Getting a bit frustrated with this thing. I guess that's what i get for buying cheap Chinese crap. How on earth do you get this thing to work?? I have only been able to get it to work sporadically. Runs great for about 1 minute and then I spend the next 15 minutes trying to unclog it?? The media is dry and i am not reusing.....any advice from someone that has used one? BTW it's one like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-10-Gallon-Magnum-Air-Portable-Sandblaster-3020_W0QQitemZ200272423375QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSande rs_Sandblasters?hash=item200272423375&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318


Also, I am using a 2 stage compressor putting out 17.4 cfm, I don't think that is the problem?

Could be the sand-

#4 has some chunks in it that are quite a bit bigger than the rest
#5 is a good size to use----fairly fine and won't beat up the metal too much
If you are using sand from Home Depot or Lowes (or such), that stuff is just too varied in size---I did this once and ended up screening all of the sand so I could get something done.

An air drier or separator is almost required to keep it from clumping.

did you sift the media first? Has it been used for a while? It gets finer as it gets used and will clump more with less moisture.

I cant view the link (work blocks it) but if it is similiar to the one ive used, I find that if you turn the bottom valve MOSTLY off it works better keeping less sand more air.

Sounds like your getting some moisture in your sand, what kind of an airline setup do you have and how many feet from the compressor to the blaster.

If its a gravity feed type I know what you mean. I fill the hopper and strap it to the painters tray(shelf) of a 6' ladder. The media will flow alot better when its higher than what ever your blasting.

If its a gravity feed type I know what you mean. I fill the hopper and strap it to the painters tray(shelf) of a 6' ladder. The media will flow alot better when its higher than what ever your blasting.
This helps a bunch thats what I did with mine.:yes:
Also dry air.
Dry sand.
Sift sand out.
Compressor with 100 psi constant is a big help.

Sounds like your getting some moisture in your sand, what kind of an airline setup do you have and how many feet from the compressor to the blaster.

I can't seem to figure out the multi quote on this so I apologize.

Rubadub, I use roughly 60 feet of black pipe with 2 filters at the end of the line (black pipe) which then connects to 50 feet of hose. There is also a filter/water separator at the sandblaster.

So basically, compressor----->60ft black pipe------>2xfilters----->50ft hose---->filter/separator----->sandblaster.


Twotone64, I have had to resort to that and I have noticed that as well. however, I can only get it to run decent for as long as I keep the sand flowing. The minute I stop, it seems it all gets clogged up.

And just to answer the rest of the suggestions/questions....no I have not sifted the sand since it's brand new and I don't reuse it. I'm startin gto think it's just crappy media. I picked it up at Menards (for those of you who know of Menards).

Clean the tank out completely, and do a good visual of the little bit of sand thats left in the bottom fittings, feel it with your fingers and see if it is moist at all.

Also get a piece of screen like you would put in a window, the fine type and sift everything.

Heres the sand I use. http://www.1969supersport.com/sb04.jpg

Its about $7 a hundred lbs at our local Fleet Farm store.

Heres the sand I use. http://www.1969supersport.com/sb04.jpg

Its about $7 a hundred lbs at our local Fleet Farm store.


........way cheaper than the $4 something I pay for 25lbs - I'll clean the tank out and give that a shot.

BTW. Does the sand you use kick up a lot of dust?

This sand is bad news for your lungs, I use supplied air, I won't touch a bead or sand blaster without it on. you can get some protection with a good respirator but thats it, some, you need supplied air.

I read in the news yesterday that the bad air in california kills more people then car accidents.

If I'm in my garage and if I do anything that raises and dirt or fumes, I put on the supplied air.

I use it for
sandblasting
beadblasting
welding
cuttin
grinding
sanding
painting
vacuuming
spraying my 3 dwarf apple trees
any wood working that involves dust
blowing off parts
around lacquer thinner or acryliclean

If I even think theres a speck of anything in the air, its supplied air city.:yes:

After you get used to learning how to use it, you don't even realize you have it on, to say i like it is an understatement, I love it.

