Sandblasters - gravity feed tank or pressure feed tank?

I don't know the difference, but I am buying a small $200 useless sandblaster to do my '50 with. Nothing special obviously, I just need to blast some of the car and don't know which one or why. Any one care to fill me in please?

 

Go with pressure only unless ya got a lot of time!

 

I had both..pressure a clear winner.

 

I bought a piece of junk from harbor frieght, and I have yet to get it to work, and they are soooo helpful to tell me whats wrong with it and why it doesnt work.....

 

pressure feed is better if you have a big enough compressor and can keep the moister out of it. Takes alot of air

 

Yep, pressure is the winner by far. I sweep up and recycle my sand about 3 times before it becomes so fine it doesn't do anything anymore. I'm using a 5 hp 60 compressor with a 1/2 inch air line running to the blaster.

 

I've got 2 big pressure blasters that I run off a Gardner Denver portable air compressor (big pull behind, with 4cyl Continental)...

If it wasn't such a mess I could use them to skin deer...

 

You got the right setup-small compressors make sand blasting a real drag!

 

Had a siphon feed from a bucket before I got a pressure tank blaster.

Go with the pressure tank. I run a regulator on the feed and have about 60 lbs pressure in the tank. 1/2 ID inch air hose to the tank. Very happy with it.

I use play sand from HD. sift it to get the rocks out. You use a lot less sand with a pressure tank.

I have a 5 hp comp and it will keep up with continuous blasting and actually shut off while blasting.

TP tools or TIP. Makes a real good unit. Mine is called the 99er. holds about a bag and a half of sand.

DRY sand is the answer. I buy sand way ahead of time and keep it in the garage in the bags it comes in. New sand from HD is too wet to use.

 

Most of those small blasters like the HF ...need the sand restricted a little or they get constipated. I used to turn the sand valve off and feed it a little until I found a good flow, about half usually.

 

Exactly right. mine works the same way. Actually blasts a lot better with a small amount of sand feeding thru.

 

Definately pressure, with lotsa dry air.

 

I would also recomend if your compressor doesn't have a dryer hang one on it...

I use aluminium oxide that we get free from a place in Lincoln that builds missles... They're only alowed to use it once...

Oh and buy good blasting tips!!! There's alot to be said about good tips... I turned a few on the laithe out of steel and they work great, and barely wear... But buyin' good ones is a hell of alot easier..

Also if you plan on keeping alot of media around those big 35 and 55 galon plastic drums (with the removable tops) are great for storing it, and they're nice and tight..

 

Be sure to buy the BEST dust mask you can find. Sandblasting can really mess up your lungs.

 

Thanks for the replies. I just have this old thing, I suppose it'll do.

135psi, 6hp, 25 gallon upright. Has regulators.

 

That will certainly work. Siphon feed works O.K. for small items. I'd hate to blast an entire car with one. (not that you couldn't)

 

The best set up is the one I dont own. So, jobbing it out to the local powder coater has the best results. I hate sand blasting.

 

ahhh finally ! thats whats wrong with mine.I bought it just for small stuff an it clogged up all the time! I guess I was used to big pro sanders.

 

dosent anybody use Black Beauty instead of Sand??

 

Do yourself a favor and be sure to get a "deadman" shutoff, they work much better than the ball valve type.

For the record I use black beauty. It does a great job and is 99% silica free.

 

I saw a couple of things on here, first DO NOT blast with play sand, it would be ok if you have a supplied air hood, otherwise don't! it's full of silicon and you will end up with siliconosis , also it's full of quartz and once it gets in your lungs,it stays there, it can cause cancer down the road, very very bad stuff, I was taught even as a little kid how dangerous it is to blast with it. fine with supplied air and a full hood, don't do it if you don't have one. also how are those tips holding up from the lathe? and what kind of steel did you make them out of? I've made dozens for the media blaster, and they wear right out, even after hardening them . Also watch out for a product from 3M called starblast, we were using it at work and of course no one bothered to read the label, causes ACUTE lung damage, that means immediate damage.

