Sand blasting

dodge man · Oct 9, 2010

I bought a new sand blaster today. What an improvement. Its the style that has a 15 gallon tank that is pressurized. The old one I had was a Craftsman that had a container about the size of a briefcase where the sand was siphoned from it and it never did work very well.

I noticed it said with the new blaster not to use sand. I had some sand laying around and went ahead and used it, but I used a dust mask, and then a respirator because the dust mask kept fogging up the lense of the sand blast hood.

What are people using for blasting media? It says something about iron oxide, where can you buy that at? Does it work as well as sand? Are people still using sand and just being carefull?

yankeerider · Oct 9, 2010

I have never used sand. I think the primary concern is the threat of silicosis. I use Black Beauty, a slag product which comes in different grades. I have also used walnut shells when blasting softer materials where I didn't want to create a rough, pitted surface. I think sand may also be more susceptible to clumping from moisture.

/pine · Oct 9, 2010

...it said with the new blaster not to use sand...

Not sure but I think regular sand (silica) is not only harmful to breath the micro dust created...but it may also damage the oriface of the blaster nozzle ?

dodge man · Oct 9, 2010

Where can you get this stuff at?

/pine · Oct 9, 2010

Where can you get this stuff at?

tractor supply is one source...

dodge man · Oct 9, 2010

Thank you, we don't have one in my town, but there is one not to far away.

czechsonofagun · Oct 9, 2010

You can use baking soda too.

Redgoatea · Oct 9, 2010

I spent a few years sand blasting for an industrial precast concrete company. Silicosis is a danger but only if you inhale the dust. With the proper PPE the problem is eliminated. However any abrasive high velocity particle will wear out your nozzle in time. Sand is by far the cheapest material to use but as mentioned above it will wear nozzles out faster because it's the most effective.

beenthere · Oct 9, 2010

Where did you buy the sand blaster, and what brand did you get?
Pics would be great.

dodge man · Oct 9, 2010

I bought it at a local farm supply store called Farm King. It was a little less than 200 bucks. This is a picture of it, its a different color and has a different name on it but it is the identical unit. It works well.

SPIKER · Oct 9, 2010

silica sand also will leave a residue the will not take paint as well as a regular sand blasted surface. the silica lets the paint flake off after a while. black beauty is great stuff also available is glass beads many different types of materials work though.

Mark

kenmac · Oct 10, 2010

dodge man said:
I bought it at a local farm supply store called Farm King. It was a little less than 200 bucks. This is a picture of it, its a different color and has a different name on it but it is the identical unit. It works well.

Got 1 like it. Bought from HF years ago for around 80 bucks. works great

TWD · Oct 10, 2010

kenmac said:
Got 1 like it. Bought from HF years ago for around 80 bucks. works great

Yep, identical unit @ HF.

I haven't used mine yet but have had it 2 years+ too :laughing:

Black Beauty looks expensive. I have the large sandblast cabinet from HF too, and have glass beads for it, and Black Beauty would make sense. For the other type of blaster the one that you COULD trap the leftover Black Beauty in a tarp/canvas and re-use if not $20 for 25lbs seems PRICEY!!

What kind of rates is everyone getting for Black Beauty?

Frosty2 · Oct 10, 2010

That does seem too expensive. Haven't picked any up in a while but it's a waste by-product from the steel making process, ground slag. Used to get it for $6 for 50 lbs. couple of years ago. Shop around...

2458n · Oct 11, 2010

Was $8 now more like $20 now. I used to be able to buy from 3 different suppliers. Nobody is handling the "black slag" now. The company has gone to selling full semi loads to the people I had been using. To much inventory and dollars tied up.

Skyco · Oct 11, 2010

The Black Diamond brand blasting material is $8 for 50 lbs at TSC or NT.

allenr · Oct 11, 2010

dodge man said:
I bought it at a local farm supply store called Farm King. It was a little less than 200 bucks. This is a picture of it, its a different color and has a different name on it but it is the identical unit. It works well.

I've had a similar unit fot 2 or 3 years.

Works OK, better than most other low cost sand blasters.

Mine came with a ball valve on the end of the hose which wore out in a few hours.

I now have a bit of old garden hose on the end which I kink over to turn off.

The one pictured seems to have something better - I think I've seen one like that, was going to remember it's design with a view to making my own.

Sadly, can't remember much about it.

Kays Supply · Oct 11, 2010

Mine is made from an old freon bottle but pretty much the same. I just used it on a battery box this weekend. I used white sand. I used the rust stop on the bare metal. Will that hold or do I need to start over?