Question on water sandblasters

[PineRidge]

Anyone here ever use or own a water sandblaster? If so what was your experience and where did you purchase the blaster from?

 

[LetsRoll]

I've never used a water sandblaster before. But I just purchased a dry blast cabinet from <font color="blue">Trinco</font> to sandblast some items to sell on eBay. If your wanting to sandblast your newly built snow plow, you could use a pressurized sandblasting pot. But, I would suggest using a filtered face mask with a hood over your head. I've done this before with good results. You could email or call trino about a water sandblaster cause they deal with industrial grade blasters. If your soul purpose is to clean up your new snow plow and you cant find any info on water sandblasters, I can direct you to some dry sandblasters since I deal with allot of hot rod projects (restoration that is). Just thinking off the top of my noodle(LOL), I wonder just how much water pressure it would take to run a wet sandblaster?

This is the sandblaster I just purchased from <font color="blue">Trinco</font>

 

[PineRidge]

In my younger years I got a lot of experience with a conventional sandblaster using it both outside and inside via a cabinet and exhaust fan. However, I have never heard of a wet blaster and wondered how well they worked since a Google search didn't bring up much info one way or the other.

I would think that with a water unit there would be no dust although eye protection might still be a must. I always worried about that silicosis thing anyway.

And yes, I'm already thinking that blasting the plow when it's a bit warmer would be the right thing to do to get it back into shape before hitting it with a splash of New Holland <font color="blue"> blue </font> paint.

BTW: That's a right nice blaster that you have there.

 

[Bully]

I used a water sand blaster years ago. It was from a rental yard. made from an eductor and power washer. There was about a 3500 psi washer, and around a 1/2" hose that fed into the sand. You had to make sure the sand was the kiln dried stuff, not just out of a pile. It was real hard to keep it dry. If it got moist, it would not draw up the hose to the eductor. when it was working, it worked very well, almost as fast as pressure washing moss off a sidewalk. but it was sure a pain. Gary

 

[LetsRoll]

Mike...

Thanks for the comment.

<font color="red">Google search</font>

 

[LetsRoll]

<font color="blue">wettechnologies</font>

 

[jeffinsgf]

I've got one, and like it a lot. It cleans large parts quickly. No hood necessary and the water washes away other crud, too. If you have a good pressure washer, that's just another reason to go this way. On mine, the pick up hose for the sand is long enough that keeping the sand dry is not an issue. It does use a lot of sand. I don't know if it is more than dry blasting, because I don't have a basis for comparison. If you have a gravel driveway, that is where I suggest you work. The sand and blasted paint goes everywhere and there's enough water that if you work in a yard area, you'll have a sandy, color-tinted mud bowl.

 

[PineRidge]

Jeff I do have a gravel drive so that should be the best place to blast. Where did you pick up your pressure water sand-blaster?

I also saw a post somewhere that said not to open the bags of sand but to merely insert the pickup in a small hole punched in the bottom of the bag to keep the sand dry as it was being used.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I got mine from PressureWashersDirect a couple years ago. I just checked their site, and the model I have isn't there. I found one very similar on another site. Ultimatewasher.com has three listed. Mine is most like the one in the middle. I like the design of that one, since it has the quick connect that will mount to your wand. I have to change the tube at the gun. When I had a big job, I would rip a small hole in a bag of sand and put in the pick-up tube. When the bag gets fairly low, you start shooting more air than sand. After a couple bags, I pour the bottoms of the bags into a 5 gallon bucket. I don't know who was having a problem with wet sand, but I never experienced this.

Make sure you buy a unit matched in pressure to your washer.

 

[mahlers]

I've used a Karcher sand blaster attachment for a while, and they really do work well. They work especially well if you're removing old paint from masonry or other non-rusting surfaces. They work well for removing paint/rust from metal too, but the surfaces re-rust really quickly.

I think the trick to using these things effectively is to find a source of sand that is dirt cheap. I went through bags and bags of sand with mine, and it started to get pretty expensive. On the good side, these units will handle rough sand without too much trouble, so if you live near a beach, you can sift your own.

You can get them from many suppliers. Just Google (or Froogle) 'Karcher "sand blaster"' and you'll see a few sources. I got mine straight from Karcher and it was reasonably priced.

Wear goggles - there have been many times where I thought I only had a drop of water hit me in the eye and it turned out to be a chunk of sand or paint...

 

[PineRidge]

Sorry I didn't respond sooner. Thanks for all the info & links guys, looks like I'll be making a purchase and do the blasting job myself.

 

[Richard]

I saw a stepvan, probably 6 months ago... I swear it had a sign on the side of it saying "dry ice sandblasting" or something to that effect.

I was scratching my head as it was inferring you could "sand blast" using dry ice???

Was this real or was I off my medication that day?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

(serious question, I really saw it although it might have been worded different)

 

[ronjhall]

It's for real. I was at GM plant a few years ago. It was being used to clean carriers for tire and wheel assemblies. When job was done. The only thing that had to be done was vacuum up the dirt. But it was very noisy.
Do a Google search for "dry ice cleaning" lots of hits.

 

[GaryM]

I work at Boeing, and Dry Ice has been used for paint removal on aircraft for a while. Here in St. Louis a new process was developed a while back called "Flash Jet". It uses a HIGH POWER flash lamp to actually disintergrate the paint right off the surface with no damage to the surface itself. Noting but light touches the surface. Doesn't work too well on concave surfaces and inside angles though.

 

[PineRidge]

Flash Jet? I'll bet you need to wear some serious eye protection to keep from burning your retinas when your working with lamps that bright.