, it opens 15 seconds every 20 minutes. Also has regular water separator but they are always completely dry due to the solenoid valve.
I bought the pressure pot model last may, it’s been a very good machine. Like you said it took a bit to fine tune it but once we got it dialed, it’s held up great. We bought the unit with the mindset of lite industrial duty but the projects quickly became more demanding and we questioned weather the cabinet was going to handle 100lbs flanges going in and out all day… so far it’s holding up great.
I suggest you use silicone to seal the seams while putting together the cabinet. Otherwise, the thing will leak media like crazy! The provided foam gasket material doesn't work well.
One thing to check I bought a cabinet from your competitor and it would not suck no matter what I did to it well the nozzle was in backward soon as I turned it around it worked great this problem only happened because I don't no much about cabinets
Holy shit. I didn’t even consider my pickup tube was the issue. I switched a while back to a copper tube but did wit have the 2nd tube for air flow!!!! When I get home I will change that quick and should be back in budiness
Fantastic explanation video about Sandblasting cabinet- thankyou for this!!! Im currently in process of starting up a fabrication business and over my career as a shipbuilder I learned that sandblasting is the most efficient way to remove mill scale, rust and paint from the surface of metal. I tried using my in-laws sandblasting cabinet to see if i could get the results i was after and was very disappointed to the point i was glad they purchased it and made the mistake and not myself. I figured the only way I would be able to get what i want, would be way out of my reach as i start up. I fought with clogged lines, tips and pure poor performance overall. Do you have a suggestion for a cabinet for a startup business?
Watched your video very informative, I tried everything you did on the video and the suction type of cabinet is not working, Does not have the valve at the bottom so I cannot adjust. air valve is located at the wall of the cabinet. and compressor size is huge, so no lack of air flow there. Please let me know your thought, Thanks, from Small Engine Mechanic Joe.
BTW instead of manual draining I just leave the drain valves cracked slightly and let the system empty when not in use. My area is seriously humid and compared to blasting a little air seepage in use is nothing.
For the past week, I have been viewing UA-cam videos on retrofitting the Harbor Freight Blasting Cabinets because mine just wouldn't pick up media. Of all that I have seen this has been the most informative. I guess it may be because you explained the operating principle in more detail than others did. However, based on the recommendation of others I tried to convert from siphon-feed to gravity, but unfortunately with no success. Without you seeing my set up can you give some possible suggestions as to my failure to succeed. Do you think the gun should be changed? The nozzles are not blocked. I disconnected the siphon hose from the metering valve pulled the trigger on the gun, and placed my finger at the opened end of the hose to test the siphon strength and it was so faint, that it could be considered non-existent. Can you give any advice?
What did it end up being? For me I did that mod & got a fancy new nozzle but did not consider it was a larger diameter slowing down my airflow and to add further I added a regulator that was not specifically a “Hi-Flow” regulator and BOTH of these made the siphon not work as the airflow slowed down causing the Venturi to not suck from the siphon.
You might want to add that most consumer-grade compressors are not rated in "cfm" as in how much air is available at what pressure. They are rated in "scfm" which gives them a bigger number to brag about but means nothing when the tool requires I.E. 90 PSI@10 CFM. Sorta like HP and actual HP as in a real horse or SAE horses.
Hello Ian, what kind of water separator are you using please? I'm looking for a proper cyclone / centrifugal water separator instead of the coalescing filters one finds mostly online. You are 100% correct regarding the importance of eliminating moisture from the airstream so the blast media does not clump.
I use one of these www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/sand-blast-equipment-c-327_501/sand-blast-accessories-c-327_501_506/smc-sand-blast-cabinet-water-separator-p-2446
I got a crazy idea the other day, I have an earlex turbine sprayer. What do you think of getting a fitting on my cabinet that will accept the hose from the turbine sprayer?
Great video - the best I've seen. I have a question: What is the flow rate (SCFM) required by the compressor? Mine is a DeWalt 60 gal. 3.7hp and will push up to 13 SCFM. Is that sufficient for this rig? What pressure should I use and what size min/max on the fittings?
