Sand/bead blasting

[JasonB]

Anyone do any sand/bead blasting. I need to have a manifold bead blasted. In checking with my local machine shop, it's going to cost me at least $50. For $50, I can by a basic handheld sandblaster and nmedia. I'm not really trying to be cheap here, but I enjoy learning new things and would rather spent teh cash on tolld I will also use later.<br /><br />Are the small blasters usable? I'm looking at something like this: Sand blaster @ Amazon <br /><br />I could later construct a basic cabinet for small stuff and still have it portable for bigger jobs like blasting spots on a trailer or something. I already have a nice 5.5hp/27gal compressor.<br /><br />Is it a pipe dreama nd I would be better off having a pro do it, or is the lower end equipment usable enough for the job at hand and to learn with?

 

[ehenry]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Jason, I've done a bit of sand blasting and a $50 sandblaster aint going to do much. You have to have a compressor that can keep up with it. Your standard home compressor or a pancake type compressor won't. If you want it done right and be ready for paint or powder coating I'd bite the bullet and let the machine shop do it.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

If they magnaflux it and blast it I would let them do it[magnaflux checks for cracks]but if their just blasting try a body shop or shop around 50 seems high Glass bead tumbers do a nice job found at gen/alto rebuilders ends up looking like new I'am asuming your talking an intake if just exhaust forget about the magnaflux

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Too bad ya live so far away. you could bring it over and I would do it for ya or let you do it. Its actually kinda fun to see a piece of junk actually turn into something.<br /><br />Yep, your compressor is too small.<br /><br />$50.00 It will only take them maybe 15-20 Minutes. <br /><br />Make sure they bead blast it, sand blasting makes too rough of a finish.

 

[KRS]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Originally posted by dolluper:<br /> If they magnaflux it and blast it I would let them do it[magnaflux checks for cracks]but if their just blasting try a body shop or shop around 50 seems high Glass bead tumbers do a nice job found at gen/alto rebuilders ends up looking like new I'am asuming your talking an intake if just exhaust forget about the magnaflux

world's longest sentence ^^

 

[dolluper]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Your luckey I'm sure I could have made it longer geez I guess the periods disappered

 

[JasonB]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Thanks folks. That's what I was afraid of. All I will call may normal machinist tomorrow, havn't been able to get ahold of him yet. Maybe I'll like his price better. The $50 quoted first was ONLY to bead blast it. I'm guessing they charge 1hr minimum. I don't need it show quality, just clean enough to use and put a protective paint job on. For that price, I was thinking of investing in a tool I could do some small parts with later. <br /><br />I use stuff like this to collect useful tools. The converstaion sounds lsomething like "But honey, I can spend a few more $$$ and get a tool so I can just do it myself when I need to fix/clean/build ____ (fill in the blank) again.". Come on, I can't be the only one <br /><br />LD, thanks for the offer. It woul dbe a long drive

 

[one more cast]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Hold up Jason, I can run my TiP pressure blaster with my 2 hp high output craftsman compressor. I have to wait for the compressor to catch up but it works ok for smaller pieces like a manifold. I've completely stripped four complete motorcycles of all traces of paint with it. Don't waste your money on a non pressurized unit unless you are only using it for etching glass. You can get a cheap pressure blaster at harbor freight tools.<br /> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40925

 

[JasonB]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Thanks OMC. Looks like I'm borderline for that unit. My compressor is rated at 8.6cfm/40psi and 5.2cfm/90psi.<br /><br />The blaster you linked to is 60-125 working psi and 6-25 working cfm.<br /><br />Breaking it down, I'm estimating that I can produce about 7cfm, at 60psi.<br /><br />Hmmmmm, I have a HarborFreight outlet close by and just got a coupon in e-mail....<br /><br />I don't mind having to be patient with large jobs. I tend to work slow anyway. I have successfully painted a boat and two trailers which required letting the compressor catch up occasionally. I try to work it in a way its not constantly running.<br /><br />Which brings up another question. Is it possible to add air tank capacity safely by placing a tank in-line?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

The biggest problem with using a too small compressor is that it will run hot and make a lot of water. Big problem if the water gets into the sand.

