sand blasting questions

[mkriegs]

Kind of funny when I'm posting advice in a question thread that I originally posted .

Anyway, I bought that $100 unit you posted and it's terrible. It does get the job done for not much money, but I'm constantly having to pick it up and shake it to get the beads unclogged because of the cheap suction fed system (I'm thinking about jerry rigging a gravity fed system).



EDIT - also, make sure you get a compressor with close to the same CFM as your blasting cabinet otherwise you'll have to wait all the time for your compressor to regain pressure.

[LU_aDaK]

I think I might spring for the HF model... may I ask what kind of compressor you are using?

[acidrain]

My compressor is a monster, so I have no input what the minimal size might be, but the required CFM should be listed or recommended with the blast cabinet.
The compressor absolutely needs to be 220vac, and the bigger the tank the better.
Then you'll need a good water seperator/filter/regulator.
I usually blast at around 60psi, and just a quick back and forth dusting is all your need. If you over blast, it'll come out blotchy.
As far as shaking the cabinet to get the blast media down... never had to do that. I keep the hopper pretty full.

[LU_aDaK]

Originally Posted by acidrain

My compressor is a monster, so I have no input what the minimal size might be, but the required CFM should be listed or recommended with the blast cabinet.
The compressor absolutely needs to be 220vac, and the bigger the tank the better.
Then you'll need a good water seperator/filter/regulator.
I usually blast at around 60psi, and just a quick back and forth dusting is all your need. If you over blast, it'll come out blotchy.
As far as shaking the cabinet to get the blast media down... never had to do that. I keep the hopper pretty full.

What do you use to plug the internal areas as to not blast them ?....

[mkriegs]

Originally Posted by acidrain

As far as shaking the cabinet to get the blast media down... never had to do that. I keep the hopper pretty full.

really? I noticed that it said the recommended (and I double checked, it said recommended, not minimum) amount of media was 5 pounds so I weighed out 5 pounds of bead and put it in there and it seems pretty empty.

So you're saying that you just fill it up as much as you want and you don't get problems?

[acidrain]

Originally Posted by LU_aDaK

What do you use to plug the internal areas as to not blast them ?....

A pencil sharpener and some dowel works great. Sometimes I use SS bolts. For the breech, use large rubber stoppers. For bodies with slots, use a piece of rubber hose for the inside (cut to fit), and cork both ends.

Originally Posted by mkriegs

So you're saying that you just fill it up as much as you want and you don't get problems?

I fill mine all the way to the screen... problem solved!

[LU_aDaK]

Destroyer, what compressor did you use with the hf setup?

[hvacman250]

I got my bead blast cabinet at Harbor Freight for under $100. Its a bench top model, but I used 2x4s I had in the shop to build a stand with wheels. It was a nice unit; came with everything I needed including 4-5 different sized nozzles and extra plastic sheets to protect the glass viewing piece.

As for a compressor, I bought a 21 gallon from HF too. It was on sale for $150ish. I didnt expect it to last long, buts its been running a year with no problems. I use it for agitation and blasting. Sears sells a 175 psi 30 gallon for around $250-275 that I plan on buying next.

As for blasting, I buy my 80 grit glass beads at HF and blast at around 65 psi.

Oh, and mine says 5 lbs max too. I have about 25 in it Been blasting this way for over a year with great results.

[LU_aDaK]

Thank you for the help, but what about the cabinet saying requiredments like

12 cfm
5hp
ect...?

[tr4dude]

the cfm rating on the cabinent is how much air you will need to run it constantly at 90 psi so for most jobs you use it for if you get say a husky 60 gallon at home depot for about $400 rated at 10cfm at 90psi it will put out enough air to meet most of your needs. make sure you do not get a oiless compressor, they are loud and will not last long using it for sandblasting.
my first compressor was a sears professional 33 gallon oiless model, with a 5hp motor but running hp was 1.7hp, so the 5hp rating was what the motors maximun developed hp would be if it was brought to a stop turning the compressor. it was rated at 15 amps on 110v power. stay away from this type of compressor. i would sandblast for about a minute or two and have to wait for it to build pressure back up to continue. a true 5hp compressor will be 220v and rated at 20 to 23 amps and the pump will be belt driven. these type of compressors put out alot of air and are much more quiet. and as a rule of thumb buy the biggest baddest compressor you can afford, you will be happier in the long run. i bought a champion 80 gallon 5hp that puts out 23cfm and paid about 8 bills used, it puts out more 4 times the air of the craftsman compressor i have and is twice as quiet. and i suggest to stay away from kobalt to at lowes checked those out and looked ok but all the ones in the store were leaking oil and the plasting hose to the tanks was said to blow on the big model. check the craigslist for champion, quincy or ingersol rand, you can find deals if you look even check at the auctions.
hope this helped. good luck