Topic: Question for anyone who glass bead/sand/soda blasts

[Rocker]

I just picked up this from Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-capacity-floor-blast-cabinet-93608.html

I plan to soda/sand blast my bike parts and such. The air requirements of the cabinet are 12-15 cfm @ 90 psi. Lowe's has an 80 gallon compressor that will go 11.5 cfm @ 90 psi. Will the lack of 0.5 psi really make a noticeable difference?

For anyone that has the same cabinet..what compressor do you use and how are the results?

Basically I do not have to buy a bigger compressor then I need and have noticed once you go above the 12 cfm threshold the prices of compressors jump quickly.

Thanks

[MoMo]

I have the same cabinet and a compressor similar to the one you are looking at, runs all the time when I am glass beading 
Buy the biggest compressor you can afford...Larry

[Rocker]

How does it perform though? Running all the time is annoying but if it keeps up the cfm I can live with that.

[MRieck]

You really need a 2 stage compressor for large work.

[markb]

Am I looking at the wrong thing?  The link shows a unit that says the air consumption is 9.5 cfm. 

[CycleRanger]

I use this: 
http://www.lowes.com/pd_221565-14989-LLA3706056_4294813361+5003702_4294937087_?productId=3115863&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_400%2B600_4294813361%2B5003702_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&facetInfo=$400%20-%20$600

with the HF blasting cabinet.

60-Gallon Cast Iron Oil Lubricated Air Compressor with Heavy Duty Induction Motor

    * Cast iron, twin cylinder, oil lubricated pump features: one-piece cast iron crankcase, thermally stable cast iron cylinder body, aluminum head & machined cast iron valve plate, automotive style ball bearings, and durable stainless steel reed valves
    * Heavy duty induction motor for maximum performance and efficiency. 208-240 volt
    * Large capacity, 60 gallon ASME vertical tank provides more air for longer tool run times on air tools such as ratchets, impacts, spray guns, hammers, etc.
    * 155 PSI max pressure, 13.4 SCFM @ 40 PSI, 11.5 SCFM @ 90 PSI , 3.7 running HP


Works great!  (And I see it's cheaper now than when I got mine three years ago.)

[Rocker]

I saw that 9.5 cfm rating on the site too but the operating manual says something different. I have attached the specs page.

[Really?]

I se a compressor that is rated lower than the cabinet.  It works fine for me.  I just pause a bit to let the compressor built up, oh maybe 20 seconds.  Cuts good down to 50psi with the black oxide stuff.

I sometimes have to lift the cabinet while my arms are in it and kind of bang it cause it will stop picking up the media.  Then is picks up fine.  I just put 10lbs of stuff in too.

[Rocker]

Called HFT technical support and they said there was a revision to their manual. The 9.5 CFM @ 90 psi is correct.

[kirkn]

I have that exact cabinet and blast with a compressor with only ~6 cfm at 90 psi. 

I blast for 1 minute then my compressor starts.  I stop for 1 minute while my compressor pumps up and shuts off.  Then blast for 1 minute, etc etc. 

I've never blasted for more than ~30 minutes at a time this way (small parts, etc).  But, I've been doing it for ~3 years.  Very satisfied, but probably doing harm to my cheap Craftsman compressor.

That all said - buy the biggest compressor you can afford.  Having MORE CFM than the spec sheet calls for is only better.  It has gotten kinda frustrating to stop and pause, but now I just live with it.

BTW, I'm VERY pleased with the cabinet.  A great bang for the buck, and I'm completely addicted to that nice clean bare metal...

Kirk

[MoMo]

How does it perform though? Running all the time is annoying but if it keeps up the cfm I can live with that.

Does not do that very well but it is ok for the frequency I use it.  For everyday use the Kobalt recommended by cycle ranger would be the ticket...Larry

[Rocker]

BTW, I'm VERY pleased with the cabinet.  A great bang for the buck, and I'm completely addicted to that nice clean bare metal...

I read about a lot of people calking the isides and doing other small mods to make it work better. Have you done any to yours?

I was thinking about reinforcing the legs and building a frame with casters to move it around easier.

[CycleRanger]

BTW, I'm VERY pleased with the cabinet.  A great bang for the buck, and I'm completely addicted to that nice clean bare metal...

I read about a lot of people calking the isides and doing other small mods to make it work better. Have you done any to yours?

I was thinking about reinforcing the legs and building a frame with casters to move it around easier.

Yep, I posted in some other thread about the HF cabinet.   It does need caulking.  Mine didn't come with a light inside, I had to install one.  Wheels would be a great addition!
And get a good shop vac or run a pipe outside to vent it.

I used my cabinet a lot when I got it as I was working on my car.  I don't use it every day now but it's really nice to have it available and the compressor of course has a 1001 uses!

[Rocker]

BTW, I'm VERY pleased with the cabinet.  A great bang for the buck, and I'm completely addicted to that nice clean bare metal...

I read about a lot of people calking the insides and doing other small mods to make it work better. Have you done any to yours?

I was thinking about reinforcing the legs and building a frame with casters to move it around easier.

Yep, I posted in some other thread about the HF cabinet.   It does need caulking.  Mine didn't come with a light inside, I had to install one.  Wheels would be a great addition!
And get a good shop vac or run a pipe outside to vent it.

I used my cabinet a lot when I got it as I was working on my car.  I don't use it every day now but it's really nice to have it available and the compressor of course has a 1001 uses!

I will probably end up with the compressor you linked above. I have a nice 6.5' tall Black Kobalt rolling tool chest. They would match

What size shop vac do you use on yours?

I have a 5 gallon Porter Cable pancake compressor so the addition of a high volume stationary unit would be great. I already have friends/family lining up for items to be blasted.

[CycleRanger]

I will probably end up with the compressor you linked above. I have a nice 6.5' tall Black Kobalt rolling tool chest. They would match

What size shop vac do you use on yours?

I have a 5 gallon Porter Cable pancake compressor so the addition of a high volume stationary unit would be great. I already have friends/family lining up for items to be blasted.

Yeah, I looked at a lot of compressors and bang-for-the-buck I think it was a good deal. I've had it for three years with no issues.
I ran a vent outside and that works fine for glass beads but with soda I really could have used more active scavenging as it was a little hard to see the work sometimes.