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What's a good pressure blaster

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ED1966SS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm tired of constant problems with my old pressure blaster. It's a small unit that was sold by a company called Trumans which is now out of business. I'm looking for a decent unit that will hold at least 90# media. I see some on ebay that look pretty good. One made by Brut($300 w/shipping) and another called TexasBlaster($359 plus $56 shipping). Northern tools has a unit priced around $400 that look good and Harbor Freight has a 90# unit for $199. My price range is up to $500. What units are you using?

I have plenty of air as I run (2) 2 stage compressors (as needed) probably putting out close to 30 CFM at 90 lbs.
 
#4 ·
Image

A pressurized sandblaster I got from Eastwood years ago. Holds a hundred lbs. of sand and it really works nice.

You can see the dead man valve on this one, which ever one you get, thats the type of valve to have.

100 pounds of sand will last about 20 or 25 minutes, which works out good for me because I run my compressor about a half hour, ( duty cycle )then by the time I reload I have the half hour waiting time in.

I pointed out a few things about these blasters on my site if you're interested.

Its been a few years, but I think it was $300 0r $400, can't remember.

Anyway, never any problems with it.

I picked up eastwoods biggest bead blaster about 5 years ago, and that unit has never given me any problems either. I really like them and use them both a lot.

Get a good one, a good dead man valve and good control valves, sand has a way letting you know where the weaker part of your system is.

I have a siphon blaster, and its pretty much junk.

I don't use anything but sand in any of them, $6 a hundred pounds.

I'll get a picture of the sand I use.

Not trying to sell you on what I have, just letting you know this stuff works.

Rob
 
#8 ·
Yep, I was compairing it last weekend to the cheap Northern ones (in person), I would have bought the 90lbs one, but they do not carry it in either of the two stores near me. They only have the 110 version, but it is $80 more for only 20lbs more sand.

But as far as comparison, the guns are top notch on the ALC units, the cheap harbor/Northern units are just pure garabage in a comparison.


Rob, What CFM does your compressor put out @ 90psi?

-Todd
 
#11 ·
Not sure, but I bet a call to these guys would get some answers, they under stand the sand blasting game.

TP TOOLS & EQUIPMENT, Division Tip Plus Corp.
7075 State Route 446, PO Box 649, Canfield, OH 44406
Ph: 800-321-9260, 24-7 Fax: 330-533-2876, Tech Line: 330-533-3384, Ext 22

Rob
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Thanks for the replies. I have bought from tptools previously, but they no longer carry pressure blasters, just cabinets. I've also purchased from Eastwood and Northern. Looks like the ALC is a good unit.

One of the biggest problems with my old little unit was clogging. I've checked the valves, hoses, etc. and strain the material before loading the unit, but it still clogs. I think part of the problem lies in the 3/32 tips I have on the unit. I could possibly use a bigger tip, but then I would be refilling every 5 minutes.

Rob, Even though I have a remote air supply respirator I don't like using sand. I use 'Black Lighting' which is coal slag. I can get it for around $7 a 90 lb bag. Lasts much longer, less dust and is not as harmful to your health IMO. I like your line set-up with the steel pipe. I ended up using 3/4" copper but sometimes I think the steel would have been a better solution.

Todd, I don't think 14.3 cfm @ 90 lbs would keep up with continuous blasting unless you are using a very small tip size, probably not even then. Tip size is what determines how much air is required. I have two compressors that I run in tandem when I do a large part or blast for any length of time. They both run to keep up. One puts out 17.4 @ 100 lbs and the other in an older IR compressor that doesn't have spec's on it but I suspect it is at least 12-14 as it is also a 2 stage.
 
#15 ·
Ed, you can use a bigger tip, just throttle the sand valve down a little.

Are you sure your clogging isn't coming from condensation from your air lines. Just guessing here.

Make sure what ever blaster you get has a good quality set of valves on it.

Rob
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Rob, I run an electronic air dryer and a moisture trap at the unit(from TIP tools) so I don't see much moisture. The gun is from TIP tools so it isn't an issue of cheap components. I think the biggest problem is that the tank has a plastic sleeve with holes in it that allows the media to enter the mixing valve. I've opened these holes up slightly larger which helped some but I still get clogging problems at the gun and in the tank. It also never allows all the abrasive to flow out. Since the tank is small (holds about 25 lbs abrasive) I just think it's time to upgrade. Even if it's working well I seem to be refilling every 10 minutes. At some point you end up wasting so much time that it's just time to surrender and buy something better/larger. I think the ALC unit is what I will get.
 
#17 ·
rubadub said:
I buy it at a building supply place called fleet farm, quikrete makes it.

Rob
Click to expand...
Any home / building supply store will carry it. Home Depot, Orchard Supply, Lowes......Had to lug a ton of this stuff for my backyard project.
 
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#20 ·
Man it sucks to have a 60 gal compressor and not have enough CFM for a blaster. Thing will run almost everything else.

Goes to show - go big or go home.
 
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ED1966SS
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