A sandblasting cabinet is a specialty unit with a sole purpose of safely housing an object while it is sand blasted. The unit is a closed-loop system that recycles the abrasive and collects the dust. The operator uses the arm holes to hold the object in place, while switching the blaster on and off via a foot switch, and using the small window at the top of the machine to maintain vision of the process.
Sandblasting is the process of propelling a stream of abrasive material against a surface under high pressure in order to smooth a rough surface, shape a surface or remove surface contaminants. Sandblasting offers a similar result to sandpaper, only on a much bigger scale. Many opt for sandblasting as it leaves a nice, even finish with no roughness around corners or in cracks.
The sandblasting cabinet usually has 4 components: the containment area (the unit itself), the sandblasting system, the abrasive recycling system, and the dust collector. Sandblasting cabinets come in 3 basic configurations: siphon, pressure (both dry sandblasting) and wet blasting.
There are also different types of abrasives that you can use to provide varying results for your sandblasting projects. These abrasives can include aluminium oxide, glass beads, crushed glass, plastic abrasive, silicon carbide, steel shot, steel grit, corn cob, walnut shell and starblast.
Each abrasive type has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, for instance some offer full surface removal tendencies, while others only offer slight surface removal. Other abrasives are also more recyclable than others, and offer higher working speeds. The type of abrasive material required will depend on the sandblasting application you're using. Generally, for a thorough finish and uniform depth profile, you'll most likely want the smallest abrasive material possible.
Sandblasting cabinets are a necessity for any sandblasting project, as they create a safe space to conduct the work without being too bulky and taking up too much space. Just make sure you choose the right cabinet that provides the correct configuration for your project (wet or dry blasting).
