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Abrasive Blasting 101 | The Ultimate Resource
A lack of frictional heat is one of the main reasons a first time buyer is disappointed in their blast cabinet purchase. As a manufacturer of over 170 different models of Blasting Cabinets, Dust Collectors and Pollution Control Work Benches, we often have first time buyers call us to replace their poorly-constructed abrasive blast cabinet. We are not saying all cabinets sold by large tool suppliers are bad, but inexperienced buyers often misunderstand why the costs are significantly lower.
Let us say it again: A lack of frictional heat is one of the main reasons a first time buyer is disappointed in their blast cabinet purchase.
Let’s explore the reason this happens. When blasting cabinets operate, the compressed air volume used by the delivery system creates different frictional heat temperatures when using the same blasting pressure.
Less costly cabinets will take lots of time to clean parts. While this is OK for small, hand held parts, ads often show larger things fitting into the cabinet as well. This implies to buyers that just because a large part WILL fit into the cabinet, the cabinet can handle it. In reality, most small cabinets lack any real frictional heat.
Because it takes so long to clean parts using smaller gun sizes, the dust collector usually becomes plugged several times during the course of the project. Ultimately, the dust can create a mess in the surrounding area with prolonged overuse. The machine is not necessarily a piece of junk, it’s lack of knowledge about blasting cabinets and purchasing a machine that’s not matched to the application that creates a problem.
When you buy an abrasive blasting cabinet, the dust collector design is the make-or-break part of the machine. Low cost machines may use the term “Heavy Duty” but they say nothing about the dust collector design, machine features, or how they should be used. Nice photos from a distance should raise red flags. Understanding how the total machine is constructed how each part relates to your overall operation is key to success:
ProTip: Make sure the dust collector blower is moving 500 cfm or more, has a separator reclaimer to clean and recycle the abrasive, large in filter surface area like 100 sq.ft. and greater and is all negative pressure construction to keep the surrounding area clean.
If you are blasting small parts occasionally, an inexpensive cabinet will work. If you overuse it, it will quickly become your most hated tool.
Our all-new Shop Standard 2.0 available is ideal for home use or in a smaller shop. It comes in four cabinet sizes, 700 cfm pressure blower, 100% welded cabinet and dust collector construction complete with abrasive separator reclaimer, air pulse filter cleaning as well as pneumatic vibrator cleaning cycle. This may seem like too much machine, but it’s nearly guaranteed to eliminate buyer remorse. It is designed to use air compressor cfm volumes created by small compressors operating using 220-volt single-phase electricity
We’ve been manufacturing sandblasting cabinets since the 1970s. We make more than 180 standard models and sizes of abrasive blast cabinets. In addition to a comprehensive list of included features, we offer more than 80 optional features for increased productivity, durability, and operator safety. If you’re not sure what machine is the right fit for your needs, give us a call or visit our Buying Guide.