 

Fresh air is like good lovin'--- As long as you're gettin' all you want it's no big deal, but when it goes away you won't think about anything else! PROTECT YOUR LUNGS!!!
Get a good air dryer, when the compressor gets hot from the marathon it will be running trying to keep up with the blaster, the heat will condense the ambient moisture in yoyr line and there will be a damp halo around your blast pattern. This is not welcome on bare tin and will stop up the nozzle too. Ask me how I know...
Gando

 

Pressure for sure, have to keep moisture out or your blaster will be clogging every few seconds. Pay attention to the material you blast with. Sand builds up heat and can warp the metal. Abrasives come in different grits too, you have sand, plastic, walnut shells, aluminium oxide, baking soda. They all have their good and bad points. Do your homework before starting. I had fun on my first sand blast project...... a Mr Softee ice cream truck.

 

Here's a good "Blast School", tells you a lot about it.

http://www.texasblaster.com/index.php?blockitemid=30

 

For best results with a pressure pot;
Start with the sand valve shut (air flow only). Then slowly open sand valve only enough to get the sand to flow. It will take a little playing with this adjustment to get the desired mix of AIR and sand.
The nozzle type is another important item to consider. Not the material they are made of but the internal shape. Strait - for a concentrated blasting pattern. If used with high pressure or not enough distance from work, can burn (warp) thin material.
Tapered - for a conical type pattern with a soft edge to the blast area. Best for thin material and produces a more uniform surface.
There is NO subsitute for CLEAN (oil free), DRY AIR.
ALWAYS wear a respirator.
Wear protective clothing.

Good blasting.

 

I forgot to mention the supplied air hood.. That's a must.. I've got a dust mask from Harbor Freight..that thing sucks.. But the air hood is sweet, does get hot in the summer though.

The tips I turned out work great, I'd say they last 3x as long as a normal ceramic tip, they do wear but not as fast.. It was just 3/4 steel rod I turned down and heat treated...

The thing about wear is I don't notice it much because I have such a massive supply of air.. The welder down the street gives me all his ceramic tips when they're to wore out for his blaster.. He uses tips with a pretty small hole because he doesn't have a very big compressor and when they wear even just a bit he's done... I can use 'em 'til they're totally shot.... But basically if you had enough air you could blast with a vacume cleaner hose and no tip...

I'm not a big fan of play sand either, I never seem to be able to get it dry enough.. But the aluminium oxide I run is pretty good stuff, and when I run out I can go get another 7,000lbs or so for free...

 

Also, If your lookin' at buyin a blaster but can't afford a big 'un here's what I did...

There's a couple ways to do do this.. If you've got a good size propane tank (the tall ones that are about 2 1/2 feet wide or so) Take and cut the domed top off, clean the inside of the tank out, put the top back on but upside down, so it's like a funnel.. If it doesn't have one, cut a hole in the center weld in a hunk of pipe thread the inside of it so you can fit a threaded plug in it.. Weld a little handle on the plug so you can spin it on and off easily.. Move on to the bottom set it up so you've got an inlet for air, and an outlet for sand/air.. Make 2 legs that you can attach an axle and wheels to.. And then a leg on the front so it won't tip over. And then make a handle to push it around. Weld on two little L brackets to hold your hose.. Maybe another to hang your helmet.. Paint it all up and your good to go..

You can also do the same thing with an air compressor tank, I've got a big stand up compressor I turned into a blaster, and a smaller craftsmen compressor I turned into a blaster for little shit..

You don't have to cut the tops off and flip them on the tanks, but I did because it makes it easier to pour media in... Way easier than trying to pour a 50lb bag of sand in a little funnel.. If the shop wasn't closed in by snow drifts I'd get you guys some pictures..

 

think of using a siphon blaster like drinking a slushy. It goes good at first but after a few minutes you have to start shaking it around and beat on it to get anything out. Even if you got a pressurized unit the size of a bbq grill tank you would be better off.

 

I use Black Beauty in my blast cabnet,love it,get a magnafiy glass and ck it out some look star shaped.i like a cabnet ,small parts,cause i hate sand in my hair for 3 weeks.This tip might help with a pressure blaster,with first time user,try to set it up on a wooden box ect about a foot off the ground.It is so easy to set the flow of the sand while you blast.But give it time between adjustmentsMaybe 30 sec if you have a small unit...................YG

 

I used a old aluminum tank....pressure assist.....I found plans of it on Yahoo...works pretty good