pressurized sandblaster

ampa · Mar 8, 2010

I owned a 5 gal. at first traded it back for a 10 gal....I really didn't didn't care for the Deadman valve...yes as mentioned it takes a lot of air to to fill these pressure type....and I could never tell if I had enough sandblast material......until I drained off the air.... shut off all the valves....after 6 months I returned it bought my small plastic suction type... and even with my small less than 4 cfm @90 lbs directdrive piston oil type CH...it works alot better uses less material runs on a minium of 7 cfm than the pressure type....I'd never buy a pressure type again.....when the sandblast material gets low on this cheap sandblaster... and while I'm waiting for the compressor to buid up I can fill it up without the hassels...I also burned out the valve /reeds on a brand new Briggs & Stratton Brute compressor that never shut off using the pressurized types.....I've since built up my own compressor using an 11 cfm twin cyl. cast iron pump and a 1.5 hp compressor duty 115/230 volt electric motor... using the 10 gal. tank and controls from the burned out "Brute" .... last summer I done a lot of sandblasting with my little CH...without any burn out problems.....so I think I'll be fine with this twin cyl.......Ampa......

Spudland_Dave · Mar 8, 2010

IMO, sandblasting is one of the few things that is cheaper to have done professionally... Professional shops can do it 50x cheaper then a hobbiest can....better compressors, ability to recycle media, better blasters, etc... Not to mention, they do this stuff all day long, they know what to watch out for, etc..

For what it costs me to have stuff professionally sandblasted, I cant see ever wanting/needing one....About the only exception to that would be one of those small benchtop self contained blasters for small parts..I can see that being handy for onesie/twosie type stuff...

4shorts · Mar 8, 2010

Spudland_Dave said:
IMO, sandblasting is one of the few things that is cheaper to have done professionally... Professional shops can do it 50x cheaper then a hobbiest can....better compressors, ability to recycle media, better blasters, etc... Not to mention, they do this stuff all day long, they know what to watch out for, etc..

For what it costs me to have stuff professionally sandblasted, I cant see ever wanting/needing one....About the only exception to that would be one of those small benchtop self contained blasters for small parts..I can see that being handy for onesie/twosie type stuff...

Around these parts sand blasting is very costly to get done. They charge for each bag of media they use even if they recycle it plus they charge by the hour which is usually $45. per hour. I don't think I'd want them to blast my forklift. It took me 9 hours to do it. :ashamed:

I do a good bit of sand blasting both for my business plus my personal stuff so getting someone to do it would cost a small fortune. I built my own pressure blaster that I've used for years with no problems. It's a real work horse. It was featured in the Welding, Design and Fabrication magazine some years ago. I did purchase a cabinet blaster that has it's own recovery/recycling system built in and it's one of the most used tools in the shop. I haven't seen a good store bought pressure blaster yet that I've liked.

suncoast · Mar 8, 2010

I have the 110 lb. H.F. blaster. The only problem I have had is when I tried to recycle media. It did clog in the hose due to debris, but that was my own fault. Other than that it has worked fine. Do turn down the media valve as most times you will waste a fair amount of the material. Sand is hitting the sand in front of it rather than the object you are cleaning. Do keep the air valve open though. Some people here use sandbox sand from HD or Lowes. I'm lucky to have my friends trailer compressor (he doesn't have the space to park it at his house). Good Luck, Gene

4shorts · Mar 8, 2010

suncoast said:
I have the 110 lb. H.F. blaster. The only problem I have had is when I tried to recycle media. It did clog in the hose due to debris,

Gotta get yourself a sifter like I use. It lays on the top of the blaster and pour the reusable sand into it and it keeps the crap out of the sand.

dcyrilc · Mar 8, 2010

suncoast said:
I have the 110 lb. H.F. blaster. The only problem I have had is when I tried to recycle media. It did clog in the hose due to debris, but that was my own fault. Other than that it has worked fine. Do turn down the media valve as most times you will waste a fair amount of the material. Sand is hitting the sand in front of it rather than the object you are cleaning. Do keep the air valve open though. Some people here use sandbox sand from HD or Lowes. I'm lucky to have my friends trailer compressor (he doesn't have the space to park it at his house). Good Luck, Gene

A trailer compressor would definately help in sandblasting. I have a 125CFM Grimmerschmidt, but it needs some work.

milkie62 · Mar 8, 2010

Well I have the place to keep all the equipment.I am getting ready to build a 24x36 workshop with all amenities---welder,plasma,2 stage compressor,sandblaster.I definitely to not want to skimp and buy junk.I worked in a gigantic machine shop as a mechanic so I know what having all the nice stuff is like.I did not look at sandblasters up close so I thought all tanks were basically the same except for the extremities.That is why I thought I could just buy the HF setup and add on the better deadman and assorted parts and be ahead of the game.I looked at the Eastwood combo sand/soda blaster and when it is on sale seems like a reasonable item.I think I am going to build the TP cabinet --- the plywood take off with their plans and line it with sheet metal if necessary.I have alot of farm equipment that I want to restore along with JD garden tractors,so I already have alot of jobs for it.Will keep me off the couch and in better shape.Right now I am drooling over the new Sear's tool catalog that came in the mail.........

toy · Mar 9, 2010

milkie62 did they have the new miter saw in the catalog, the one with the adjusting fence? I saw the saw yesterday and watched a tv demo of it and it looked like a good idea [for woodworking not metal working]? I use a window screen to screen my blast material before reusing it, but I haven't did enough with it to know how well it works though. I don't remember if mine is a harbor freight unit or not, but I know this you won't use it with a short sleeve shirt on long until you will get proper clothing on. The unit looks like the harbor freight unit. I also have a blast cabinet that does a pretty good job on smaller stuff but I am going to put a strainer in it and do a few other things to it that I haven't done yet. I know you know this so I am saying it for myself if for no one else[ always wear a respirator every time you use it even for the small jobs].

joes_427_vette · Mar 11, 2010

Spudland Dave;
There must be some real cheap labor where your located. The cost to farm it out is over tripple what it is for me to do it. Then there is the hauling, pickup, sales tax, double price for media, labor, incidental costs ( ins. plus machine maint. ) They do it when they have enough projects to get a days work. I usually want it done on a moments notice.
I built a blaster out of a stainless 12 gallon barrel for less than a hundred dollars. Yes it is aggravating when it is humid and it plugs but it is part of the game. I can buy metal media blasting for 7 dollars a fifty pound bag. Recycle it three times and use it for fill. Not for everyone... but works best for me.