In the past, there was only equipment dedicated to professional use, and it was unthinkable to use it for Sunday Mechanics, but now Sun Mechanics can purchase various types of sandblasting systems.
However, when I actually try to use them, I often think that I want the performance of a large sandblaster, where professional use = high price. I am, by no means, extravagant.
However, it is the desire of every blasting user to achieve stable performance with the current cabinet if possible.
Here, I tried to find out if modifying the blast media inlet can be highly effective. I tried it out.
Various standard suction pipe shapes
The overwhelming majority of guns in commercial blast cabinets are trigger-type, ceramic nozzle specifications.
The suction pipe of interest is a specification of two pipes in parallel. Simply inserting one pipe into the blast media and using it is not enough to suck up the media efficiently. Therefore, the other pipe is used as an air passage to improve the efficiency of media suction, but This is a very thoughtful specification for an inexpensive commercial product, though.
Make your own suction pipe with PVC pipe
A V-shaped combination of self-made PVC suction pipes is set into the cabinet.
I tried a variety of hoses to connect from the suction pipe to the cabinet, but the Tetoron braid hose, which is readily available, was the best overall choice. The outside of the hose, where it curves, gets chafed by the flowing media, which gradually thins the hose and creates a hole in it. The layout is such that the V-shaped corner of the PVC pipe is at the bottom of the siphon-like cabinet. When replacing media when working with this intake pipe, be sure to remove any residual media in the pipe before inserting the next media (e.g., alumina → glass beads).
Blast gun nozzles are available in ceramic and tungsten specifications, with tungsten having by far the longest life, but at a higher price.
Tungsten nozzle and foot switch
In fact, when I purchased this blast cabinet (30 years ago), the first customization I made was to change from a trigger-type gun nozzle to a foot switch + lightweight blowout nozzle type.
This customization has improved my work efficiency remarkably. If you keep working with the hand-trigger type, you will lose the grip of your hand and your work efficiency will decrease significantly. Above all, it is tiring. With the elimination of the trigger near the nozzle and the increased freedom of the working hand, it is now possible to blast with both hands while turning parts if the nozzle is fixed. This is a feat only possible with a foot switch. The nozzle must be made of hard tungsten!
The shed conversion + cabinets were also extensively remodeled.
Sandblasting cabinets are available from a variety of manufacturers, and the cheapest products are indeed of low performance. Even with high-priced products, there are cases where spilled media can severely contaminate the area around the work environment. As a user, I would like to recommend that you modify the system to make it easier for you to use. In my case, I made a major modification to the lid of the cabinet. The cabinet was made by a well-known manufacturer and no longer retains its original shape. The engine cover is finished with alumina sand after removing oil stains and sludge. If you finish it with glass beads, you can get a shiny finish despite its pear-like surface.
POINT
Point 1 - Even inexpensive blast cabinets can be modified to improve work efficiency.
Point 2 - Modification of suction pipe improves efficiency and reduces work time.
Point 3 - You will always get change as much as you pour your ideas into it.
There are many Sunday Mechanics who own their own blast cabinets, whether commercial or homemade and enjoy DIY cleaning of engine parts and pre-painted parts. The majority of blast cabinets owned by Sun-Mechanics are of the suction type, in which media collected at the bottom is sucked up by compressed air and negative pressure, and blown out through a nozzle to clean the parts. Some of our dedicated Sun-Mechanics have built their own direct-pressure blasters, which improve work efficiency and enjoy working with them.
Certainly, the efficiency of direct pressure blasters is attractive. Some say that it is a hassle to re-fill when the media is used up, but such ease of use is a matter of personal judgment. It should be noted here that there are indeed many Sanmeca users who use commercially available suction-type sandblasting cabinets without any modifications.
It would be enough to say that the performance of commercial products is sufficient, but by making various modifications and improvements, their usability can be improved to an astonishing degree.
The first step is the spraying nozzle, but a recommended modification would be to convert it to a footswitch type.
Some of the commercially available cabinets are delightfully sold with foot-switch specifications from the beginning.
However, in general, the most inexpensive popular blasting cabinets are of the trigger gun type, which can be tiring after continuous operation. Specifically, after 10 minutes of use, the grip strength of the fingertips and hands would deteriorate. Many Sunday Mechanics must have had such experiences, for example, wanting to change the trigger from the right hand to the left. If you are looking for a good finish with careful work, modification to a footswitch type is recommended.
Furthermore, making the "suction up pipe" by oneself will definitely improve the workability.
I made my own suction pipe out of PVC pipe for water pipes and succeeded in getting better results than I had imagined. In order to efficiently suck up media = sand or glass powder, it must already be mixed with air at the suction stage (air bleed is exactly what you would do with a carburetor). The "U" shaped layout of the pipe is effective for efficient suction. The media is sucked up by the intake negative pressure, and by keeping the pipe on the opposite side of the cabinet from the blowing nozzle open, the airflow will be smoother and the media will be sucked up more efficiently. Please give it a try!
