Sand blasting tips anyone
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The sand your using doesn't have the sharpness this type of sand does. But you should use supplied air for this. I'm not sure what all play sand has in it, but I would recommend supplied air for any blasting, its not only the media that gets you it whats on the frame that goes airborne.
I blasted a frame about 20 years ago with this type of sand, without supplied air, just a regular building supply type respirator, plus a few other parts, and I still breathe okay, I quit smoking about two years ago, but I smoked steady for 54 years.
A friend of mine blasted his Camaro on the underside with just a face shield on, that was about 15 years ago, he's probably 50 years old, and he's smoked his whole life, and still does, it hasn't hurt him.
Black beauty and black magnum and some of that might not hurt you as bad as sand, its all coal slag, which has a touch of tritium in it, but low enough levels it shouldn't hurt you any. They don't like to mention that.
It sounds like you will get it eventually the way your doing it, kind of slow, but were all hobbist for the most part, so it really doesn't matter.
Anybody you know you could rent supplied air from and go to this more aggresive sand, would a rental company have one for sewer work or hazardous clean up, I don't know if service tech or what ever you call them, the guys you call in for septic tank backups and things like that.
I'm not saying its okay to use this sand without supplied air, I never would again, but just telling you my experiences with it.
Anyway, good luck.
Rob
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I blasted a frame about 20 years ago with this type of sand, without supplied air, just a regular building supply type respirator, plus a few other parts, and I still breathe okay, I quit smoking about two years ago, but I smoked steady for 54 years.
A friend of mine blasted his Camaro on the underside with just a face shield on, that was about 15 years ago, he's probably 50 years old, and he's smoked his whole life, and still does, it hasn't hurt him.
Black beauty and black magnum and some of that might not hurt you as bad as sand, its all coal slag, which has a touch of tritium in it, but low enough levels it shouldn't hurt you any. They don't like to mention that.
It sounds like you will get it eventually the way your doing it, kind of slow, but were all hobbist for the most part, so it really doesn't matter.
Anybody you know you could rent supplied air from and go to this more aggresive sand, would a rental company have one for sewer work or hazardous clean up, I don't know if service tech or what ever you call them, the guys you call in for septic tank backups and things like that.
I'm not saying its okay to use this sand without supplied air, I never would again, but just telling you my experiences with it.
Anyway, good luck.
Rob
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1,398 Posts
Alright then, find someone with a kick ass compressor and borrow it (or bring your frame there) in trade for a 6 pack! :beers:
The more aggressive sand (mentioned above) would probably be helpful too.
.
I think I will save enough money doing all the blasting myself to buy a decent new compressor. I will try the sand above.
How much difference does tip size make??? I using a siphon setup seems to be picking up sand great. If I can go 5-10% faster it may save me a day or two of blasting.
How much difference does tip size make??? I using a siphon setup seems to be picking up sand great. If I can go 5-10% faster it may save me a day or two of blasting.
With the pressurized units, if you don't have enough air supply, it will start out blasting pretty well but you will soon "overrun" the compressor and the air pressure will drop rapidly. At this point the sand starts gathering in the hose and not flowing well. You shut off the nozzle waiting for pressure to build up again and then when you open the nozzle all you get is solid sand with no pressure (until this slug of sand clears out). NET RESULT...you waste A BUNCH OF SAND, don't make very good progress and it takes even longer.
You may reply "I am re-using the sand, I can just scoop it up and refill the pot".....if that's what you are thinking then you are missing my point.
Beg, borrow, or steal a higher volume compressor....go sweep floors for someone that has the equipment to get it done efficiently....whatever it takes (legally). Look at it this way....you are going to spend a ridiculous amount of time blasting the frame at the rate you are going. If there's someone out there willing to let you do some work for them in trade then you will end up with a better end result. Call around to some sandblasting places and see if anyone will make you a deal.
A larger tip will get you nowhere...in fact it may make it worse. Larger tips require more air which you don't have.
You still have to get some paint on it....the frame will start rusting fairly quickly wherever you have blasted it.