Look around online and you'll quickly find charts that will show you your SCFM depending on the size of nozzle you're running and the pressure your regulator is set. Both of these will controll this. With that said, 13 is not much and you should expect to blast for 30 seconds, wait 1 minute, come back, and operate for 30 more seconds.
Well said and thank you for sharing. Does the vacuum in the tank affect the flow of media at all? That is to say the higher the vacuum the less airflow going through the cabinet. Does this affect the media flow at all?
I don't know sir. I find the volume of air, the pressure of air, and the media all tend to effect how it works, so it seems to be more about tuning the jet to your parameters more so than just adjusting it for maximum suction.
I am having a fit trying to get my Harbor Freight blast cabinet to work well. I have a 1.6 HP, 12CFM, 30-gallon air compressor, and an upgraded ($70) adjustable metering valve and it still works poorly. I am shooting 70-grit aluminum oxide to clean motorcycle parts. I don't know what to try next. New suction gun? Larger compressor?
I'd first go with the cheap solution and start trying different size nozzles and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, and we're being honest here, H.F. is cheap for a reason
CEO at our factory wants a harbor freight 1500.00 45CFM siphon blaster to match WHAT our 600CFM Gravity blasters do. Says he has 30 years of aerospace blasting experience and we should be able to get the same finish with the smaller blaster. We get a great matte finish on the EMPIRE GRAVITY. When using the smaller one we get ashiney finish, same exact #7 glass. We just are not getting the volume of media out of the smaller blaster, ypu hit the parts over and over and yet the finish never gets better. It is a little strange. Difference is the volume hitting the parts at ONE TIME is different. 30,000 beads vs 5000 beads per second. Gives you a different finish
Hey,any recommendations on gloves for a blast cabinet, been going through a few pairs lately ..also any links or videos on tuning gravity feed cabinets...great videos by the way
See my link below. These guys sell a much higher quality glove that's worth the money. Sorry but this video is really about all we have to help out with gravity cabinets. www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/sand-blast-equipment-c-327_501/sand-blast-replacement-parts-c-327_501_507/jenessco-industries-sand-blast-cabinet-replacement-gloves-p-2815
I have a homemade blast cabinet with a syphon style gun using a trigger rather than foot pedal . I run a 14cfm compressor at around 80 psi and have had varied success with the results it has about a 5 mm nozzle and a half inch pick up tube . I keep the media dry as possible and use garnet as abrasive.. I like the idea of the foot pedal as a control as after a while using the trigger gives a sore hand and restricts movement with the gauntlets seeing the different pick up tube with the air hole makes sense Biggest issue I have is it pulses like I get a full tube then empty tube giving a full power blast then petering out release trigger and start again. Media is seived regularly to remove large or bigger lumps of debris . Any suggestions
@@OJAWESOMENESS96 In a word no . I have tried the twin tube method drawing media up one and allowing air down the other ( there are a few videos showing this method ) but no joy with that either . I have about 2ft of media tube in total so that is not a long distance to pull the media up and any longer it would get in the way . Used the cabinet about a week ago and the results were . Still pulsing it as it was the most effective way to use it , I could hold the trigger in and it would flow media but at a very reduced rate . Pulsing the gun gave a huge blast but then it was like it dribbled out a lot of media between pulses as the trigger was released . I would say that pulling the media up wasn't the issue I am tempted to just try another style of gun probably the style that uses a pressure pot see if that works somehow . The only thing I've not tried yet is reducing the air pressures or the nozzle size which at the moment I'm limited to what fits the gun. I may turn some on a lathe to see if I can change the nozzle dimensions.
I have tried reducing the nozzle size in mine with no luck only way I can get mine to run low is if I home and pick up two in one hand and the gun in the other and let it suck right off the top of my media if that makes sense. Also I got a package of nozzles at Harbor freight there were four sizes six bucks I think.