 

[Matty1000]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Harbor Freight <br />Everything I or my friends have ever ordered from them has self-destructed within one hour of use. <br />It usually goes like this:<br />"Hey check this out, H.F. has this (insert tool type here) for $25, the name brand one I was looking at was $750. Hell, even if it works once it'll be worth it right?" <br />Well, it never works even that one time, and if it does, it winds up breaking in the middle of the job, and then I have to go buy the real tool, or borrow it from one of my "smart" friends.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Know what ya mean Matty. I have a number of tools from HF. I only buy ones that will get light use or are specialty items just for one task. I almost never buy anything electrical, but they do have decent pneumatic tools an other items.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

I bought one of those pressureized units from Harbor. First time using it, sand got into the filler cap threads a gaulled the threads bad. Put a piece of rubber in the top of the cap to seal against the pipe nipple coming out of the tank. No more problems.<br /><br />Watch for cheap pneumatic tools. Cheap ones will eat up a lot of air like a sandblaster does. It all goes back to you get what you pay for.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Yes, water will be a problem with continuous use. On my TiP blaster (bought it from Eastwood in the 80's) I have a blow back valve and it is a 2 second job to free up any clogs. With a small nozzle and my little compressor I could easily clean up a manifold before water became a problem. Make sure you use a water separator though. Harbor Freight will take it back if you have a problem with it. My $18 4 inch grinder is about 8 years old and I use it quite a bit, My $60 sds 1 1/4 roto hammer works great, my $20 recip saw has given me no problems. I like quality tools also but I just can't afford them anymore and with my arthritis I wouldn't use them enough to justify the cost.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

jasonb... you can add another tank, but all that does it give you more initial time.<br /><br />I had done this in the garage with my compressor, thinking at first, this is great, lot more tool time without compressor running, then it just took twice as long for it to catch up and had to work twice as hard and didn't get to cycle.<br /><br />If your using too much air, your using too much air. I do it all the time When I'm doing somthing really air intense, I take my cheap cambel hausfield loud as heck compressor, and hook it inline with the big compressor, gives that extra few cfm that you need sometimes. Worked great when building the kids club house, was able to use pneumatic drill and impact for the lags, both compressors kept up just fine, just one and it ran out.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Well, after looking around, looks like the HF unit is teh same sold under teh Clarke brand as TSC,a nd a few other I ran across. Since I was in the neighborhood today, I picked up one of the 20lb units OMC linked to so I can give it a try. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Originally posted by JasonB:<br /> Well, after looking around, looks like the HF unit is teh same sold under teh Clarke brand as TSC,a nd a few other I ran across. Since I was in the neighborhood today, I picked up one of the 20lb units OMC linked to so I can give it a try. We'll see how it goes.

Do post back Jason. I'll be interested to see how it works for you. I have one like you first posted and it does work. It does use up a lot of air tho and I don't think it has the force that would be ideal. Maybe the pressure unit is a good step up.<br /><br />I would really like to get an enclosed one. Just don't have any room to put it.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

jasonB, don't sandblast in your garage.....what I do is make a quick lean-to out of an old sheet to keep the sand from flying all over the place.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br /> jasonB, don't sandblast in your garage.....what I do is make a quick lean-to out of an old sheet to keep the sand from flying all over the place.

Extremely sage advice OMC I just did mine out on the back 40. Be sure to wear goggles and duct tape your sleeves and neck.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Sand/bead blasting

It may be a few days before I try it out, but I'll let you know what I think of it. <br /><br />I'm considering building me a a tapletop enclosure using somewood framework and thick plastic sheeting to contain the mess and reclaim at least some of the media to use again.