sand blasting box

[Scottnokes2015]

Hey fellow friends,

Does anyone have a plan of building a sand blasting box cheaply. I'm a forensic science student and don't have much money. This is my first time making one and appreciate any help that can be given

Thanks everyone

Scott

Edited February 25, 2016 by ScottNokes

[Herb]

you can buy a nice steel one from Harbor Freight for about $150.

[Malcolmt]

Here is a plan that is what I use. It is fairly big but it works great

BlastBox Page 1.pdf

BlastBox Page 2.pdf

[jpc]

you could also just cut hole in the top that is slightly smaller than your glass and mount the glass with mirror clips. Instead of silicone which is fairly permanent, a strip of thin weather stripping works well. Easier to replace when you need to. Malcolm's plans are good and easy and about as cheap as you will get. If you can build an insulated box around the shop vac, it will dampen the nouse. Those things are LOUD.

[Malcolmt]

I actually only put dabs of silicone in the four corners on the top of the glass. The suction provides a great seal when the vacuum is turned on. The arm holes ensure that there is good airflow into the box.

[Scottnokes2015]

Than you malcom,it's just what I was looking for. Did you make the arm flap to a circular tube to seal around your wrists.

[Auspex]

Than you malcom,it's just what I was looking for. Did you make the arm flap to a circular tube to seal around your wrists.

It is necessary and desirable to have a place for air to flow into the box, else it would not have any to exhaust.

[Malcolmt]

No the arm holes need relatively unrestricted airflow , what I did was I cut some 2 inch strips from an old dish towel and tacked them above the arm holes. Except for the armholes and the vacuum outlet you want the box to be air tight as Auspex indicated. Using the dish towel strips allows air in but prevents any back blast if you point the nozzle towards the arm holes.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Malcolmt

[Malcolmt]

Here are wo pictures from different angles of the blast box and prep area. Unfortunately I am restricted to a fairly small area in the laundry room for prepping so I have to make the most of a small space. For me what was important was that I could get a fairly large piece of matrix in and out of the box. All the lights and scopes swing out easily allowing the lid on the box to be opened and closed in under 60 seconds. . Currently the box has a slab in it that is about 1 foot by two feet. In the box is a lab jack that I use as a platform to raise and lower the fossil. I rarely raise or lower the scope , the scope above the blast boz basically permanently stays fixed about 1 inch above the glass.

Slightly different angle

[squali]

Great set up. Do you stand or sit? If you use a chair could you show a pic with it?

I cannot seem to get a comfortable set up.

[jpc]

No the arm holes need relatively unrestricted airflow , what I did was I cut some 2 inch strips from an old dish towel and tacked them above the arm holes. Except for the armholes and the vacuum outlet you want the box to be air tight as Auspex indicated. Using the dish towel strips allows air in but prevents any back blast if you point the nozzle towards the arm holes.

Hmmmm. I like your towels in arm holes. I may do the same to mine.

[Malcolmt]

JPC... I have them tacked to both the inside and outside of the box.

[jpc]

JPC... I have them tacked to both the inside and outside of the box.

Cool... I could see them on the outside, I had thought of putting them on the inside, but both is even better. I htink they might be better than my old inner tubes, and easier to find.

[oilshale]

I took an old pair of jeans, cut off 30cm of the trouser legs, sewed-on a rubber band and attacked them to the armholes.

[Malcolmt]

Squali... I sit on a gas adjustable stool that I got from Uline. Not particularly cheap was $199 Canadian if I recall about two years ago, Also got the metal bench with wooden thick top from there... love the bench very heavy duty and just fit my available space.

Before this I used to sit on a bar stool this is much better but takes a bit of getting used to the weird short back on it.

No problem instantly raising it or lowering it based on where the zoom scope is.

Edited February 26, 2016 by Malcolmt

[squali]

Thank you for your response. Yes I think a good chair/stool is important.

[FossilDudeCO]

wow Malcolm, thanks for the plans those are pretty durn good!