62 Falcon - $5k challenge, how will it rise from the ranger's ashes?

[milner351]

Rich - get a blast cabinet - and the biggest one you're able to make room for. Mine is about 4ft wide - I was VERY happy to have it large enough to fit long tube headers, Lee's pedal car, etc.

Be careful with the compressed air to the cabinet - like painting - you want that air dry - run a drop with it's own regulator and dryer to the cabinet - and put a ball valve shut off in line - so the foot pedal is not pressurized 24-7 - only when you're using the cabinet.

Order an extra light kit for the cabinet - mine has one and needs another - also - order extra "tear offs" for the cabinet window - and make sure you have some room under the cabinet for plastic tubs or the like that you can drain the abrasive into when it's used up - or when you want to change from fine to coarse or one material to another.

[Dignlif]

4 feet? holy crap that's huge!! I'll have to keep checking CL to see if I can find one close to that. thanks for the hints on extending it's life.

[pintoboy77]

I bought mine about a year ago and it is the best thing I have ever bought for my shop it is amazing how many things you can find to use one on from the cars to the house and all the different medias you can use. They are a good investment for sure.

[milner351]

I bought a Skat brand from Greg Smith - I don't know if he carries them anymore. It was around $800 if I recall - with the single light kit inside, and the vacuum kit. It really needs another light on the door side, and I've used it enough that it's time for a new window and more tear offs.
I've had mine almost 10 years and I'm sure it's gotten more use than anything else in the shop on a wide variety of projects - like Greg said - you'll find yourself using it for all sorts of things - HVAC vents for the house, bathroom fan vent covers for the house (wet plaster means you re-motor and clean up the existing stuff, or make a giant mess), even the handles on the dresser I refinished for Lee's room (who says you can't use duplicolor spray cans to refinish a piece of furniture!)

Like an air compressor - if you can find a good heavy duty used one - you're better off than a cheap new one. I'm sure the HF stuff can be made to work fine, but you're going to spend some time assembling and tweaking it.

Take a look at the TPTools website - I believe they carry the Skat brand cabinets (silver with a blue stripe) and they have a lot of good info about setting up the compressed air system in the shop to give you the best performance and least water. I'm still torn about running good old fashioned (now expensive) black pipe air lines, or the new plastic pushlock stuff.

[pintoboy77]

Black Iron is your best bet the plastic pipe sweats alot where black iron does'nt and never run copper it sweats worse than the plastic.

[milner351]

Greg - I was leaning toward the old school iron pipe route - that's what I put in my current shop - it's not perfect but nothing is.

Thanks for the tip on the plastic stuff - saved me a pile of grief. I will run the TP tools suggested layout - lots of good tips on that site to keep your compressed air system as dry as possible.

Black pipe aint cheap, but it's cheaper than copper - and cheaper than doing it twice, starting with something else. I have the pipe threading dies - just need to find a good pipe vice.

[STINEY]

Um.....did someone say pipe vice?

I believe there is such a contraption bolted to one of the big beams in my barn-shop. Came with the place, so I can quote you EXACTLY what I have in it.

Of course I may have to reduce the amount some.....the never ending time-consuming upkeep/improvement of the money pit house......I figure all I bought was that vice, the rest of the property was thrown in.

But I'll make you a deal brother. Just cause I like your posts.

Let me get a picture for ya. Might be today, I want to go check on the guys that are completely stripping the roof down to rafters, resheathing, underlayment, and putting metal on today. Before the next storm hits. Right.

I best get that vice to you before I die of house-induced stress.

Aaagh!!

[milner351]

How I feel your pain, let me count the ways!

Shipping may be prohibitive - vices aren't known for being light - perhaps we could meet up again at the Columbus swap meet?
The next one is in April - I may not need it before then...

[STINEY]

It looks rough, but everything moves easily and isn't tweaked.

I can weigh it if you want a price on shipping UPS?

Or meet up later, that's fine too.

[milner351]

YUP that Looks like what I'm looking for - I hope new replacement jaws are available that will fit - without too much grinding.

[pintoboy77]

Greg - I was leaning toward the old school iron pipe route - that's what I put in my current shop - it's not perfect but nothing is.

Thanks for the tip on the plastic stuff - saved me a pile of grief. I will run the TP tools suggested layout - lots of good tips on that site to keep your compressed air system as dry as possible.

Black pipe aint cheap, but it's cheaper than copper - and cheaper than doing it twice, starting with something else. I have the pipe threading dies - just need to find a good pipe vice.

No problem John air lines is one of the things I do for a living I've been running black iron pipe since I was 12yrs old air lines,gas lines oil lines, hydralic lines,and grease lines are all a part of my job and they are all done in black iron pipe.

[milner351]

What's that Greg? You work for Beer and don't mind commuting to Detroit to install the compressed air plumbing? You're a heck of a nice guy! LOL

[Bob Holmes]

Oh, that was sly, that'll suck him right in...

[milner351]

it would be a good break in cruise for that fresh engine he's got on the stand for the Torino too... just sayin....

LOL!

[pintoboy77]

Name the place and the time John.