Learning to Use My Vapor Blaster

[Larry S]

I used the Vapor Blaster for the first time today. The victim was a Super Rat head with two broken fins and a stripped spark plus hole. (If I destroyed it in the learning process, that was okay).

The Super Rat head had a lot of hard, baked-on petro carbon. The glass bead media couldn't do much about that. Next time, if a part is painted or carboned up, I'm going to do a two part blast. The first with an aggressive media to clean it. The second, with glass beads to polish it.

This Super Rat head is the prettiest piece of junk I own! The glass bead media is very forgiving. I don't think you can mess up anything with it. Next up - a real project, the Combat Wombat. If it's aluminum it's going to get blasted. Sorry Nate if this one is "over restored".

[Bruce Young]

Larry, really looks like you have something there, what is the brand, can you call me I need to ask you questions, 1=208-571--2823
Bruce Young

[thrownchain]

I believe he has the vaporhoningtechnologies "micro" cabinet. If anyone is looking to get one, be advised you need to have a pretty hefty compressor to supply the required volume of air it takes to run the cabinet. I've been looking, just haven't jumped in yet.

[viclioce]

I think it looks great! Especially for your first attempt! I believe you could easily build a cottage industry serving the members of this forum with your machine and make it worth yours and our worthwhile. Just a thought.....

[Larry S]

Thank you Victor. Your idea has already been suggested by others. On down the road, when I'm confident I know what I'm doing, I may do that. For now, it's just for my own stuff.

My first impressions:

The cabinet needs a 5-10 CFM compressor to power it. That's a medium sized compressor. Your 1 1/2 HP 10 gal unit won't do it.

It puts out a quality product equal to more expensive cabinets.

It's a basic unit designed for hobby guys like me. It has no bells or whistles.

The only problem I've had is seeing what I'm doing. There is no internal light or window wiper. I solved that problem by putting it on a roll cart and I roll it out into bright sunlight.

A commercial shop would want a bigger, more powerful unit. Time is money. For a hobby guy like me, I love it.

Larry S

[matt glascock]

I have a similar cabinet for basic media blasting with no bells/whistles. I rigged up a magnetic base on a light socket (the kind you get at any home improvement center with the big aluminum bell), drilled a hole through the back, installed a grommet, cut off the plug, ran the power cord through the grommet, installed a new plug, and silicone-sealed the grommet. Presto - cabinet lighting. All-in cost - about 15 bucks. Not fancy but does the job well.

[Larry S]

Thanks for the suggestion Matt. Mine is a bit more complicated. If I put a light inside the cabinet it would have to be waterproof.

I've been looking at waterproof LED light bars on the net. They are surprisingly inexpensive. I think I can find one for less than 20 bucks. in the meantime, I just roll it outside.

Larry S

[matt glascock]

Oops - good lesson here sticking in my oar! I know so little about vapor blasting that it didn't occur to me that any retrofitted light source has to be waterproof. Sorry about that. There are some of those LED light bars that are already fitted with magnet mounts, waterproof, and provide a very bright light on battery power. You might enjoy the convenience of a set-up like that. I will shut up now!

[Larry S]

No problem Matt. I think I found a light. It's a 12v dc waterproof light strip.It can be powered by one of those little transformers like used to recharge your electric gadget.

[matt glascock]

Excellent Larry! I'd bet when pressed for time, you'll appreciate being able to walk right up and blast away without having to schlep the cabinet outside. Good call!

[Larry S]

We have light. 12VDC 1A waterproof LED.
These lights are bright.I put three inside the cabinet, keeping the fourth for a spare. I used a 12VDC 1A transformer in my electronic junk box to power it. Total cost about eight dollars.
The next project, Combat Wombat.

[matt glascock]

Nice Larry. That looks great. Nice and bright. Much more high-tech than my bare bulb rig.