You may reply "I am re-using the sand, I can just scoop it up and refill the pot".....if that's what you are thinking then you are missing my point.
Beg, borrow, or steal a higher volume compressor....go sweep floors for someone that has the equipment to get it done efficiently....whatever it takes (legally). Look at it this way....you are going to spend a ridiculous amount of time blasting the frame at the rate you are going. If there's someone out there willing to let you do some work for them in trade then you will end up with a better end result. Call around to some sandblasting places and see if anyone will make you a deal.
A larger tip will get you nowhere...in fact it may make it worse. Larger tips require more air which you don't have.
You still have to get some paint on it....the frame will start rusting fairly quickly wherever you have blasted it.
I did borrow the pressure blaster once and it did exactly what you said. I am doing a few things wrong. My tip is way too big. I measured it to be about.250. It should be more like 3/16 or less for my small compressor. I have another 2hp compressor I will hook up both compressors and try a smaller tip. It may get me around 15 CFM. I dont expect it to be a fast process but surly I can improve on it.
Next investment Big Big Big compressor and a Big Big Big sandblast cabinet.
Next investment Big Big Big compressor and a Big Big Big sandblast cabinet.
Go with Robs advice.....rental compressor, the right blasting media , a pressure blaster, and a VERY good respirator.
Check with your local equipment rental companies....most times they will charge 1 days rental for an entire weekend.
Look at the rest of your project....how many other things do you need to blast? I was suprised at how many things I need to clean and could do it with the blaster in one weekend.
I started out much like you are...then realized I was being "penny wise, dollar foolish" .
Check out Robs web site carefully, you could save yourself alot of time, money and hassle learning from his set up....I know I did.
Check with your local equipment rental companies....most times they will charge 1 days rental for an entire weekend.
Look at the rest of your project....how many other things do you need to blast? I was suprised at how many things I need to clean and could do it with the blaster in one weekend.
I started out much like you are...then realized I was being "penny wise, dollar foolish" .
Check out Robs web site carefully, you could save yourself alot of time, money and hassle learning from his set up....I know I did.
I had the same experience as Gary. I got lucky one time and had access to a body shop sized compressor and a nice TPTools larger pressure pot blaster. Took a radiator support (Olds piece...these have A LOT of surface area) and front suspension pieces..a arms, etc. The stuff blasted so fast it wasn't even funny. The guy was closing his shop and said "have at it...just go buy a new valve for the blast unit and some sand". That was a huge break for me on this particular car.
When I blasted my frame and body I used a borrowed 12HP compressor that put out more than double the CFM you are using and it was just barely adequate. You need a pressure blaster AND a larger compressor to support it. Once you have the necessary air, the type of media becomes less critical. I believe the nozzle on that blaster was 1/4", you'll be wasting your time with anything less.
Daisy chaining compressors together is a ridiculous idea. The gain you get with an extra 2HP will be negligible and you'll end up spending a month doing a job that should take a few days. Open that wallet and let a few of those moths out, your time has to be worth something.
Tom
Daisy chaining compressors together is a ridiculous idea. The gain you get with an extra 2HP will be negligible and you'll end up spending a month doing a job that should take a few days. Open that wallet and let a few of those moths out, your time has to be worth something.
Tom
I did all my small parts and it wasnt too bad a job but the frame is just too much. Im made a few calls and I can have frame blasted for 150 bucks. I think this will be the best money ever spent.
For my small parts I use a battery charger and plastic tub with water and baking soda. "Electrolytic rust removal" Its very slow but when part is done such as control arm I dust it off with blaster and it saves a ton of labor. It would be cool to put the frame in a tub to desust it but that large a pool isnt practical.
Thanks for all the tips.
For my small parts I use a battery charger and plastic tub with water and baking soda. "Electrolytic rust removal" Its very slow but when part is done such as control arm I dust it off with blaster and it saves a ton of labor. It would be cool to put the frame in a tub to desust it but that large a pool isnt practical.
Thanks for all the tips.
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