Vapor blaster

R

Rat_ranger

Coast to Coast
So when I moved back to OK early last year I finally got a compressor and blast cabinet. The plan was always to turn it into a vapor blaster, so the inside was painted white, extra silicone was used to seal everything, and then it sat. I needed atleast a 220v outlet in the garage, and with covid it just languished. 2 weeks ago I finally got an outlet set up, only to find the auto switch for my compressor was broken. So fast forward and new switch is on, and it's time to plumb. I chose a rapidair kit to plumb the garage only to realize it doesn't come with mount screws and I need a few more fittings.

So while I wait for the final few pieces of the puzzle I watched and read more on vapor blasting. I noticed the cheap guns work, but the taper nozzle ones work better and a little math can make it more efficient depending on compressor size. Down side is they aren't inexpensive, which led me to just looking at nozzles. And that rabbit hole ended with me ordering 2 kennametal C1 nozzles and getting busy on the machines. The air jet is currently 4mm and has a 1/4" gap from its tip to the back of the nozzle, and the nozzles are 6 or 8mm. So hopefully within a week I'll get to test it on a set of engine cases.
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Sounds good let us know how it goes, I made a sand blast cabinet and the thing I hadn't allowed for was the huge static build up and it was unusable till I ran a earth strap from the nozzle.
 
Hopefully I'll have the compressor plumbed and everything ready to test by this weekend. I have a few engine cases that need blasting.
 
I have been using soda, it's not as aggressive but you don't have to worry about it getting into bearings, carbs, etc because it dissolves in with liquid.
 
I have 42" cabinet in Augusta, and I'll be back and forth between Upstate South Carolina and here during the holiday season.

Don't skimp on the pump. A good submersible should last a lifetime and flow better.
 
I've got a 4300gph trash pump, it's what I saw a lot of the DIY set ups using. I've got a nice foot switch for the air, 6 gallon bucket for slurry, 60 gallon 5hp 2 stage compressor, no wiper yet. Hopefully it's worth all the work.
 
Well here's an update. It works! The switch I got for my compressor is lower pressure than it could be, so that's a future upgrade. I need to add more lights and a wiper, but I'm pleased with the results. Tested it an an ATC cylinder I'm going to use on the xr build.
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I like that, may end up building me one. Got any during pics, or an assembly process?
 
I don't have any build up pics. I followed this guys video for plumbing it. The cabinet was assembled as per the manual, but I left out the bottom valve for draining media. I got bulkhead fittings off amazon to get the hoses inside. Overall it's a very easy conversion.
 
The guy in the video is a little out there, but it's a very informative video. He even gets into the math behind sizing holes for the agitation loop.
 
I got a 12v power supply, a foot switch, some waterproof LEDs, and hopefully will get the wiper kit soon. I also adjusted the pressure switch on the compressor so it shouldn't have to work as hard. The last "upgrade" I got is an aquarium heater. It sits near my garage door and winter is starting, that should help keep things from freezing on me.
 
By wiper kit, do you mean like a car windshield wiper to clean the inside of the window? That will scratch your film first use and you won't be seeing well for long. T a spray nozzle off your water supply that you can control either auto on a timer or manually.
 
I don't have any film on the inside of the window. I left it off and lost the pieces that came with it. I ordered the wiper since it seems to be fairly normal to have one on a vapor blast cabinet. If it causes me problems it'll all be on me and can be removed.

I've got a fair bit of blasting to do when I have time.
 
I built one much the same as yours, I just need a better compressor. I have a 12V boat exhaust fan and I may add a 12V wiper in future. Where did you get the foot switch?
 
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