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Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 6:37 pm
by DAC21
I had a buddy glass bead my Radiator Cap and Oil Cap a couple days ago. His place of employment has a commercial media booth. Totally impressed with the results. I had spent more than a few minutes with some good 3M metal polish and Brass steel wool to little avail with these Caps (no surprise) What kind of limited expectations should I have with buying a $130 Harbor Freight set up with a 6 gallon compressor? Sure short blasts due to the limited compressor capacity, but worth it? There are a lot more parts that could benefit from some blasting. After photos with new Gaskets including one of Deans for the radiator cap.
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Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 7:04 pm
by tjp
I have that blast cabinet. It works fine with my 80 gallon single stage compressor but the compressor runs almost constantly during bigger parts.
If you get the cabinet, spend extra time sealing it, then seal it a second time, and then seal it again. You will still miss spots that leak. So seal it again.
.02
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 7:22 pm
by DAC21
tjp wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 7:04 pm
I have that blast cabinet. It works fine with my 80 gallon single stage compressor but the compressor runs almost constantly during bigger parts.
If you get the cabinet, spend extra time sealing it, then seal it a second time, and then seal it again. You will still miss spots that leak. So seal it again.
.02
Wow, 80 gallon! So I can expect a marathon session with a 6 gallon tank taking on a Bracket or two. Well I'm semi retired and have "some" time.
Do you have some links for the extra sealing gaskets that you bought to shore things up?
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 7:52 pm
by Steve_69
I got a tabletop HF blast cabinet a few months ago. I took the negative pressure route so that sealing it is not a big deal. I used a cyclone to drop material to a 5 gallon bucket hooked up to my shop vac. Vacuum hose fittings/sizes were a bit of a pain to work out. Also, I put a moisture separator and a ball valve on the air line going to the cabinet. I used the cheap HF magnetic disc LED lights. When you add all of these things up, it doubles the price. Was it worth it? You betcha! The way to do the cyclone is on many youtube videos. I believe the cyclone was $39 from Amazon. Hoses $40. AIrline moisture separator $50. LED lights $10. Bucket $5. Ball valve $15. Fittings $35. Can of Aluminum Oxide media $70. I built the table from scraps I had. AIr consumption is pretty big. I don't think a 6 gallon will give you much blast time because the compressor charging it will be small. I hope this helps. I am really enjoying my cabinet. As another member commented on my, sometimes, I just look for something to blast!
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 7:59 pm
by DAC21
Steve_69 wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 7:52 pm
I got a tabletop HF blast cabinet a few months ago. I took the negative pressure route so that sealing it is not a big deal. I used a cyclone to drop material to a 5 gallon bucket hooked up to my shop vac. Vacuum hose fittings/sizes were a bit of a pain to work out. Also, I put a moisture separator and a ball valve on the air line going to the cabinet. I used the cheap HF magnetic disc LED lights. When you add all of these things up, it doubles the price. Was it worth it? You betcha! The way to do the cyclone is on many youtube videos. I believe the cyclone was $39 from Amazon. Hoses $40. AIrline moisture separator $50. LED lights $10. Bucket $5. Ball valve $15. Fittings $35. Can of Aluminum Oxide media $70. I built the table from scraps I had. AIr consumption is pretty big. I don't think a 6 gallon will give you much blast time because the compressor charging it will be small. I hope this helps. I am really enjoying my cabinet. As another member commented on my, sometimes, I just look for something to blast!
Nice thorough feedback. I think a few 36 packs of Coor's light will be in my buddy's future vs. the investment to do it "right" at home for a one time project.
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 10:12 pm
by theunz
The beer sounds like your best option. With such a small compressor you will likely do two things. First you’ll get frustrated. If your smart you’ll give up, then if you don’t, the second thing you will do is burn up your compressor from over working it.
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 10:30 pm
by iloveredmeat
DAC21 wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 7:59 pm
Nice thorough feedback. I think a few 36 packs of Coor's light will be in my buddy's future vs. the investment to do it "right" at home for a one time project.
"a few 36 packs..."
1. I like your style.
2. Smart idea to do light beer.
3. Maybe get him to do the work up front before a beer belly keeps him from being able to actually reach the cabinet.
My brother has a commercial blaster, and OMG was it fun. I knocked out 4 very rusty steel wheels in a day. I bought myself a sixer of Natty Lights.
The results are amazing aren't they?
Good luck!
Peter
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 6:32 am
by tjp
DAC21 wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 7:22 pmDo you have some links for the extra sealing gaskets that you bought to shore things up?
No gaskets. Cabinet kit came with a tube of silicon. Buy a second tube and use all of both.
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 12:45 pm
by DAC21
"3. Maybe get him to do the work up front before a beer belly keeps him from being able to actually reach the cabinet"
Unfortunately for my buddy that ship sailed years ago.
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 1:11 pm
by iloveredmeat
DAC21 wrote: Tue May 11, 2021 12:45 pm
"3. Maybe get him to do the work up front before a beer belly keeps him from being able to actually reach the cabinet"
Unfortunately for my buddy that ship sailed years ago.
Well, at least it sounds like he has long arms...
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Tue May 11, 2021 8:07 pm
by redroadster
I've seen car exhaust fitted to plug it up with a half inch air hose to the sand blaster
That has the pressure to keep blasting
Re: Thinking a Harbor Freight Media Blaster maybe worth it?
Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 3:40 pm
by oledatsunguy
tjp wrote: Tue May 11, 2021 6:32 am
DAC21 wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 7:22 pmDo you have some links for the extra sealing gaskets that you bought to shore things up?
No gaskets. Cabinet kit came with a tube of silicon. Buy a second tube and use all of both.
I got mine from HP more than 15 years ago (identical to the ones sold now) and it came with rolls of grey foam weatherstrip with adhesive on one side (like you would use sealing up windows, or sealing where a camper top fits onto a truck bed), dimensions around 3/4" to 1" wide, and 3/16" to 1/4" thick. Applied this to all the bolted seams and doesn't leak a bit.
