My home made blast cabinet build

[comeoutswingin]

So a guy I work with gave me a sandblaster. He didnt want it because he couldnt make it work. Turns out beach sand sucks for blasting with. So I get it working and quickly realize it is not cost effective to use without a cabinet. Not to mention a huge mess.

Since all the cabinets in my price range were way to small for me to use.. I set out out build my own 2'x2'x8' out of steel.

Materials
(60') 1x1 .065 wall square tube.. like $62
(2) 4x10 18 Gauge sheet metal. $75, sheered into 2x8 strips

The 18 gauge is way thicker than I wanted but its all they stocked and I didn't want to wait. Wish I would have later I found out.

I didn't really draw up and plans for this thing.. i just kinda winged it from my head.

Anyways, here is the start of the frame work.


This was the only picture I took of the frame.. I forgot to take pictures for a lot of it because i get carried away working.

Remember how I said I wished I'd have waited for thinner gauge sheet metal? Well here is why

My brake basically said F U about doing a 90 degree bend in that 18 guage. I got close enough but it wasnt pretty.



I built the top out of some angle I had laying around. Went to home depot and got some plexi glass.. Ya.. I know its going to scratch. I also cut two of the six hand holes I intend to put down the front of this thing.



And curiosity killed the cat...



Anyways I talked grandma into sewing my old welding gloves to a pair of pant legs that dont fit my fat ass anymore. When I get those I will attach them to the cabinet with toilet flanges.

I also intend to replace the rag stuffed in the hose hole with a rubber grommet.

For dust control I am going to try and rig up a connection to hook the shop vac up to.

Then once its fully operational I am going to use it to sandblast the scrap channel Iron i have to build the stand so I can lower it down to a short guy height.

I'll post more as I do more.