I recently acquired a bead blasting cabinet and like the idea, but not the consequences. The first time I used it I discovered it leaked glass beads all over the place, which I attributed to the lack of a vent for the pressure to escape. When I used it, the inbound airflow would collapse the gloves on my hands so I knew it was building up a lot of internal pressure anf forcing beads out anywhere they could come out.
I attached a vent out the back, made of 1-1/2 PVC. It comes out, drops down to the floor then turns vertical for about 7 feet, open at the top. That helped a lot, but the vent still spews a fine mist of glass beads in the exhaust air, which settles out all over the shop.
I guess I'm a little stumped when it comes to the finer points of blast cabinets. This thing leaks beads out of every screw hole, around every attachment...if there's a hole or gap, she leaks. Even the edges where the cabinet bolts together with a gasket, and the frame around the window glass, they all leak.
I'm considering tearing it completely apart and siliconing the hell out of everything to keep the beads in, but the vent is still a problem. What am I going to put on the end of the 1-1/2 PVC pipe to let the air out and keep the bead dust in? Any points on venting this beast? Thanks!