I'm thinking of getting an abrasive blaster to strip my truck. I'm considering this one. Is it worth messing with? I thought about paying to have it done, but have a couple other projects around the house I could also use it for. I have the time and space to do it, but would I get decent results?
Pressure Blasting is definetly the way to go. You will spend alot of time refilling a 20 Pound unit but they work much better than the Suction type blasters. What type or size compressor are you running as air flow CFM is also important. Make sure you wear a respirator.
make sure you have a dryer in your air line. it will get the sand wet and get clogged. make sure you some tarps down on the ground. cause sand is going to be ALL over the place and wear a good mask.
THINK ABOUT THIS FIRST!! Protecting your lungs is the most important part of sand blasting. Eye protection is right up there too. Also remember that anyone in the general are your blasting will be inhaling all that fine dust. Paying a shop that strips is the best bet in my opinion.
I have a 40# unit (similar to the one in your link) from Harbor Frieght that works well on small to medium stuff, I blasted my engine compartment with it using 60-80 grit sand. My recommendations: +If blasting large body panels dont concentrate on one spot too long as it will heat and warp the metal. +After blasting watch out for latent sand as it is in every crevis you didn't know existed and it will screw up a paint job (dont ask how I know) +If you get a big pot and want to do the whole truck walnut shells work really great. +You can gather, strain and reuse the sand if you want to. +Dont use black beauty as it is too large for the nozzle +Even with my 60 gal 6 hp compressor I had to stop to get the tank to catch up which is when I refilled the hopper. +If you want to mask it off like a pro, sign supply companies sell a roll of adhesive back rubber in widths up to 48" +Wear a good respirator, gloves, duct tape the sleeves to the gloves and use anti-fogging in the mask. Are you blasting the green chev?
What is the latest status on buying silica sand? I had read on here not too long ago they had banned it.
One of my neices had a bad reaction when we used silica sand. Don't use it. She was only around it when we weren't blasting but still she broke out with a bad rash and had respiratory distress just from helping us clean up the sand afterwards.
The small units work good,,,maybe a little slow,,but they get the job done,,,,,an inline dryer is a must and a big compressor helps a bunch,,,,, Use heavy gloves,,,and a sandblasting hood and a dust mask helps also!HRP
Thanks for the response. I have a good respirator, gloves, and it comes with a hood. I'm going to blast it in the woods away from the house, so the dust isn't a concern. [ QUOTE ] Are you blasting the green chev? [/ QUOTE ] No I picked up a '54 5 window at Webster last month. The '62 has to go to get it on the road.
I've got one those little pressure blasters. I just use blasting sand, it works fine, but it has a tendency to clog cause I have a ****py moisture trap. One thing I'd suggest you do what I did and get an abrasive sifter screen from TPtools.com. I sift all my sand and reuse what sand I can catch on my tarp. Saves a little cash and I don't get clogs anymore. Thing is you could probably save a bit more cash and make your own screen with a little wodden frame with some fine screen like is used on screen doors. It looks like the same stuff they used in the screen I bought.
Gl*** beads leaves the metal shiny. you need to keep the air pressure to 45 lbs. or less or you shatter the beads. Pogo
i bought the 100lb hopper pressure blaster from northern, works great except the cheap hood they give you has a plastic lens and scratches VERY, VERY easily.......you will be replacing it after a few days of blasting (dont wipe the lens use air). i just went to home depot and bought a big chunk of plexi gl*** and cut my own as needed. the blaster makes one hell of a mess, so don't it someplace you don't care about. also remember your going to blow the media on the ground so unless your going to scoop it up off the ground and sift it and re-use then go cheap. if your going to replace panels anyhow (and it's heavy rust) i used sand for blasting houses (90lb bag @ home depot is $5.00) if you want something less co**** then use the kiddie play sand (oooo it's sanatized)..........
I just bought the exact same blaster from TSC, 100 bucks, can't beat it. It works pretty well. I've sripped an old gas pump, and an entire RPU body. It has a drier attached to the top, next to the pressure gauge. Good, low cost, tool.
1. Sift your sand. 2. Dry your air. I modified my pressure pot and am getting much better results. I use two air compressors, one to pressurize the pot and the other to propel the sand. Normal is one compressor and the pressure pot splits the feed. The mod allows a better duty cycle and seems to blast harder.
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