@@OJAWESOMENESS96 does yours have a tube fitted to the cabinet running to the lowest point and the feed tube running off that . Seen a lot of videos regarding removing that feed tube and then converting over to a media tube fitted under the drain area think it's called a media valve
The REPP70 (linked below) is not really a traditional gravity feed cabinet. It's a pressure pot cabinet, though gravity does take care of filling the pot. About 50-75 lbs will get it started. www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/sand-blast-equipment-c-327_501/sand-blast-cabinets-c-327_501_502/redline-repp70-clamshell-pressure-pot-abrasive-blast-cabinet-p-2421
@@RedlineStands I have the same cabinet I've converted from Pressure pot to gravity feed.. what would be a good estimate of how much media I should use to fill it??
You can dry it. You'd just spread it on tarp in the sun and maybe broom it around a bit from time to time. Still, I've never once had so much moisture in my media that was necessary.
good video. Dry air, keep the feed tube short and don't use too much media. Been using a flea market blast cabinet siphon feed trouble free for years. A screen under the rack in the cabinet does keep the crud out of the supply.
Probably the most informative blast cabinet video I have ever seen, thanks for taking the time to make it.
It's great to see a truly helpful video without a big fancy introduction or annoying background music - WELL DONE!
Don't be shy about ADDING compressors. You can add all you can support and connect them together with large bore hose and Chicago couplings which are barely a restriction.
Reversing the air flow to clear the hose whenever the media stops flowing... game changer! Thanks
Great tips but the number one reason blast cabinet fail is that they say Horrible Freight on them 😞
having blown out gloves doing the gun clean out, or reverse flow, I recommend having a scrap piece of metal or just a plastic lid from a peanut butter jar, etc. and using that as the 'stopper' against the gun barrel
Question. Just up graded my blast cabinet to gravity fed. and added black Coal media. Bag says I need 5/16 nozzle. Biggest nozzle I have s the 7mm so I installed it. Played with air pressures from 40 -90 psi but can not get media to flow. Used plug finger over nozzle to clear out nozzle and gun. but just cant get the media to flow for much more then a second or 2 then it drops back into the hose and stops flowing. Is it possible my gun has a issue or could it be my media hose is to big. I'm using 3/4 ID hose. I've herd a lot of people say they use 5/8 ID media hose. My stock hose was 3/4 and my gun has a 3/4 nipple to attach to but the media cabinet was originally siphone.
I can't thank you enough! I picked up my small blasting cabinet second hand a few years ago and it never worked right. I watched your video and cleaned my gun the way you recommended and used your trick to blow-back and back-feed the pick-up tube, and instantly it works amazingly well!! Totally blown away by how well this worked (pun intended) ! Thanks so much!!
My pleasure Charles. Please consider subscribing sir.
Thank you sir for mentioning draining a compressor tank. It's So simple, and SO Necessary!!
I made a gravity feed for my cabinet... I found that the siphon system was useless for me. Changed over to gravity feed... Much better. I can use a very minimal amount of media for the job. I also made a filter screen for inside the cabinet to prevent those bits of crap getting thru and blocking the gun up... It's not perfect but it's better than nothing
This video was ABSOLUTELY awesome! I have been refinishing firearms for years. Recently, I've changed compressors and have been having blasting problems. You have given me a bunch of culprits to look at! Also, I must say that it is so great that you have given people tips to correct problems rather than simply PUSHING people to BUY more expensive cabinets! This is very rare these days and I must commend you on this. Also, I can tell from your video that you REALLY enjoy WHAT you do. I'm sure this will lead to long term success! Loved this video and am now SUBSCRIBED. I plan on giving you a call for additional assistance. Please keep up the great work and I plan to share this video and information with other firearm refinishers that I work with! GodBless and Godspeed sir.
Thank you, and my pleasure!
Depending where you live....you need to drain the tank and water separator daily. Sometimes multiple times a day.
Very well put together video, very easy to understand, very informative. Made much more sense of my siphon cabinet that I struggle with down here in Wet Louisiana. Thank you.
I appreciate that. Not all of my videos are so well received.
Food for thought, I will need to check the nozzle the next time I seem not to get any grit out and the to tubes that go down into the medium. Informative video, thanks
I use a length of 1/8" stainless TIG filler as my universal unclogger. They're ideal for nozzles, pickup tubes and more. Bend a loop on the end and hang it off your cabinet. I extend the drain valve plumbing on my tanks for easy access. If possible get a large industrial "receiver tank" at auction etc as they greatly increase surge capacity.
