The Versatile Capabilities of an Empire Air-Blast Cabinet in Abrasive Blasting

Air-blast cabinets are essential tools in abrasive blasting, renowned for their versatility in various surface treatment applications. They excel at achieving matte or satin finishes, removing imperfections, and eliminating stains while effectively tackling contaminants like chemical impurities, coatings, paint, and carbon deposits. Beyond cleaning, these cabinets enhance material strength, improve corrosion resistance, and expose flaws for detailed inspection. By boosting lubrication and reducing surface porosity, air-blast cabinets ensure high-quality finishes and optimal performance in all blasting tasks, making them invaluable in both industrial settings and specialized workshops.

Empire offers two primary styles of blast cabinets: pressure and suction systems. Through comprehensive testing and analysis, Rodeco will determine which system best suits your unique parts, processes, and production requirements. Each system has its strengths—pressure systems offer more aggressive and efficient cleaning, making them ideal for heavy-duty surface preparation, removal, and cleaning tasks, while suction systems provide a more precise, gentle blast, perfect for delicate parts or intricate work. Our process development lab will partner with you to identify the optimal solution, ensuring maximum efficiency, consistency, and exceptional results in your surface finishing operations.

Pressure Blast Systems:

Pressure blast cabinets are designed to use compressed air to push abrasive media from a storage hopper to the nozzle, allowing them to clean surfaces faster and more effectively than other systems. These cabinets operate at higher pressures, which means they can clean up to 3-4 times quicker than suction systems. This makes them perfect for high-volume environments where time is a key factor. The increased pressure also helps remove tougher surface contaminants, giving a more thorough clean. Another advantage is that pressure cabinets can use metallic media, which may be necessary for achieving specific surface profiles required in some metal finishing processes.

However, pressure blast cabinets do have a few drawbacks. They typically cost more upfront due to the more complex design needed to handle the higher pressure. Components such as nozzles, cabinet linings, and window covers also tend to wear out faster because the media is moving at higher speeds. Additionally, pressure blast systems require a lot more air to operate, which means they need a larger air supply compared to suction systems. While pressure blast cabinets provide excellent performance and faster results, they might not always be the best choice for every operation, especially if there are budget or air supply limitations. Understanding the benefits and limitations of each system can help you choose the best option for your metal finishing needs.

Suction Systems:

Suction blast systems use a suction gun to pull abrasive media, making them a cost-effective option for many metal finishing jobs. Their simpler design means they usually cost less upfront compared to pressure blast cabinets, which is great for small businesses or shops on a budget. Suction blast systems also have lower operating costs. Since the media is pulled by suction at a slower speed and lower force, it causes less wear on parts like nozzles, window covers, and cabinet linings.
Another benefit of suction blast cabinets is that they require less air to operate. This makes them a good choice for shops with limited air supply or smaller compressors.

However, there are some drawbacks. Suction blast cabinets are generally slower than pressure systems because they use lower pressure and speed. This makes them less ideal for high-production environments where speed is important. Also, the lower pressure means they may not be as effective at removing heavy contaminants or buildup from surfaces. Lastly, suction blast cabinets can’t handle all types of media, especially heavier ones like steel shot, which need higher pressure to work properly. While suction blast cabinets are an affordable, low-maintenance option, they may not be the best choice for every task, particularly those that require faster cleaning or tougher surface preparation.

Reclaimer Systems:

A key feature of abrasive blast systems is the reclaimer, which plays a critical role in separating reusable media from dust and debris. As spent media enters the reclaimer, air creates a downward vortex that moves larger particles to the outer walls, while lighter particles are carried upward through a central tube out to the dust collector. This process ensures that reusable media is collected, while unwanted materials like dust and debris are filtered out.
Empire blast cabinet systems offer reclaimers as a core component, available for both pressure and suction systems. These reclaimers can be upgraded with ultrawear lining to enhance durability and protect the system from wear over time. Alternatively, for a more cost-effective option, you can upgrade to a reclaimer with a removable wear plate that protects the system’s “hot spot,” where the most wear occurs.
The reclaimer system is especially valuable for Empire blast cabinets because it allows the use of recyclable abrasive, which can significantly reduce media consumption, dust, and waste. When paired with a dust collector, the reclaimer helps keep both your cabinet and parts cleaner, while also lowering costs associated with consumables and waste disposal.

Conclusion

Empire Air-Blast Cabinets offer versatile and reliable solutions for a wide range of abrasive blasting needs, from heavy-duty cleaning and surface preparation to more delicate, precision work. Whether you choose a pressure or suction system, each option has its unique benefits, and Rodeco is here to help you select the ideal solution based on your specific requirements. With the added advantage of reclaimer systems that allow for media recycling, you can significantly reduce waste and operating costs while maintaining top-quality performance.

If you’re unsure which system is best for your needs, we invite you to send your parts to us for testing, or feel free to visit our facility to test the systems yourself. Our experts are ready to guide you through the selection process and help you make the most informed decision for your operations. For more information or to schedule a test, call us at 800-849-0871. Let us help you achieve the best results for your metal finishing projects!