02/09/06
| REBIRTH OF A GRIT BLASTING BOOTH |
Once upon a time there was a lonely grit blasting booth. It arrived one day at the residence of a prototype
modeler. This modeler looked forward to the things this booth could do. The booth promised it new owner to
perform miracles such as attacking Delrin to allow paint to stick to it forever and never flake off. To publicly
denounce Kato paint and remove it effortlessly. The new owner was very pleased with the services provided by
this booth so much that every modeling project was subjected to the booth's blast chamber to help enhance the
surface for paint, to blend seems and to help with weathering effects.
As time went on and years past by, the booth got old and tired. Soon it started to leak its contents and the
owner was becoming very displeased with it service. The booth became to hazardous to use. Its contents were
not good for the owners health to breath in. It became messy and more of the booths contents would find its
way onto the floor and all over the room. The owner stopped using the booth. Two or three years past by and
the booth sat alone and cold. Wondering what its fate might be. One day the owner stopped by to look at the
old decrepit booth. The booth was horrified to see that the owner had a brochure in his hands for a new booth.
This enraged the booth, but the rage slowly passed because he knew there was nothing he could do.
Another year passed by and the booth was still there in its lonely cold spot in the basement. All of the sudden
the lights went on and the booth was being dismantled. Everything came off. The booth was both scared and
excited thinking "What is happening to me!". Some more time went by and slowly the booth found life again.
The booth became stronger and more powerful. The booth screeamd "I'M ALIVE!"
Yes, the booth is back in business again. A strong contributor for what it was meant to do. It is no longer the
simple off the shelf grit blasting booth from Northcoast Hobbies. I call it now the No Leak Grit Blaster 2000.
modeler. This modeler looked forward to the things this booth could do. The booth promised it new owner to
perform miracles such as attacking Delrin to allow paint to stick to it forever and never flake off. To publicly
denounce Kato paint and remove it effortlessly. The new owner was very pleased with the services provided by
this booth so much that every modeling project was subjected to the booth's blast chamber to help enhance the
surface for paint, to blend seems and to help with weathering effects.
As time went on and years past by, the booth got old and tired. Soon it started to leak its contents and the
owner was becoming very displeased with it service. The booth became to hazardous to use. Its contents were
not good for the owners health to breath in. It became messy and more of the booths contents would find its
way onto the floor and all over the room. The owner stopped using the booth. Two or three years past by and
the booth sat alone and cold. Wondering what its fate might be. One day the owner stopped by to look at the
old decrepit booth. The booth was horrified to see that the owner had a brochure in his hands for a new booth.
This enraged the booth, but the rage slowly passed because he knew there was nothing he could do.
Another year passed by and the booth was still there in its lonely cold spot in the basement. All of the sudden
the lights went on and the booth was being dismantled. Everything came off. The booth was both scared and
excited thinking "What is happening to me!". Some more time went by and slowly the booth found life again.
The booth became stronger and more powerful. The booth screeamd "I'M ALIVE!"
Yes, the booth is back in business again. A strong contributor for what it was meant to do. It is no longer the
simple off the shelf grit blasting booth from Northcoast Hobbies. I call it now the No Leak Grit Blaster 2000.
The business end of the booth is the right side where the air supply comes in. A lot of things hang off this side
including the vacuum vent. The wall thickness of the booth appeared very weak to me and one day would start
to crack or give way. I went to Ace Hardware and purchased a sheet of sheet metal. I cut it to shape. The edges
of the booth are rounded so I cut the sheet metal to fit approximately 1 1/2 in from the front and back and about
3/4" from top and bottom. I then cut the necessary holes in it for the light fixtures, vacuum filter and air supply.
Then I riveted the sheet metal to the side of the booth. Many of the rivet puller popped out so I filled them all
with JB Weld. This side is VERY robust now.
including the vacuum vent. The wall thickness of the booth appeared very weak to me and one day would start
to crack or give way. I went to Ace Hardware and purchased a sheet of sheet metal. I cut it to shape. The edges
of the booth are rounded so I cut the sheet metal to fit approximately 1 1/2 in from the front and back and about
3/4" from top and bottom. I then cut the necessary holes in it for the light fixtures, vacuum filter and air supply.
Then I riveted the sheet metal to the side of the booth. Many of the rivet puller popped out so I filled them all
with JB Weld. This side is VERY robust now.
This is the positive air inlet side. It used to be at the upper rear of the booth. In another photo you will see that I
blanked it off with sheet metal. It was a terrible leaking spot. Very poor design. What you see here is a flexible
dryer hose going down into a coffee can. The coffee can is there just in case any grit happens to get past the
filter which I highly doubt will happen when. You will understand when you see the filter.
blanked it off with sheet metal. It was a terrible leaking spot. Very poor design. What you see here is a flexible
dryer hose going down into a coffee can. The coffee can is there just in case any grit happens to get past the
filter which I highly doubt will happen when. You will understand when you see the filter.
