Sand blaster

[Pilot]

I have had 2 cheapie sand blasters. Both would flow for maybe 20-30 seconds then stall. Shake the thing then it will start blowing sand again.
Sand is dry.

Now I have another project that needs blasting rust off some steel and I want to get a blaster that actually works. So I am looking at some HF units with starting prices of $75. If I go higher will it actually work? Anyone with experience with HF units? Any one with good experience who can make good recommendations? I am not looking for a cabinet unit.
Thanks.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A friend of mine gave me a new HF type of pressurized blaster. Maybe five galones or larger. I had so much trouble with it, I threw it across the parking lot and returned it, all smashed up, getting my money back. (Princess Auto) They never asked, and if they had I would have told them exactly what I thought of it.

Sorry, I can offer no advice. I just take my work to get done by pros.

 

[dodge man]

I had the kind that was the suction type, it also didn’t work great. I now have the kind that is a pressurized vessel and it works well. I can’t remember how much it cost or what brand it is.

 

[newbury]

I have had 2 cheapie sand blasters. Both would flow for maybe 20-30 seconds then stall. Shake the thing then it will start blowing sand again.
Sand is dry.

Now I have another project that needs blasting rust off some steel and I want to get a blaster that actually works. So I am looking at some HF units with starting prices of $75. If I go higher will it actually work? Anyone with experience with HF units? Any one with good experience who can make good recommendations? I am not looking for a cabinet unit.
Thanks.

How much of a sandblaster do you need? Is the project big or small? Does it need to be done quick? Do you need to be concerned about environmental regs?

I ask these questions because I've wanted to get a sandblaster for decades and was about at the point of buying one before Covid came along.

I've decided I don't need much of a sandblaster - I'll be able to set aside a project area and take my time for all envisioned projects. For example I'll do the tractor hood, repaint, then a fender etc. and it may take a year to do the entire tractor. I'm not concerned about blowing sand around because I use PPE and the nearest neighbor is several hundred yards away.

One of my buddies when I was in college bought an old rusty MG. and a SMALL compressor with a cheap sandblaster. He'd take a panel off, tape it up, put it outside on a plastic tarp in the Vermont summer, blast it down, taking his time. His compressor was small and slow, so he would rarely blast for more than a few minutes before taking a break for the compressor and gathering the sand off the tarp for reuse. Then get a coat of paint on the newly sanded surface before quitting for the day. Took him many weeks of short periods of work. Probably took him a week just to sandblast/cover coat one door. It rains often in Vermont. But he did a great job.

But many people need to do an entire trailer, sand and get a coat of paint on in one day which requires much better equipment. And if they are doing it where blowing sand all around is a concern there are more complications.

 

[3Ts]

I agree with Newbury's post. Since you mentioned that your sand is dry, I'm assuming you are aware of the need to keep moisture out of the air. That is key. I have a shop compressor and a "radiator" of copper pipe to cool the air before it gets used and have a water filter on the sand tank. I use a Harbor Freight pressurized sand blaster and after figuring out how to use it, I'd say it works well. When I first tried to use it, I was ready to throw it away, but watch some of the youtube videos. Once you get it set up right and get the sand and air mixture right, it works good. I also replaced their pistol grip nozzle with the dead man switch one and like it a lot better. The one thing I'd prefer is a longer hose between the tank and the nozzle and longer legs for the tank.

 

[TractorGuy]

I had one like this for years. Air Sand Blaster Nozzle Gun Equipment Sandblast Sandblasting Tool with Tube - - Amazon.com

It worked okay as long as the sand and air was dry.

I HATE sand blasting. Had a job as a teenager blasting rust from around Chevy windows. Got a spec in one eye once and the doctor had a scope that took up half the room before he could find it.

I no longer consider blasting. I wire brush, treat with phosphoric acid, prime, and paint.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Theres def. an art to sand blasting w a pressure pot.. & the set up is crucial..
Theres abunch of videos on utube showing how to set-up an outdoor system..
u have to regulate the air & add adjustable valve..
I dont know all the "tricks" but its worth a look on utube..
Good luck..

 

[ray66v]

I have owned a lot of different sand blasters over the years, from cheap siphon units to large pressurized units.

For the average Joe, doing small projects, where you can get buy with a cheap hand held unit is about the limit.

It costs so much money to buy a decent large sand blaster, the media, a big enough compressor to run it, and a good air drier to keep from spraying water all over the steel you are trying to clean, that for many, you are far better off to have it done professionally.

You also won't have to worry about wearing out valves, nozzles, and hoses. Or, health risks associated with heavy exposure to the dust.

If farming it out is not an option, I would suggest a good angle grinder with a selection of quality, flat and cupped wire wheels. As well as a die grinder with smaller attachments.

Then, use a small siphon sand blaster only for the areas you can't get into, or get completely clean.

It can be done effectively this way, if you are willing to put in the effort.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A customer of mine used to have a large cabinet blaster, I could go in and use whenever I wanted. Great for little rims and stuff. That is what I would like to have, but don't have any constantly heated place for it to reside, nor any spare shop space. Outside blasting makes a terrible mess.

 

[JPRambo]

Back about 7 or 8 years ago I was rebuilding a 1965 Chevelle. I needed to blast a lot of the parts before powder coat. My brother and I built a blast cabinet out of 2sheets of plywood and a tube of caulking. Used parts from a blast-from-a-bucket kit. We got a old refrigerator and put a 50' roll of 1/2 inch copper tubing in side it running through holes in the side. Put a water separater after the frig connection. We could blast for hours with no worry of water getting to the sand.