While wiring large electrically driven compressors is expensive, adding smaller compressors is often cheap and your air system doesn't care where the air comes from. That also lets you run a small compressor for little jobs or turn them all on for more CFM. Consumer compressors are mostly garbage but used industrial compressors are not complicated (if you can work on the most primitive car you can install and plumb compressors). I put mine on steel frames with scaffolding casters (horizontal tanks of course) and if I score any industrial vertical tanks will convert them to horizontal for easy handling. Receiver tanks can live outdoors if space is tight.
Plumbing matters and switching to red pneumatic hose with Chicago couplings for my compressor interconnects and the hose to to my blaster greatly improved air flow. I use only flex hose for my air plumbing for extreme convenience. It's easy to place, easy to modify and if I expand my shop or move.
This sounds like what I’m looking for - using multiple compressors. How do you join them though?
@@Tonisuperfly By the aforementioned red hose and Chicago couplings which are also standard on many commercial sand blasters. Both comps have a gate valve (gate valves are more durable over time than other styles and less likely to leak hence their industrial use in these roles) between the compressor and the Chicago coupling connecting them to the system. They're on opposite sides of my shop with the receiver tank outdoors. The receiver tank connection includes a simple galvanized and stainless (stainless is cheap online and I prefer it where practical) manifold with valved Chicago couplings to feed my blasters and smaller couplings to feed my other tools. Adding pipe fittings and chucks is cheap. I always build for future ease of maintenance so a few valves is a bargain for the convenience of being able to isolate any part of the system for repair and modification.
My low-demand small air hoses inside my shipping container shop areas also hang but under my self-fabbed steel shelving (stout enough to support a Harley in mid-air via cargo straps for full access during custom building) inside simple circles sawn from pipe. I use bulkhead connectors where I want outside air and connect the hose to those via a chuck at each. I can change anything easily and would absolutely do this if I rented because I could empty my shop(s) of air equipment in a couple of hours. This is MUCH easier than it sounds and putting everything heavy on scaffolding or similar casters means I can maintain it easily well into old age.
I'm 65 and pretty much crippled but that doesn't interfere with using my shop. I pushed hard to finish it so I can enjoy my sunset years instead of quitting like so many do. If you solve all lifting and movement problems long before it's pure win. For example when I bought my receiver tank and compressors no way was I going to wrestle them. I used basic rigging, self-built dollies, hand winches and the insanely handy 12V small Harbor Freight winch as a tugger run off my Clore jump pack. The winch got a simple base I can chain or hook or strap to any suitable deadman. I use snatch blocks often which really make life easy.
Most important point! You have to work to find the "Sweet Spot" . Thank you for this post. I'm learning . 😋
Just got my first cabinet. Thanks for the info.
Well you truly earned a subscriber with this video. It balanced perfectly between a relaxed, newbie-friendly, plain-talk style, and a face-paced, information-packed, detail-rich, technical video.
That's a hell of a comment. Thanks for the praise! I'm glad to know this stuff is helping folks. Planning to do a couple more tech-driven videos on non-related topics within 30 days.
@@RedlineStands Oh, I’ll be looking forward to that.
This is so helpful! I’m about to buy my first sandblasting gun and I was confused about whether to get gravity fed or siphon fed. You explained that and a whole lot more. Subscribed.
Thanks Toni and welcome aboard.
This video is so useful and full of information. Learned a lot through your explanation and close up view of parts. Thanks!
Thanks for the tips. As a blast cabinet newbie this helped me work through a couple of roadblocks.
After watching your video here, finally able to sort the gremlins in my gun, put a bigger nozzle and it's now working a treat, thanks for the heads up, now a new subscriber
Best video I’ve seen on this. Thank you. I’ll be calling to order parts!
Thank you for making it. I was having suction problem with my cabinet. You have great tips for troubleshooting.
Excellent. Thanks for the help. I've been at this stuff for decades and I haven't found a video as practical as this.
Glad to hear it and thanks for watching.
Awesome video! Helped me figure with where I need to start with troubleshooting.
