Be certain that you follow carefully all the manufacturer's instructions for setting up your compressor, blaster, and vacuum. Double and triple-chyeck everything before blasting, paying particular attention to connectins, pressure gauges, and valve settings.
BE SURE THAT THE CABINET IS CLOSED AND LATCHED BEFORE TURNING ON THE BLASTER!!!
The ball valves usually seen on pressure-pot blasters can reach the early stages of wear fairly quickly, and a small amount of leakage from the "business end" must be considered "normal". In other words, EVEN WHEN THE BLASTER IS "OFF" IT CAN STILL SPIT OUT ABRASIVE PARTICLES!! Treat the blaster as you would a gun: it is always loaded; so don't point it at anything you don't want blasted. It should be treated with respect and handled soberly.
When shutting down for the day, make sure that all power to the lights and vacuum is off, all air valves are shut off, and THE CABINET DOOR IS CLOSED AND LATCHED.
Respiration Protection
WEAR A DUST REPIRATOR, especially when the cabinet is open or the abrasive is being recycled back into the pressure pot. A good respirator is a worthwhile investment - those little paper and rubber band masks are pretty useless for sandblasting. Because of the danger of silicosis, never use sand as an abrasive. Either silicon carbide or aluminum oxide is safer, but there will still be silica dust generated by the abrasion of the glass itself, so always use your respirator
Eye Protection
ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN!!!
Hearing Protection
Hearing protectors are a good idea, too. Some exhaust systems are loud, and they usually stand right next to your ear. Earplugs are ok, but the earmuff types are more comfortable and eaiser to use. Hearing protectors have the added benefit of helping you focus on your work by filtering out the rest of the world.
Hand Protection
The cabinet comes with nylon sleeves. You will need to find some rubber, or tightly woven gloves that fit and give you the combination of sensitive feel and secure grip that you like. Dishwashing gloves work quite well. Experiment with different gloves. They really are an underrated link in the blasting system as far as comfort and endurance are concerned.
These are standard precautions that should be observed no matter what type of cabinet you are using.
BE CERTAIN THAT YOU, YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND ALL OTHERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR SANDBLAST FACILITY FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SAFE OPERATION OF YOUR EQUIPMENT!
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