Welsh Wizard Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hi everyone I thought I'd share my experience of building a blaster box. The first pictures show the body of the box. It's built from MDF and ContiBoard and is approximately 3 feet long by 1.5 feet high by 1.5 feet deep. Pictures 3 and 4 show the front window fitted and a close up of the window after I put it together. I've put two windows in the box. One is on the top, over which there is a strip light and one is in the front for viewing the fossils as I work. I've made the windows around pieces of toughened glass shelving from a bathroom. I've also made the front window hinged and removable, which allows me to get quite large pieces in and out of the box. Pictures 5, 6 and 7 show the cut outs for the hand holes, which have then been fitted with a pair of spigots made from plastic pipe and finally the spigots are fitted with some long gauntlet rubber gloves. The gloves are held in place by worm drive clips. I have not removed the fingers or hands from the gloves as I find them dexterous enough as they are and it keeps the air seal. Pictures 8 and 9 show the air extract outlet from the box and there is a close up of the extract system which I have built from a 4 inch bathroom fan and flexible ducting. In picture 9, you can also see the air blaster pots and some of the air lines. This picture shows the whole set up. I also have a magnifying lamp which I can place in front of the windows, which helps with lighting and close up work. I have put no electrical items or lighting in the box as the dolomite dust I use is very fine and coats everything in the box. Finally, this is a picture inside the box, showing the air abrader pen and nozzle. The fossil is a scrap piece of Jurassic echinoid spines that I was practising on. I sealed the box with window sealing strip and clamps that hold the front window in place. No dust escapes from the box but I still wear a mask for double protection. I hope this helps people who are thinking of trying out fossil preparation or attempting to build their own blaster box. Best regards Nick 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Very nice job Nick, thanks for sharing with us. Anything homemade just means so much more. Best regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbarror Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Nick, I am totally new to prepping and cleaning fossils and was linked to this page by someone "in the know",. I am estatic about gathering the components necessary for making my own blaster box. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 Nick, I am totally new to prepping and cleaning fossils and was linked to this page by someone "in the know",. I am estatic about gathering the components necessary for making my own blaster box. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! Barb Hi Barb, this is not an effort to divert you from a blast-box and abrasive prep. Go for it. It is certainly a very useful method. However, squinting at your icon, you appear to be holding an oreodont upper. At least that's what i think I see. I don't know if this is the type of material you had in mind tackling. That material is probably best approached with other prep techniques. Here is a link to my Forum posts detailing prep on an oreodont. I hope it is helpful to you. I wish you success in starting prepping. It's a lot of fun. Oreodont Prep Series - Fossil Preparation - The Fossil Forum Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbarror Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Snolly, I don't own an abraiser yet and wont for a long while. Dust, however will be a problem even with the Paleo Aro tools I will be using. I am in Michigan and want to work in my home when it's cold so what kind of containment system will I need? I knowing you are busy with genetics so get that done 1st. Here is link to a similar abrasion type box and forum http://www.discussfossils.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=226&title=fossil-preparation-box Thanks Again! Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Nice job, Nick. That will certainly do you good service for the time to come. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiggieCie Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Great job Nick. One thing for people to consider is that in the future if you would like to use a microscope with your air abrader; a flat area on the top would be very helpful to incorporate in your construction plans. This depends on what you are prepping, I do early marine invertebrates, Bugs (Trilobites) and such a scope helps with the fine detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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