The best thing is to do as I have done. I put a solenoid valve on the tank that drains the water automatically, it opens 15 seconds every 20 minutes. Also has regular water separator but they are always completely dry due to the solenoid valve.
I know greatness when I see it, thank you for sharing.
Please discuss the proper size media & type best for use in a typical siphon blast cabinet like Harbor Freight's
Fantastic. Thanks. Very helpful.
Very, very helpful! Thanks for sharing your expertise! Bill Widhalm-Norfolk Nebr.
I bought the pressure pot model last may, it’s been a very good machine. Like you said it took a bit to fine tune it but once we got it dialed, it’s held up great. We bought the unit with the mindset of lite industrial duty but the projects quickly became more demanding and we questioned weather the cabinet was going to handle 100lbs flanges going in and out all day… so far it’s holding up great.
Awesome news Scott. Thanks for sharing.
My Harbor F floor cabinet is still in the box, so these great suggestions will be easier to do. Thank you for sharing!!1
I suggest you use silicone to seal the seams while putting together the cabinet. Otherwise, the thing will leak media like crazy! The provided foam gasket material doesn't work well.
One thing to check I bought a cabinet from your competitor and it would not suck no matter what I did to it well the nozzle was in backward soon as I turned it around it worked great this problem only happened because I don't no much about cabinets
Holy shit. I didn’t even consider my pickup tube was the issue. I switched a while back to a copper tube but did wit have the 2nd tube for air flow!!!! When I get home I will change that quick and should be back in budiness
This is a super helpful video, Thank you VERY much for taking the time to produce and share this with us!
Very useful info, going to modify my media tube the same with the additional tube on top, makes perfect sense, thanks
Great tips and explanations. Thank you for your quality content.
thank you so much for awesome info
You're very welcome. Glad to help.
Meat N taters, Brother! Thank you from an old lady struggling with a harbor freight cabinet. Overall it is ok, but it needs much love to work better.
This information was priceless. I’m very grateful for you making this video. Great job!
👍 good info. Thank you. I'm trying to understand why the siphon tubes are always offset or staggered in their construction?
Regarding the video . Very informative and well laid out covering many things from simple errors to complex series of problems
Helpful video, I’m going to use these tips tomorrow.
Very informative. Very well-made. Kudos.
Fantastic explanation video about Sandblasting cabinet- thankyou for this!!! Im currently in process of starting up a fabrication business and over my career as a shipbuilder I learned that sandblasting is the most efficient way to remove mill scale, rust and paint from the surface of metal. I tried using my in-laws sandblasting cabinet to see if i could get the results i was after and was very disappointed to the point i was glad they purchased it and made the mistake and not myself. I figured the only way I would be able to get what i want, would be way out of my reach as i start up. I fought with clogged lines, tips and pure poor performance overall.
Do you have a suggestion for a cabinet for a startup business?
very useful video, I wrote down all these tips and will try them out this week! Thanks for making it!
Very informative, thanks for the video.
Watched your video very informative, I tried everything you did on the video and the suction type of cabinet is not working, Does not have the valve at the bottom so I cannot adjust.
air valve is located at the wall of the cabinet. and compressor size is huge, so no lack of air flow there. Please let me know your thought, Thanks, from Small Engine Mechanic Joe.
Excellent info. Thank you
Great video and very help full
Very informative video, Good information.
BTW instead of manual draining I just leave the drain valves cracked slightly and let the system empty when not in use. My area is seriously humid and compared to blasting a little air seepage in use is nothing.
For the past week, I have been viewing UA-cam videos on retrofitting the Harbor Freight Blasting Cabinets because mine just wouldn't pick up media. Of all that I have seen this has been the most informative. I guess it may be because you explained the operating principle in more detail than others did.
However, based on the recommendation of others I tried to convert from siphon-feed to gravity, but unfortunately with no success.
Without you seeing my set up can you give some possible suggestions as to my failure to succeed. Do you think the gun should be changed? The nozzles are not blocked. I disconnected the siphon hose from the metering valve pulled the trigger on the gun, and placed my finger at the opened end of the hose to test the siphon strength and it was so faint, that it could be considered non-existent. Can you give any advice?
