new project, help..sand blast equip?

[Kmatts]

Hey all, so i'm just beginning to plan out my new project.
restoration of a 1959 Ducati 200cc cafe racer. It will require full restoration. I REALLY want to do as much of the work as possible on this. now...before i get flammed...i know its likely cheaper in the long run to send out parts for sand blasting...but i'd like to do it myself. I do not have a cabinet yet. can anyone recommend some equipment? for the frame, i was thinking of making a white trash booth out of cardboard and plastic inside my garage....in order to keep the clean up to a minimum. i've got plenty of lumber & drywall lying around, i could even make one out of that.
any help is greatly apprecited...as i have never sand blasted anything before.
happy friday all.
Cheers, Kyle.

[Rot 911]

For big parts like that get one of the outdoor sandblasting units. The real benefit of them is the canister is pressurized as opposed to the siphon units used on the blast cabinets and really works much better. They are also cheaper.

[RickM]

I think you could definitely make a very nice cabinet.
- Keep in mind you want it to seal very well.
- You also want to use a vaccum or vent system to deal with the large amount of dust (toxic).
- Build into the cabinet a media recovery/sifting system for reuse. This can be achieved by making a grate type shelf to place the part onto. Under the grate is an angled cabinet bottom which will funnel all debri into a container.

What type of compressor do you have? A large capacity unit (CFM and tank) would be best. You'd also want to efficiently separate/filter water out of the feed line.

A pressure fed blaster would make life a bit easier as well. Harbor Freight has pretty decent blasters for the price.

A google search will likely produce free plans.

[928ram]

Kyle,

When I was a kid, my Dad restored a '41 Indian much like you are doing; he built a booth out of 2x4s and plywood and covered it with plastic sheeting. The whole thing was about 4'x8', built against 2 walls with one having a window w/fan, simple stand in the middle built on a sloped sheet of plywood to collect debris/sand at the front. We kids got the job of manually sifting the sand for re-use. He built a hopper that fed to a simle siphon feed unit; blast till empty, then scoop and sift and go again. I forget what exactly he used for gloves, but they were attached to a thin piece of plywood with 2 holes cut. When the plastic got a bit cloudy, he just ripped it down and staple up new. The whole system worked quite well.

You might look into using some other media than plain sand (walnut shells is common), if you are able to recover and reuse then the cost won't be so much, plus it's safer dust-wise and easier on the parts.

[RickM]

Here are some sandblast cabinet gloves @ $24.99.... http://cgi.ebay.com/Cabinet-Sand-Blaster-Gloves-Sandblast-Blast-Media_W0QQitemZ7548767860

[Kmatts]

great ideas guys...thanks so much. i'm still figuring out what i need to buy in order to build all this. i.e. new compresser etc, mine won't cut it. so you guys think pressure fed is the way to go? fyi i don't plan on just using this blaster for this project.....i would like something that lasts and is of decent quality.
thank you so much for the info guys!!!!

[Dixie]

Sandblast the frame. Have any sheet metal parts, like the tank, bead blasted. Sand blasting sheet metal will stretch the metal, as well as work-harden it. (The net is you will have a tank that will be wavy forever.)

Get a pressure blaster, and a lots of play sand. A cabinet is not necessary.

[dad911]

Check out tp-tools. I bought Harbor Freights largest cabinet, but use tp-tools gun, pickup, and foot operated valve. Works great.

http://www.tptools.com/