
BNP 65 and 220 SUCTION BLAST CABINETS Page 4
© 2016 CLEMCO INDUSTRIES CORP. www.clemcoindustries.com Manual No. 21309, Rev. I 06/16
smaller than those normally recommended. Using media
finer than those recommended may decrease visibility
and increase carryover to the dust collector. Media
coarser than those recommended may be too dense for
the reclaimer to recover from the cabinet hopper.
1.8.2 Steel and Shot: Standard cabinet models
configured for steel media use are available with 900 cfm
reclaimers. They include appropriately sized conveying
hose and rubber curtains to protect the cabinet walls from
peening and rapid wear.
Switching to steel media requires a smaller diameter
conveying hose (usually reduced one size from standard)
and a 900 cfm or larger reclaimers. Rubber curtains should
be used to protect the cabinet walls from peening and
rapid wear. NOTE: Steel grit or shot is too heavy to use
with cabinets equipped this 300 and 600 cfm reclaimers.
1.8.3 Sand and Slag: Sand should NEVER be used
for abrasive blasting because of the respiratory hazards
associated with media containing free silica. Slags are not
recommended because they rapidly breakdown and are
not recyclable, making them unsuitable for cabinet
applications.
1.8.4 Silicon Carbide, Aluminum Oxide, and
Garnet: These are the most aggressive of the
commonly-used media. Aggressive media may be used,
but the service life of any components exposed to the
media will be reduced. To avoid unscheduled down
time, periodically inspect the reclaimer wear plate, flex
hoses, blast hose, and nozzle for wear.
When using aggressive media only occasionally, install an
optional aluminum oxide kit. The kit includes rubber
curtains for the cabinet interior and a boron carbide
nozzle. When using aggressive media on a regular basis,
install the aluminum oxide kit and a fully-rubber-lined
reclaimer. NOTE Rubber-lined reclaimers are available as
factory installed items and can be field installed on
reclaimers if they have removable tops and designed to
accept liners. Nozzles lined with boron carbide extend
nozzle wear life. See Optional Accessories in Section 9.1.
1.8.5 Glass Bead: Most beads are treated to ensure
free-flow operation even in environments of moderately
high humidity. Glass beads subjected to excessive
moisture may be reused only after thorough drying and
breaking up any clumps.
1.8.6 Lightweight and Fine-mesh Media: When
using lightweight (such as agricultural) media or fine
mesh (180-mesh and finer) media, the reclaimer inlet
baffle may need to be removed to retain media and
avoid carryover. On reclaimer models with bolt-on
removable tops, baffle removal and replacement is
easily accomplished. Reclaimers with welded-on tops
require grinding to remove the baffle and once it is
removed it cannot be replaced.
1.8.7 Plastic Media: Plastic and similar lightweight
and/or non-aggressive media are generally not
recommended for suction-style cabinets because the
lower blast velocity of suction blasting combined with the
softer and lighter weight media, do not provide the
media impact for productive blasting. Best performance
from plastic media is achieved with pressure blasting,
requiring a pressure vessel with a 60-degree conical
bottom. Refer to Clemco’s AEROLYTE cabinet line.
1.8.8 Bicarbonate of Soda: Bicarbonate of soda is
not recommended for use in standard cabinets. Bicarb is
a one-use media usually used and will quickly saturate
the filter cartridge(s). Best performance from bicarb
media is achieved with pressure blasting, requiring a
pressure vessel. Refer to Clemco’s AEROLYTE cabinet
line for cabinets that are specifically designed for use
with bicarbonate of soda.
This table offers a guideline to media type and selection based on standard 5/32" orifice air jet with 5/16" nozzle and
average conditions, such as air pressure, media/air mixture, visibility, contamination of parts being blasted, humidity,
media friability, reclaimer cleaning rate, etc. As a rule, larger nozzles deliver more media, requiring higher performance
from the reclaimer. Larger air jets and nozzles decrease the maximum mesh size of media from those recommended.
Media that is finer than those recommended may decrease visibility and carryover to the dust collector. Media coarser
than those recommended may be too dense for the reclaimer to recover from the cabinet hopper.
MEDIA TYPE
RECLAIMER SIZE STEEL
GRIT STEEL SHOT GLASS BEAD ALUM. OXIDE FINE MESH LIGHT WT.
*300 cfm w/4" inlet Do not use Do not use No. 6 to No. 12 60 to 180 mesh See 1.8.6 See 1.8.6
*600 cfm w/5" inlet Do not use Do not use No. 6 to No. 12 54 to 180 mesh See 1.8.6 See 1.8.6
900 cfm w/6" inlet 50 to 120 S170 to S70 No. 4 to No. 8 24 to 100 mesh Do not use Do not use
*900 cfm w/7" inlet Do not use Do not use No. 5 to No. 12 30 to 180 mesh See 1.8.6 See 1.8.6
* Standard reclaimer inlets
Figure 3