DIY Sand Blasting Enclosure.

My goal was to have a way to sandblast small ish parts and reclaim the spent blasting media. also not make a huge mess. lastly somehow ensure im not breathing in the crap I am removing (rust, lead, other toxic crap) This is what I have come up with.

Materials used:

1 large tote from hardware store. Something that has a good sealing top.

1 Pair heavy rubber long cuff gloves.

1 Glass pane from old storm door.

1 Tube of rubber calk.

There's some tape in there some ware.

A piece of 1/4" plywood

Rubber shower liner (home Depot)

Various hand and power tools.

Step 1: DIY Sandblasting Encloser.

Cheap and easy to make sand blasting cabinet. Also keeping the work area clean and lessen the loss of blasting material.

Obligatory Disclaimer: NEVER use actual sand as blasting media! It will ruin your lungs.

Step 2: Its All About Prep! Layout Cuts BEFORE You Cut.

Plan where your window is going to be and what spacing is best for your arm holes. Also where would you like your air hose to enter from (left or right). Location of a vent. You need a vent, all that air going in has to go some where!

I cut the whole center of the top out. My window was more then big enough.

I am a righty so I want my air line to come in the right side. So my vent will exit on the left, (life is all about balance)

Step 3: Make Some Holes.

I removed as much as I could without loosing the sealabilty of the lid. First time I used hot glue to hold the window.... it failed. This time I used rubber calk.

I placed the window in top and marked on the glass where the calk line had to go. Then I flipped the glass over and ran a bead on the glass and the tote lid then mated them together. I used 4 screws to hold in place until the calk dried.

Step 4: Gloves and Wood Bulkheads

To get a good seal where the gloves enter I made wood bulk heads(sorry lost the pictures of the process). the wood bulk head is just thin plywood squares with a hole in the center 4 total, (2 inside and 2 outside) run small bolts through the wood and tote to seal the gloves to the tote. I placed the glove in the hole and stretched as far across the tote I could and cut them off there. Then I cut 1" slits all around the end so I could attach it to the back side of the wood bulkhead. I stapled the gloves and placed a bead of calk around the inside and outside edge then tighten the bots to make a good seal. Don't use to much calk or it will squish out into the glove area.

Step 5: Vent and Hose Pass Through.

I used rubber sheet, cutting fins in so the hose can pass through without leaving a large open hole. I placed a piece on the inside and outside calking and bolting to ensure a durable pass through.

Then using 2" PVC I ran a pipe across the back of the tote drilling holes on the backside, hopefully this reduces the amount of blasting material from escaping with the air. I then put a foam cap in the top to further reduce the amount of material loss.

Step 6: Finishing Touches.

You have got to see what your doing so I added LED light strips to the underside of the vent pipe. I ran the wire through the vent itself so I didn't drill another hole in the tote. I used zip ties so it this doesn't work well I can remove it easily.

The vent has a bristle on the top to further slow any material other then air from escaping the tote. I added a PVC 90 at the bottom to catch any material that made it that far. this way I can pour it back into the tote.

Nice part of 2" PVC is you can connect a shop vac to vent for real messy jobs.

Comments

[MrFebtober]

This looks like a great, simple design that also doesn't take up much space. I'm fairly new to media blasting and the enclosure I cobbled together from an old children's tent and plastic sheeting has been a miserable failure---it's MUCH harder to contain the media than I imagined! I use aluminum oxide to strip japanning off old hand planes for restoration (well, whatever is left after an electrolysis bath, that is).

Thanks for putting this guide together. I already have that same model tote and plan to emulate your design.

[Zaacharia]

Since I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP which is replaced every few years, I use old CPAPs as my mask/air supply. With the humidifier section, the filters, and other precautions, it works pretty well for me (I am a cheap bastard).

[grapenut]

This is really great, with all the posters here being so concerned about the many hazards that can be inhaled (btw- walnut shells = wood dust= known carcinogen) I think I would want to wear a respirator (not dust mask) regardless.

[Norm1958]

Sadly, silica sand cuts the best as it has sharp edges and as mentioned is most dangerous. Glass bead are essentially silica so it's the same thing, but, here is the but: keep the air pressure down to where the glass beads don't shatter and cause dust. 30psi maybe. Sadly at this pressure the process is slow and being human we want things fast so we crank it up and shatter the beads creating silica dust and convince ourselves it's ok because glass beads are safe.

There are other "media", walnut shells come to mind. Slow but probably safe for the lungs.

[tytower]

I don't get it . where is the sandblaster nozzle and grit holder?

[The Rubber Duck]

There are many different types of blasting guns I have five for various applications that’s not with this particular instructor was about.

[tytower]

So they are inserted through the rubber bit then ?

[bmiller91]

There should be a standard disclaimer to insert. Media = Media NOT sand. Real sand will create silica dust which you do not want to mess with as it will destroy your lungs.

[The Rubber Duck]

Yes sand will destroy your lungs. For the record I do not use sand. Abrasive grain, baking soda and glass bead is what I use.

[ppowell14]

Very nice - you embrace the essence of Instructables - you had a need and put together an impressive collection of easy to find (and inexpensive) items and made it work. Bravo

[The Rubber Duck]

Thanks

[woodlouse]

Great instructable!
Having seen the car guys on TV (yeah those who just happen to have that special contraption that takes care of removing the squidget bolt from curvatory armature.... yes I made that bit up) they always take the oily bits and clean them up in their ever so handy sand blaster (GREEN WITH ENVY!). Now with this great instructable I can have one without paying megabucks

Well Done!

[The Rubber Duck]

Thank you.

[gm280]

Bravo sir, bravo. I used to make cardboard boxes into temporary sand blasting compartments and then placed a typical drop light inside to help me see what I was blasting. And while it didn't trap all the blasting media, it did help a lot. But now I finally broke down and bought a Harbor Freight floor model blaster cabinet and it make things so much easier to blast without having sand all over me. But your blaster setup is nice and you will like it I'm sure. Ingenuity always works. Oh, and if you haven't tried it yet, try some black diamond grit from Tractor Supply. It is about $9 dollars for a ~40-50 pound bag. It works way better then sand.

[The Rubber Duck]

I do like the black diamond. I mostly use glass bead and soda for softer metal soda.