The Best Sandblasting Cabinets Of 2023: Our Top Reviews For Your Jewelry Shop

There are many ways to achieve stellar finishes on your workpieces, but one of the best ways is sandblasting. The best sandblasting cabinets give you control, power, and repeatable results for all kinds of finishes.

However, choosing the best sandblasting cabinet can be a challenging task, and that's precisely why we're here! We've rounded up all the best sandblasting cabinets on the market and reviewed them here to help you out.

So, if you've been struggling with sandblasting using old equipment, or you're simply a new buyer and have no idea where to start or which features to look for when purchasing a sandblasting cabinet, you're in the right place.

Read on to see which sandblasting cabinets we recommend and why we recommend them!

Comparison Chart

Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster

Budget

Dimensions

20" long x 17" wide x 17" high

Warranty

5-Year Limited Warranty

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Pen Style Sand Blaster Jewelry Making Casting Metal Polishing Finishing Machine

Budget

Dimensions

46"w, 28"d, 28"h

Warranty

1-Year Warranty

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Skat Blast TP Tools® USA 2846 Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet with HEPA Vacuum, 46" W x 28" D x 28" H Work Area, Made in USA

Budget

Dimensions

24-1/2-Inch by 21-1/8-Inch by 19-1/2-Inch

Warranty

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The Best Sandblasting Cabinets: Our 2020 Reviews

Best on a Budget

1. Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster: Best on a Budget

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If you're on a tight budget, or you haven't had much experience with sandblasting cabinets in general, yet you want something reliable and sturdy, our go-to recommendation  is the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster. The Shop Box would be ideal for any jewelry artist looking for an affordable option.

Pros:

The Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster provides great value for money. It's less than $250, but its performance matches that of more expensive sandblasting cabinets. You can load up to ten pounds of materials in without having any jamming issues.

"has the ideal compact size - it gets the job done without occupying all of your space"

The whole cabinet is well-built and sturdy, so you can count on using it for a long time. Much more attention to detail has been given to its design compared with the budget-range competition. The ruggedly built parts, along with impressive quality control for an inexpensive model, provide smooth and reliable performance.

This sandblasting cabinet is lightweight (its overall size is 24.5 by 21 by 19.5 inches, and it weighs 50 pounds). This makes it really portable, as it allows you to freely move it around your jewelry workshop, or even store it away at times when you don't need it at all. It has an ideal compact size for folks who are tight on space!

The Shop Fox is also feature-packed for a small, inexpensive model. The two 16-inch side access doors allow for easy entrance/exit of your jewelry pieces. Plus, the two sealed glove ports enable easy access inside the enclosed cabinet, which can come in handy when you're using the blast gun or for moving the jewelry pieces that you're working on. The blasting gun has ceramic tips and the blasting cabinet comes with a built-in fluorescent lamp too.

Cons:

 The Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster is only suitable for preparing smaller jewelry parts, as its size unfortunately doesn't allow for more.
Also, if you're new to using sandblasting cabinets, you might find the setup instructions for this one a bit vague.

It's good to know, for example, that when the sandblasting cabinet first arrives, you should additionally tighten up its fasteners in order to prevent leaking.

And lastly, this sandblasting cabinet only has a 1-year warranty, which is less than what most competing models offer.

Best for Most People

2. PMC Pen Style Sand Blaster: Best for Most People

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"meets most jewelry artists' sandblasting cabinet requirements"

Designed for all kinds of texturing and etching applications, the PMC Pen Style Sand Blaster meets nearly all jewelry artists' sandblasting cabinet requirements. It offers terrific visibility, thanks to its clearly-molded chamber, and being able to observe each step of the process is what every jeweler wants.

This model is great for the average jewelry artist, as it offers greater versatility than the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster (for instance,you can do more extensive jewelry work with the former, whereas the latter limits you with smaller jewelry undertakings).  At the same time, it's a good deal less expensive than our top pick!

Pros:

We absolutely love this sandblasting cabinet's ergonomic shape. Its overall compact design provides efficient bead-blasting, better visibility, and it makes the whole system easy to maintain. The Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster, in comparison, doesn't offer the same level of visibility.

It's also important to mention that the Pen Style Sand Blaster weighs only 12 pounds. This makes it easily portable, so you can use it all around your jeweler's workshop, and simply re-locate it wherever necessary without any great effort.

"comes with a wide range of accessories"

The Pen Style Sand Blaster comes with a wide range of accessories. It includes the following: a mylar-material protector, a respirator, a filter sock, and a 2.88 mm ceramic nozzle too. Plus, an additional pair of replacement gloves is also included.

Cons:

While this sandblasting cabinet is a great design for most users, it doesn't come with media or an air compressor included, much like the Shop Fox . If you want absolutely everything included, you'll want to opt for the TP Tools below. For most folks, though, pairing the PMC with a solid air compressor will be a more affordable and pragmatic choice.

You might find that the dust filter this sandblasting cabinet has gets clogged more often than you might expect. However, this issue can be easily fixed - gently tap the cap, unscrew it afterwards in order to clean it, and then proceed with vacuuming the filter.

Best for Professionals

3. TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet: Best for Professionals

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"The absolute best of the best"

The TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet is the best professional sandblasting cabinet available today. Since it's bigger than most cabinets, it allows for any larger project to be carried out without any issues, and we absolutely feel that this is every jeweler's dream come true. Whether you're etching glass for your new earring project or engaging in wood design, this sandblasting cabinet is here to suit your every jewelry need.

