Shopsmith Forums

I am looking for Ideas on how to upgrade my Blast Cabinet Window size

My old Dayton Blast Cabinet has a very small 12” x 12” view window and I am looking for ways to upgrade it to a 12” x 24” or thereabouts.

I was hoping someone here had been there and done that so to speak.

I am doing some other upgrades to it from Mike Tacoma, and this would be a great time to add a bigger window port and frame assembly.

I am looking to use two layers of glass, single strength disposable inside, and double strength or even safety glass on the outside.

There just aren't any salvage blast cabinets out there to salvage a part from that I can locate.

Thanks for your ideas...

Everett

Many years ago now I seem to recall a GE product in the Lexan line that was introduced as being useful for such purposes. I don't recall the number given it but the samples came with a piece of steel wool so you could try and scratch it.... you couldn't. Of course lexan has other properties like be almost unbreakable in case you hit it while moving parts or the gun around in the cabinet. You can also work it pretty easy, cutting to size, drilling if needed etc.

We used a variation of that for a lot of shielding back in the day in the Bell System. I think that was 9600 series but that work was a long while back so my memory might be off or the numbering system changed. That was not the stuff that was so scratch resistant but had other properties that we were looking for.

If nothing else one could add a layer of similar material on the inside and then replace it as it became cloudy. The added layer could be quite thin and still function very well for the purpose.

Ed

I think you misunderstood what I am trying to do. It needs to have a wider view window like the new cabinet on the right does.

I am comfortable with glass material, I just need the opening for the glass to be about twice the size it is.

Building out that frame, or buying one I can just bolt on and cut out the excess material to make it wider is my issue.

Everett

everettdavis wrote:I think you misunderstood what I am trying to do. It needs to have a wider view window like the new cabinet on the right does.

I am comfortable with glass material, I just need the opening for the glass to be about twice the size it is.

Building out that frame, or buying one I can just bolt on and cut out the excess material to make it wider is my issue.

Everett

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.tptools.com/SearchResult.asp ... ow%20frame

No, I am looking for the steel frame that holds the glass, beneath something like that plastic piece you illustrated.

The newer ones, unlike mine, are metal forming a glass pocket below the surface, and metal frame on top, and have 1/16" foam below the glass on the bottom ledge, and foam inside the top to provide air seal.

I may have to fabricate it from steel bar and weld it up, but don't want to unless there is no other path.

One of the hassles for a lot of units is that the glass sits on top of the metal frame, and it is easy for it to slide off and break while you are reassembling the layers of the pancake if you will. Making the glass twice the size is just going to make that even more likely.

One I saw in France or Belgium (actually made in the US) had a frame that the glass sat in flush with the top, holding it in place, then the cover with a gasket went over it and tightened down with four knobs opposed to the wing nuts shown in the photo above. See attached for a visual cross-section of what I am thinking.

Everett