Anyone have some recommendations for a media blasting cabinet? I need to get one to refinish my parts and I have no idea where to even start looking. I don't want to build my own or fix any of the cheaper units (I read a lot of them leak). I'm looking for something that will work out of the box. A place to buy local would be great (I'm sure I'd get slaughtered on the shipping).

Thanks!

If you're looking for a small cabinet to do handguns, try Harbor Freight. Shipping is about $50 for their $119 cabinet.

I get my media from Mr. Sandman on Ahua St (833-2500). They have stuff for rent too...not sure about cabinets, but they might be able to order.

OR you can try Grainger. They sometimes have blast cabinets in stock locally (a bit pricey).

Looking for something big enough that I can do 16 or 18" barrels as well as rails, etc.

Any idea what size I'd need?

Looking for something big enough that I can do 16 or 18" barrels as well as rails, etc.

Any idea what size I'd need?

If you're only going to do a couple of barrels and not make a business out of it...The 42202 (17-3/4" x 26" x 16-1/2") on Harbor Freight. It's on sale $119.

Most barrels should be no problem. Anything too big and you can leave the door open, then mask off with heavy canvas (something a lot of hobbyists do). 

Blue Sky Hawaii on Dillingham sells em.
There are plans on the web for a DIY blaster, will cost over a 100 bucks though.

Been looking for one myself to do odds and ends stuff around the house, too. The Harbor Freight looks pretty decent for the price. The only thing missing is a light but that can be remedied easily. Shipping to Honolulu by ground is noted as $7. If that's what it ships for, I would be interested in buying it from you (assuming you are in Honolulu) once you've finished using it. Let me know if you're interested.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/WESTWARD-Abrasive-Blast-Cabinet-10Z916?Pid=search

Have you used that one Dex? While I like the price on the one from Harbor Freight, the reviews have me a bit skeptical.

My friend has the harbor freight one. It is soso. Grainger stuff is good because if you dont like it you dont have to buy it. In fact you should go there and see if they have one in the back someone never picked up. You can get it at 50% off sometimes!

My friend has the harbor freight one. It is soso. Grainger stuff is good because if you dont like it you dont have to buy it. In fact you should go there and see if they have one in the back someone never picked up. You can get it at 50% off sometimes!

Don't you guys refinish guns?

I'm a little late to the party with this info but I thought I'd post for those contemplating on buying versus building their own for a one-off project.

I made a cabinet using parts that are readily available from our local stores (except the gloves).  Cost me about $60+/-

I bought the largest rubbermaid container I could find from Walmart and a pair of toilet flanges from Homedepot. I used the flanges to trace two holes in the container and cut the holes out using a jigsaw:



Next, I screwed and caulked the toilet flanges to the container:




I bought and installed a brass valve and washer in the side of the container for the blasting media hose:



and then ordered blasting gloves from Harbor Freight for $6 and installed them over the toilet flanges using hose clamps I purchased from a local hardware store:




Next, I connected the hose and blasting nozzle to the valve inside the container:



and then purchased a piece of glass from Homedepot for $4 (plexi was too darn expensive), cut a hole in the top cover of the container and taped it on both side:



I used the cabinet to blast the old paint off of a FN FAL kit i purchased prior to parkerizing the parts (manganese phosphating)

It had a few qwerks like keeping all of the blasting media in but it was good enough to clean a whole rifle.

Whoa, kewl project.