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4.5
This tool serves my need well, which is to bead blast small aluminum parts (roughly 9"x4.5"x2") before anodizing. If you want to sandblast the rust off a V-8 exhaust manifold, this probably is not the tool for you. The supply hoses feed into the work space from the right-front, and of course you have to stick your hands in from the front to hold the part and manipulate the air gun. Effectively, this limits the usable volume of the cabinet to a cube in the left-rear corner - a space roughly 16" wide by 12" high and 12" deep. Which is fine for what I am doing, but probably not big enough for an exhaust manifold.The internal light is not spectacular, but it is helpful. I had no problems with dust inside or outside the cabinet, but then bead blasting clean aluminum does not create the sort of dust that more aggressive blast media and rusty iron would create. The cabinet has two filtered vents - one on the back and one on the right side. It appears that the vent on the right side is intended to allow something like a shop-vac to be connected, but you will have to fabricate some sort of adapter yourself in order to connect a vacuum hose. Quite literally, there is nothing on the outside of this filtered vent but a hole.The blast media I am using is #10 glass beads. These beads range in size from 3.5 mils to 5.9 mils, which is finer than granulated sugar. I was doubtful about the media feed system (depends completely on the Bernoulli effect), but this media feeds just fine.Pro's - The plexiglass window in the lid is protected on the underside by a stick-on sheet of (vinyl?) plastic. The manufacturer included 9 spare sheets.Con's - The seams of the cabinet itself are neither dust tight nor #10 glass bead tight. The manufacturer seals some of the seams with silicon sealer, but for some reason did not seal the bottom seams on the back and front panels of my cabinet. I had to do that. As mentioned by other reviewers, the packing of this item is inadequate. Some have complained about bent feet. The feet on my cabinet were fine, but at some point it had been dropped on the left end, which caused the light switch housing to indent the left side. I beat the dent back out with a block of wood and a hammer, but the left side does continue to show some damage. The manufacturer needs to work on better packing for shipping.Overall, I gave this item a 4 star rating because it performs well for me in the specific (and somewhat limited) application I have. For me, this was an economical solution to my need.This unit is a good value and works well for small to medium sized parts. A number of reviewers for this product called attention to leaky seams in the bottom, which there are. Before putting any media in it run a bead of caulk around the bottom seam, let it cure, and problem solved. I also had to weatherstrip the filter on the back to prevent media escaping- this are minor improvements that can be done quickly. I've been using 80 grit glass beads- works great.Product is heavy duty and easy to set up. Unfortunately it looks like my package was dropped and the the leg was bent. The light does not work at all, not sure if is the switch or the bulb?This is a fair tabletop sandblasting cabinet. The downsides are the poor build quality allowing media to shoot out at bad seams. Also the gloves are fairly cheap and showing extreme wear after light usage.In the picture you can see where a leg is pried enough to allow media to escape. The box was undamaged so I can only assume it was packaged like this.Despite the flaws, it's an easy starter cabinet. You'll need a good compressor to run with it, and maybe replace the hoses with slightly longer ones.Really love this product however at the moment it is not usable because the bent two legs will allow media to leak and blow out everywhereI received the updated green box. No dent or shipping damage as some have mentioned. Box seal isn't that great but could be easily fixed with a little additional weather stripping on the top cover. Came with 4 ceramic nozzles of different sizes and plumbers tape for the compressor fittings and several window protector films. The compressor fitting it comes with is a permanent adapter which is ok but I immediately replaced it with a quick connect so I could easily attach the hose or switch between tools as needed. Works great for my needs, mostly hobby work. Needs about 15-20 lb. of media to run smooth without shaking the box to get media to the feeder. I've used it to refinish pistol slides and car parts. Media feed hose is a bit short and could use another 6-8". Overall very happyFirst, there was a dent in the corner. Luckly I could bang it out somewhat without destroying the nice green paint. Shipping was free and came in 10 days.Second, the hoses are cheap. It leaked even if I tightened it really tight. I think its the fitting but it will work for now. I will end up changing it out in a year.Third, the pexi glass window is flimsy. Good thing it comes with protective screens. I will change this out too in a year or so.Nice color, good size for the cost.Can’t wait to use it to provide additional feedback.This is good for the price but I had to alter it because as you are using this machine spits out too much sand out of the sides very bad. so I had to seal all the sides with some silicone so there would be no cracks. now it works like a pro.Two stars because it’s a cabinet in which you can blast objects. The rest of the review is negative.The item arrived with bent legs as many seem to. The packaging was fine however so I imagine the damage is done due to general over stacking on pallets.Either the instructions are wrong or it’s assembled incorrectly but either way the two do not tally.In use, dust flies literally everywhere, it is horrific and if you’re using glass, flat out dangerous.The rear filter unit is so loose in fit that it’s useless because dust escapes from around the filter instead of having to go thru it.I straightened the legs, corrected the tray assembly, taped the filter on, fitted a quick release to the air intake ( why isn’t one included ) and the cabinet works.....Product is very cheaply made, i have not yet used the product but after unpacking and assembling the unit i can see a few flows right from the get go. I think it would be easier to just make a list of problems.-As many reviews before me have said the legs have been damaged.-The outside wall by the air filter is damaged-The air filter itself is not aligned with the hole going outward as it will be an issue for the hose attachment-The glass screen has been received all scratched up-the back filter has a good 1/8 inch gap-the lid itself is of by 1/4 inch-handles very cheap plastic as u can see me bend it with very little forcethings that have not been made pictures off are the crappy Fluorescent light, of course the biggest problem off all is that this "machine" should be air tight like an airplane especially when in use otherwise you could inhale all those particles and cause major lung damage, i would highly recommend staying away from it unless you are a DIY person. I recommend taking the product apart and re-caulking and insulating the machine before any use.I think for the price it’s amazing! It will need a vacuum system hooked up to it like all cabinet's have. That’s what clears the dust. The complaints about it blowing out everywhere make me laugh. You can’t pressurize a sealed box and not expect it to not puke everywhere. Simply hook up your shop vac to the filter side and it will create a vacuum in the box so when your blasting it’s clean. Mine did arrive with the same problem as everyone else “bent leg “ but it easily straightened by hand.USed a few times and found it a pretty weak build, thin metal sheeting and very soft plastic handles which brokepretty cheap build definitely not as described soft build and terrible packingCan't use this indoors and must ware a mask. It leaks even under low pressure around all seams. The filters also leak . It is being returned. Tried to make it work but too dangerous with particles blowing around and with the risk of a mask not catching it, it can cause serious lung damage. Not worth it.