What did it end up being? For me I did that mod & got a fancy new nozzle but did not consider it was a larger diameter slowing down my airflow and to add further I added a regulator that was not specifically a “Hi-Flow” regulator and BOTH of these made the siphon not work as the airflow slowed down causing the Venturi to not suck from the siphon.
You might want to add that most consumer-grade compressors are not rated in "cfm" as in how much air is available at what pressure. They are rated in "scfm" which gives them a bigger number to brag about but means nothing when the tool requires I.E. 90 PSI@10 CFM. Sorta like HP and actual HP as in a real horse or SAE horses.
Thanks for this video. Very educational. Definitely furthered my knowledge about the gun.
Awesome video thanks for taking the time to make it
Would increasing the size of the pickup tubes, be beneficial with more CFM? Your cabinet needs 26, what if you have 50?
Hello Ian, what kind of water separator are you using please? I'm looking for a proper cyclone / centrifugal water separator instead of the coalescing filters one finds mostly online. You are 100% correct regarding the importance of eliminating moisture from the airstream so the blast media does not clump.
I use one of these
www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/sand-blast-equipment-c-327_501/sand-blast-accessories-c-327_501_506/smc-sand-blast-cabinet-water-separator-p-2446
I got a crazy idea the other day, I have an earlex turbine sprayer. What do you think of getting a fitting on my cabinet that will accept the hose from the turbine sprayer?
Great video - the best I've seen.
I have a question: What is the flow rate (SCFM) required by the compressor? Mine is a DeWalt 60 gal. 3.7hp and will push up to 13 SCFM. Is that sufficient for this rig? What pressure should I use and what size min/max on the fittings?
Look around online and you'll quickly find charts that will show you your SCFM depending on the size of nozzle you're running and the pressure your regulator is set. Both of these will controll this. With that said, 13 is not much and you should expect to blast for 30 seconds, wait 1 minute, come back, and operate for 30 more seconds.
Thank you !
Very helpful video, thanks for making it.
I've a new cabinet with a 3 hp 200 litre and a drier im using copper slag but it doesn't seen to want to draw up the media
Well said and thank you for sharing. Does the vacuum in the tank affect the flow of media at all? That is to say the higher the vacuum the less airflow going through the cabinet. Does this affect the media flow at all?
Not in my experience. Media flow seems to work the same regardless if the vacuum is operable or not. Granted, you can't see crap, but it still works.
Gotcha! Thank you for your help! 👌🏼
Thank you for your helpful video!
Great info!
Thanks a lot
Very helpful!
Great info! Question: You mention adjusting the depth of the jet in the back of the gun. Which direction picks up more media vs more air?
I don't know sir. I find the volume of air, the pressure of air, and the media all tend to effect how it works, so it seems to be more about tuning the jet to your parameters more so than just adjusting it for maximum suction.
Say, can one convert a siphon feed cabinet to a gravity drain cabinet by simply adding that mixer at the bottom?
I don't see why not. Never tried it, but seems reasonable
@@RedlineStands Thanks. I feel an experiment coming on.
Great info.
I am having a fit trying to get my Harbor Freight blast cabinet to work well. I have a 1.6 HP, 12CFM, 30-gallon air compressor, and an upgraded ($70) adjustable metering valve and it still works poorly. I am shooting 70-grit aluminum oxide to clean motorcycle parts. I don't know what to try next. New suction gun? Larger compressor?
I'd first go with the cheap solution and start trying different size nozzles and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, and we're being honest here, H.F. is cheap for a reason
CEO at our factory wants a harbor freight 1500.00 45CFM siphon blaster to match WHAT our 600CFM Gravity blasters do.
Says he has 30 years of aerospace blasting experience and we should be able to get the same finish with the smaller blaster.
We get a great matte finish on the EMPIRE GRAVITY. When using the smaller one we get ashiney finish, same exact #7 glass.
We just are not getting the volume of media out of the smaller blaster, ypu hit the parts over and over and yet the finish never gets better.
