Help with a SandBlast Cabinet..

[SIGNGUY]

I'm going to be buying a Sandblasting cabinet, so I can stop going over to my buddies for my small SB needs.. Whats the advantage or differences between a bench top unit or free standing unit, besides the space issue or working space,. Once holds more medium? or what?
I don't have alot of extra floor space and was thinking of a benchtop that I could store away when not using? Thoughts and opinions would be great!
Thanks guys.

[sodaworks]

I used to have a small cabinet and decided to upgrade into a large floor cabinet. The large floor models hold 50# of grinding media were the smaller models usually hold 20# of media. The smaller cabinets require a shop vac (very noisy) for dust collection as were a big cabinet can utilize a dust collector (less noisy). The biggest advantage is that I can now bead blast parts as large as the main door of a VMC33 inside the cabinet. This sure beats having to clean up a sand mess outside everytime you need to blast a part!

[Pat Pixley]

I've got a smaller cabinet and I do plan up grading some time next year
also make sure your compressor will work with it.
Pat

[collecture]

I am probably gonna go with a smaller cabinet.
I want mine for smaller items mainly though - coin mech parts, household items, etc.
Space is an issue for me as well!
Maybe in 5 or so years I'll upgrade if painting machines gets in the picture.

[SIGNGUY]

From all I've read about them, the only real difference I've seen is the obvious size or workspace and the capacity of the medium... so if it only holds 10 lbs of medium, I'm assuming I just have to change it out more often than if I had 50 lbs in there? True?

We'll see... I jsut want it for the small stuff too... anything like cabinets, coin doors etc.. will go to the regular sandblaster guy...