Pros:

This is hands-down the most feature-packed sandblasting cabinet for jewelry professionals. It includes the following:

• a vac-50 HEPA vacuum, that removes the dust while you're in the process of blasting
• a C-35 foot-pedal-operated power gun
• a foot pedal
• one steel and two ceramic nozzles
• a molded glove and lens trim, used to prevent potential leaks
• a right-hand side loading door

"hands-down the most feature-packed sandblasting cabinet for jewelry professionals"

Now we understand why so many jewelry artists who have tried this sandblasting cabinet have stuck with it - it's completely self-contained and seamless to work with.  You'll especially love its integrated vacuum system that takes care of dust without any difficulty while you stay focused on your jewelry work. It's much better than hitching up a shop vac!

We also appreciate the TP Tools' versatility. The foot pedal can be easily adjusted to your preferred positioning; and there are two nozzles included right out of the box. It's easy to cater this setup to any project. The side loading-door is also massive, so it's very straightforward to get even larger workpieces in and out.

For such a professional-grade machine, the TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet is very easy to use. You simply open the door, insert the jewelry parts through the side-loading door, and press the foot pedal. Since everything's self-contained, you don't have to worry about getting a separate air compressor or shop vac situated while you work.

The C-35 foot-pedal-operated power gun gives you more control over your sandblasting work than anything else we've reviewed. It's by far the best choice for demanding professionals. The foot controls allow you to work in the same way you would using your flex shaft, and the whole tool is clearly designed by folks who actually used it.

This sandblasting cabinet comes with a 5-year warranty. It may cost quite a lot up front, but it's a solid investment for the years to come.

Cons:

The one factor that may put you off buying this sandblasting cabinet is its price. It usually costs around $1,500. That's simply because it's aimed at professionals and doesn't compromise anywhere.

It's overkill for many folks. With that said, if you're serious about your work and want to invest in the highest-quality sandblasting cabinet, this is the one to buy.

The TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet isn't the most lightweight sandblasting cabinet you'll come across. That's not surprising given the solid build and integrated air system. Its heaviness makes it difficult to move the cabinet around or re-locate it in general. You'll want to find it a dedicated home and keep it there.

Conclusion

So, which of these recommendations is the best choice for you?

First of all, if you're not ready to make a big, long-term investment, we'd suggest sticking with the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster. Not only is it one of the most affordable sandblasting cabinets on the market, but it's lightweight, has an ideal size, and has much better build quality than other inexpensive options.

If you're an average user looking for a sandblasting cabinet that's better than average without being exorbitant, check out the PMC. It offers great value with all the included accessories, and it's very well-designed. For most folks, this is good enough. While the the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster may be more affordable, the PMC Pen Style Sand Blaster is way more professional and provides a much better sandblasting performance.

Finally, if you've been in the jewelry business for quite some time, and you're looking to take things to the very top, go for the TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet. It should be every professional jeweler's first choice without any hesitation - if you can afford it. This sandblasting cabinet is spacious, easy to use, and offers maximum efficiency.

Choosing the Best Sandblasting Cabinet

Budget

When it comes to deciding on your budget, comparing sandblasting cabinets can be extremely confusing. There are models offered at all sorts of prices, and listings rarely make it clear what's actually included in the setup. That's why we've taken a closer look not only at the products, but their prices as well.

As far as we're concerned, there's no point in going super cheap with your new sandblasting cabinet. There are lots of crappy options out there, and while the low prices can be appealing, they're incredibly frustrating and dangerous to actually use.

We think the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster is hands-down the most affordable decent option for a jewelry artist on a budget. Costing less than $250, it's one of the most reasonably priced tools you can use in your everyday jewelry work. However, if you're looking for a more professional sandblasting cabinet, you'll definitely have to consider spending more than this.

If you're at a place where you can afford to make a more long-term investment, we definitely recommend the TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet. It may cost almost $1,500 but it's suitable for even the most ambitious jewelry projects and it offers great visibility while you engage in your work.  You won't find a better sandblasting cabinet today.

However, if you're somewhere in the middle - you can't afford a very expensive sandblasting cabinet (such as the TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblasting Cabinet, for example), yet you want more than the one the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster provides, we have a third option for you. Check out the PMC Pen Style Sand Blaster - it's around $700, and it's pretty easy to get this set up in a way that handles most jewelers' needs.

Features and Accessories to Consider

Most sandblasting cabinets come with similar features and accessories, but there are definitely some differences.

For example, if you fancy a feature-packed sandblasting cabinet, we'd recommend the TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet. This sandblasting cabinet comes with a foot pedal that makes it really easy to use; a C-35 foot-pedal-operated power gun; an automatic abrasive recycling system; and a vac-50 HEPA vacuum with the ability to remove dust while you're doing your work. These are all features that make the TP Tools a pleasure to use.

With most sandblasting cabinets, the air system won't be included. You'll need to hook up your own air compressor, as well as some way to recapture the blasting media you use. If you choose a cabinet that doesn't include a compressor or vacuum, you'll want to factor in the costs of each of those while you consider your options.

Warranty

If you appreciate a good warranty we urge you to consider the TP Tools USA 2846 Skat Blast Sandblast Sandblasting Cabinet which comes with an amazing 5-year warranty. As is often the case, if you're willing to pay more up front, you get a longer warranty. For instance, if you buy the Shop Fox M1114 Benchtop Sandblaster, you might spend less money initially, but the inevitable downside is that you'll also have less insurance for the long haul.

What's Next?

We truly hope you enjoyed our guide to finding the best sandblasting cabinet, and now you feel ready to make your purchasing decision.

Be sure to read more on different jewelry-making tools on our website, as we always strive to provide the latest jewelry news, tool reviews, as well as answer some common questions to assist you even more.

In the meantime, we're eager to learn which sandblasting cabinet stood out for you and whether there's some that should have made it on our list. Tell us in the comments below, we always appreciate hearing from you!