But a paper hood only, I spent 20 years wearing full and half face respirators, they really suck.

i'm using a clarke 20 gallon pressure type. i tryed 40 grit and did the same thing clog instantly. switched to 80 grit and it worked great no clogs at all in the 2 hrs. of use.

i'm using a clarke 20 gallon pressure type. i tryed 40 grit and did the same thing clog instantly. switched to 80 grit and it worked great no clogs at all in the 2 hrs. of use.

I second that, same blaster, same issue w/ the media, later found out after reading the manual or something on the blaster itself (I forget) that its recommended for 80 grit or higher. I use the Clarke brand red garnet in 80 grit, works great although expensive, be careful using regular sand due to possible respiratory issues.

I read in the news yesterday that the bad air in california kills more people then car accidents.

If I'm in my garage and if I do anything that raises and dirt or fumes, I put on the supplied air.

I use it for
sandblasting
beadblasting
welding
cuttin
grinding
sanding
painting
vacuuming
spraying my 3 dwarf apple trees
any wood working that involves dust
blowing off parts
around lacquer thinner or acryliclean

If I even think theres a speck of anything in the air, its supplied air city.:yes:

After you get used to learning how to use it, you don't even realize you have it on, to say i like it is an understatement, I love it.

But a paper hood only, I spent 20 years wearing full and half face respirators, they really suck.

that must be why you've gotten so much work done on those floor pans :)

I second that, same blaster, same issue w/ the media, later found out after reading the manual or something on the blaster itself (I forget) that its recommended for 80 grit or higher. I use the Clarke brand red garnet in 80 grit, works great although expensive, be careful using regular sand due to possible respiratory issues.

This is true, but you also want to remember, it isn't just the media your using, the stuff your blasting off is airborne also.

We did a lot of lo and hi vol air sampling in the nuclear plant when any grinding or welding was going on, looking for anything connected to the radioactive part of it.

We would have a particulate filter with a charcoal filter behind in the air samplers, and we would send both of them to chemistry.

If you ever looked at a printout of what all is in the smoke, fumes and dirt from it you would be surprised. I'm just talking about the non radioactive material.

Even using a bead blaster with a vac on it, you should use supplied air, most of them leak, plus you have to open the door and then blow the parts off, fill the blaster and clean it etc.

You get near one and your into it. I'm not trying to scare anybody, but you need to pay attention to what your doing, they might not give you a problem with your lungs right away, but down the road you might.

I have gotten into it on occasion over the years without supplied air, even sandblasted with out a respirator, not a lot, but I've been there, i'm 67 and I don't have any respiratory problems, but it effects different people in different ways, so give it the respect it deserves.:thumbsup:

that must be why you've gotten so much work done on those floor pans :)

Listen youngster, I've got a good excuse, I'm old and slower then Moses, now in your case, aw nevermind.:D

If you have a deadman shutoff at the nozzle. You will need to shut off the valve at the bottom of the tank before you release the deadman, or sand will keep feeding into your hose and plug up everytime.

Listen youngster, I've got a good excuse, I'm old and slower then Moses, now in your case, aw nevermind.:D
No dispute from me:noway:

I had bought 2 of those egg shaped pressure blasters over the years and threw them both in the dumpster. I finally spent the bucks on a Snap On blaster and was really pleased with the performance. The valves on the Chi Com tanks are small. The snap On unit had way bigger valves. As far as sand, I've always used 000 sand. Try to keep your sand dry, I kept mine in a metal trash can out in the sun while using it.

The smaller sand just gets impacted thats all. I use 30mesh which i think is 80 grit.

If you have a deadman shutoff at the nozzle. You will need to shut off the valve at the bottom of the tank before you release the deadman, or sand will keep feeding into your hose and plug up everytime.

Good tip. Thanks.

Heres a little bit on sand blasting http://www.1969supersport.com/sandblst.html

Rob