Now you can see the inside of where the positive air inlet is. This is a 4" diffuser purchased from Home Depot. I
found a piece of foam laying around the house so I cut a piece and used it as a filter. The center disk in the
diffuser screws in and out.
You can see the near the light bulb where the old inlet used to be.
Other things you will see here are the new hold down handles. The old lid was a mess. It used to be hinged at
the back and that was one of the big leaky problems. The hinges would not allow for the lid to seal properly. I
had a piece of 3/8" plate glass cut to fit and had holes drilled in it for the handles. The handles are simply
cement trowel handles. The seal is doubled up. It is 3/4" wide by 3/8" thick rubber weatherstripping seal. There
is one continuous strip on the glass and one on the booth lip where the glass fits in. I love the hold down
handles. They really hold the glass securely in place and perfectly sealed. The web site I found the handles on
is at http://www.shopfnc.com/destaco/vert.htm.
found a piece of foam laying around the house so I cut a piece and used it as a filter. The center disk in the
diffuser screws in and out.
You can see the near the light bulb where the old inlet used to be.
Other things you will see here are the new hold down handles. The old lid was a mess. It used to be hinged at
the back and that was one of the big leaky problems. The hinges would not allow for the lid to seal properly. I
had a piece of 3/8" plate glass cut to fit and had holes drilled in it for the handles. The handles are simply
cement trowel handles. The seal is doubled up. It is 3/4" wide by 3/8" thick rubber weatherstripping seal. There
is one continuous strip on the glass and one on the booth lip where the glass fits in. I love the hold down
handles. They really hold the glass securely in place and perfectly sealed. The web site I found the handles on
is at http://www.shopfnc.com/destaco/vert.htm.
The original air inlet was just not cutting it. It utilized a T section on the inside of the booth that fed air to both
the pencil and the large gun. Problem was that no matter what, the pencil was always running if you only wanted
to use the large gun. I rebuilt that to have two separate inlets. One for the pencil and one for the gun. I used
1/4" brass fittings and the valves are ball valves. I also have an in line moisture trap.
the pencil and the large gun. Problem was that no matter what, the pencil was always running if you only wanted
to use the large gun. I rebuilt that to have two separate inlets. One for the pencil and one for the gun. I used
1/4" brass fittings and the valves are ball valves. I also have an in line moisture trap.
Here is the inside of the air inlet. The red hose is the large gun and the other is the pencil gun. The black elbow
is the vacuum filter.
is the vacuum filter.
This is the vacuum filter. It is black plastic sewer pipe you can buy at any hardware store. It is a 45 degree
elbow. The caps are just blank off caps you can buy in the same area as the pipe. I drilled holes in the caps at
both ends. Inside is a foam lawn mower filter There are about three pieces in there I cut to fit. The grit is very
fine and this filter will not stop all of it, but it does put a good dent in how much gets sucked out. The purpose of
the vacuum is to clear the dustiness so you can see.
elbow. The caps are just blank off caps you can buy in the same area as the pipe. I drilled holes in the caps at
both ends. Inside is a foam lawn mower filter There are about three pieces in there I cut to fit. The grit is very
fine and this filter will not stop all of it, but it does put a good dent in how much gets sucked out. The purpose of
the vacuum is to clear the dustiness so you can see.
The inlet side has the cap safety wired in place, otherwise it would fall out.
Here is a photo showing all the fixtures on the right side. The white pipe is for the vacuum. I built this so I could
regulate the suction. The original setup had the vacuum hose hooked directly into the booth and the filter
would get packed very quickly with grit. With my new design I can regulate how much suction is being pulled by
closing off the bottom of the "T". The outlet of the vacuum fed into a large vacuum bag that you can see in the
second photo.
regulate the suction. The original setup had the vacuum hose hooked directly into the booth and the filter
would get packed very quickly with grit. With my new design I can regulate how much suction is being pulled by
closing off the bottom of the "T". The outlet of the vacuum fed into a large vacuum bag that you can see in the
second photo.
Just a better view showing the inlet air feed setup.
A closeup of the hold down handles. These are what really made the booth seal good. The original seal was
very poor foam. Grit could easily get through it.
In closing, this setup really works great now. I have no leakage. One other change I made was to get new
gloves. The new gloves are cloth lines and have a little bit more feel to the fingers. Not much more though. I am
thinking of cutting the fingers out and using rubber kitchen gloves which will give much more dexterity.
very poor foam. Grit could easily get through it.
In closing, this setup really works great now. I have no leakage. One other change I made was to get new
gloves. The new gloves are cloth lines and have a little bit more feel to the fingers. Not much more though. I am
thinking of cutting the fingers out and using rubber kitchen gloves which will give much more dexterity.