It is a little strange. Difference is the volume hitting the parts at ONE TIME is different. 30,000 beads vs 5000 beads per second. Gives you a different finish
Hey,any recommendations on gloves for a blast cabinet, been going through a few pairs lately ..also any links or videos on tuning gravity feed cabinets...great videos by the way
See my link below. These guys sell a much higher quality glove that's worth the money. Sorry but this video is really about all we have to help out with gravity cabinets.
www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/sand-blast-equipment-c-327_501/sand-blast-replacement-parts-c-327_501_507/jenessco-industries-sand-blast-cabinet-replacement-gloves-p-2815
that made it work thanks...
I have a homemade blast cabinet with a syphon style gun using a trigger rather than foot pedal . I run a 14cfm compressor at around 80 psi and have had varied success with the results it has about a 5 mm nozzle and a half inch pick up tube . I keep the media dry as possible and use garnet as abrasive..
I like the idea of the foot pedal as a control as after a while using the trigger gives a sore hand and restricts movement with the gauntlets seeing the different pick up tube with the air hole makes sense
Biggest issue I have is it pulses like I get a full tube then empty tube giving a full power blast then petering out release trigger and start again. Media is seived regularly to remove large or bigger lumps of debris . Any suggestions
Did you ever solve this? I am having the same issues.
@@OJAWESOMENESS96 In a word no . I have tried the twin tube method drawing media up one and allowing air down the other ( there are a few videos showing this method ) but no joy with that either . I have about 2ft of media tube in total so that is not a long distance to pull the media up and any longer it would get in the way . Used the cabinet about a week ago and the results were . Still pulsing it as it was the most effective way to use it , I could hold the trigger in and it would flow media but at a very reduced rate . Pulsing the gun gave a huge blast but then it was like it dribbled out a lot of media between pulses as the trigger was released . I would say that pulling the media up wasn't the issue
I am tempted to just try another style of gun probably the style that uses a pressure pot see if that works somehow . The only thing I've not tried yet is reducing the air pressures or the nozzle size which at the moment I'm limited to what fits the gun. I may turn some on a lathe to see if I can change the nozzle dimensions.
I have tried reducing the nozzle size in mine with no luck only way I can get mine to run low is if I home and pick up two in one hand and the gun in the other and let it suck right off the top of my media if that makes sense. Also I got a package of nozzles at Harbor freight there were four sizes six bucks I think.
Also mine is a Harbor freight 40 pound model.
@@OJAWESOMENESS96 does yours have a tube fitted to the cabinet running to the lowest point and the feed tube running off that . Seen a lot of videos regarding removing that feed tube and then converting over to a media tube fitted under the drain area think it's called a media valve
Was that ricky bobbys hood?
How much media does that gravity feed cabinet hold that you showed..
The REPP70 (linked below) is not really a traditional gravity feed cabinet. It's a pressure pot cabinet, though gravity does take care of filling the pot. About 50-75 lbs will get it started.
www.redlinestands.com/catalog/shop-equipment-c-327/sand-blast-equipment-c-327_501/sand-blast-cabinets-c-327_501_502/redline-repp70-clamshell-pressure-pot-abrasive-blast-cabinet-p-2421
@@RedlineStands I have the same cabinet I've converted from Pressure pot to gravity feed.. what would be a good estimate of how much media I should use to fill it??
@@chipsammich2078 Just put 50 lbs in it and start adding more as needed. Somewhere between 50 and 100 should be fine
Mud Daubers think air feed tube hole looks like a good nesting site.
What air compressor do you run
I use an 80 gallon 5 hp unit from Lowes, but it's not sufficient to operate an REPP70 pressure pot cabinet, so I'm replacing it with a 10 hp unit.
Just curious -If your media gets wet can you dry it or do you just have to toss it? (Total newbie)
You can dry it. You'd just spread it on tarp in the sun and maybe broom it around a bit from time to time. Still, I've never once had so much moisture in my media that was necessary.
Thank you!
Stands to reason
No links attached about different media like you said. Lame.
Get to the point. Nothing worse than those who waste time because they like to hear themselves talk.
Why don't you make a damn video?
Thank you!
Very useful information, thank you!!