Installing a Blast Cabinet Metering Valve Assembly

Installing a metering valve assembly on a sandblasting cabinet.
My improved siphon tube worked well but had difficulty properly metering and acquiring fine grain media at lower psi.
This metering valve allows the media to fall into the mixing chamber while being able to adjust the amount of additional air - making it ideal to fine tune the blasting.

[@robertruf9778]

I'm looking for something like this this was extremely helpful thanks

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Glad to hear it!

[@leetheriderforlife7548]

IDS blasting had the part you have and the one I have been looking for and they sell them on there own, out of all the videos I have seen this is the only one that helped thank you What parts did you use for the top to fit it in the cabinet cheers

[@TigerCreekFarm]

I show it in the video. I drilled a 1 inch hole in the bottom of the cabinet. I then screw mounted a 1 inch pipe flange to the underside of the cabinet - then used a 1 inch pipe nipple to connect the metering valve to the flange. Make sense?

[@user-tf9cv5vp5o]

Hey do you have a source for the flange you used for the metering valve?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

If I remember correctly I picked it up at Lowes.

[@user-tf9cv5vp5o]

@@TigerCreekFarm Thanks!

[@speedbuggy0542]

Nice job, I have been looking at the same metering valve but I wanted to know more about it, hence the reason I went to KZbin. I like your install but I was wondering what you might think if you were to put a collar through the wall of the cabinet with nipples on each side to connect the hose to and putting rubber washers with fender washers on each side of the wall thereby sealing the area around the hose. That way there if you had to replace any part of the hose you would have a shorter piece to deal with and you wouldn’t have to feed the entire length of hose through the wall and back again as well as risk kinking the hose where it feeds through the wall from prolonged use. Just a thought 💭... Again, very nice job, have a great day 👍

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Thanks for stopping by. I think your idea would work great for the air but not for the media feed tube. The media going to the gun would wear it out any metal connection at the cabinet - or so my thought process leads me to believe. This is the great thing about sharing ideas and improving upon those ideas - eventually the problem is solved with an excellent end result. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and trying to improve this process.

[@user-zx7tg4ph5r]

I like your explanation, well done! It looks pretty easy to make from pipe fittings, Use a 1- 1/4" tee, a 1-1/4" pipe plug at the base of the tee, a 6 inch nipple, a reducer from 1- 1/4" to 1/2" , 5/8" pipe nipple 2" long to be modified as your air valve and then finally a barbed fitting to your air hose. The only machining would be is to drill and tap a 5/8" threaded hole into the 6 in nipple. The using a 5/8" nipple that has (2) 1/4" holes positioned one above each other. Then drill and tap into the 5/8" air valve nipple to accept a bolt to adjust the air flow. No need for a locking nut on the bolt, it isn't going anywhere. But put one anyway. You'll feel better that you did.

[@user-zx7tg4ph5r]

I'm not sure if the tapered design acts in anyway as a venturi since the proximity from the air valve to the tapered area is to far to create that effect. It does make it look complicated though.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

I’ve seen these done and are a great diy idea. I was under the impression that the tapering increased the Venturi effect. No proof - just an impression I can’t shake.

[@user-zx7tg4ph5r]

Tapering it allows it to flow without restriction from the larger size to the air hose size. You may see some improvement with lower CFM supply. With a larger capacity of reserve air in your compressor tank you may not notice any difference. The 1 1/4 nipple does as good if not better in mixing the air/abrasive mix. Use a ball valve to control input air into mixing chamber. Don't waste time with nut/bolt/tube idea. It is just their way to confuse you

[@CraftwerksMC]

I have no idea what your before blasting was like but that flow rate at 30 PSI after the change looks incredible. Just curious if that Skat gun is the medium or small CFM version? I was using a friends blast cabinet this weekend that still had the pick up tube and stuff and I have to tell you it was torture. I have a 3.7 hp compressor that is rated at 11.5 cfm at 90 PSI so I am just trying to figure out if I should go with the small or medium sized gun..

[@TigerCreekFarm]

I know EXACTLY what you mean. The gun is the small version. You'll find that your compressor won't be struggling to keep up with the flow with the smaller gun - plus you can always move up to a larger tip if necessary. So far I haven't looked back. The only change I am considering is changing to a foot operated gun - because I am able to blast so much longer without a pause I start getting hand cramps operating the trigger. I found that the magic "spot" for adjusting the feed at a lower pressure was to open up the valve about half way allowing it to pull more air into the mix. That eliminated the clumping or uneven media flow. Good luck!

[@CraftwerksMC]

@@TigerCreekFarm Just got my foot pedal over the holidays. Still making modifications but thanks for the feedback. I am curious to know what brand is that cabinet? I would like to find one that has a plastic tub like yours to look at the idea of making a vapor cabinet. Thanks sir.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Robert Craft my plastic cabinet is made by Cyclone.

[@FirearmTutorials]

Thanks for sharing this. I plan doing this soon.

[@constructiveexercise]

Thank you for posting this video. I just picked up the same Cyclone cabinet on FM and the IDS Blast metering valve will be one of the first upgrades, after a few repairs. I am also interested in anything you can share/recommend on the dust collection for this cabinet. Thanks again!

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Glad you found it helpful. Here is a link to my cheap dust collection system. It has been working great! Good luck with your cabinet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqW0aqaVeq-XiMk

[@lokomaniaxxx]

Are you blasting at 30 psi ? I though it was 90

[@TigerCreekFarm]

It all depends on what I need to blast. If I’m etching it may be between 30-40. Prepping for coating ranges between 30-120 depending on the substrate. General blasting/cleaning/stripping is around 80-120.

[@chucksgarage7165]

Does this modification stop the suction hose from collapsing?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Yes. It lets you "meter" your air/blast material for your particular situation.

[@chucksgarage7165]

@@TigerCreekFarm Thanks

[@ryanh7550]

So I just bought this same metering valve and installed. How did you go about the settings? I have a 60 gallon two stage compressor with a skatblast gun. The siphon tube is 5/8 ID.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Ryan H it’s sort of trial and error based on the media you are using to blast and the pressure needed. I use 100 grit red garnet at lower pressures so I had to do a lot of “dialing in” until the delivery was what I needed.

[@ryanh7550]

TigerCreekFarm seems like mine only works well when the valve is all the way open.

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Ryan H that tells me that whatever you are using as a blast media requires a lot of air (and wide open is the best setting) or the insert in your gun may be worn out.

[@rossmassa9506]

What size is your feed hose?

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Ross Massa 5/8 id

[@rossmassa9506]

@@TigerCreekFarm thank you trying to piece together my own metering valve

[@rossmassa9506]

I already bought everything for 1/2" and see a lot of other guns/metering valves use 1/2 inch So gonna try it

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Ross Massa 1/2 should work - just have to work a little harder to get the hose on.

[@lucycats6282]

Hello, how do I contact you either thru e-mail or telephone. I have some ideas Id like to share and also some questions on a past video you have made. I dont have facebook and I see no other contact information. My name is Jason. Thanks

[@TigerCreekFarm]

Jason, click on my TigerCreekFarm icon and it will take you to my KZbin page. From there click the "About" tab and that will bring up a page with a way to email me.