Which cheapo sandblaster from harbor freight?

[berettafan]

HF sells several types of blasters (drum, gun, etc) and i'd like to pick up a CHEAP one for a few clean up items on my car. For $15.99 I like the idea of this style; Anybody try this thing? I'm NOT looking for a $400 cabinet to take up space in my garage, just need to clean up small odds and ends (intake runners, some bolts, etc).

Also, would walnut shell be agressive enough for metal intake runners (below carbs) or is there a better choice?

[URY914]

Looks like you'll be spending more time filling that thing with sand than you will blasting. I like the kind with the hose you stick in a bucket of sand.

[widebody911]

I bought one of the HF pressure tank units, but I couldn't get it to flow sand properly, so I upgraded the hose and nozzle to professional-grade parts, and now it works like a champ. I probably would have been money ahead to buy the better blaster to start with.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

It's not so much the blaster itself but the compressor you're using.

I bought a decent one from "Bad Boys Blasters" out of Texas. Pretty nice, well-made unit. Wasn't too expensive either. You should be able to pull them up on google or I think they have a fleabay store.

[URY914]

Remember NOTHING from HF works like you think it will or should.

[berettafan]

URY on that we will have to disagree. i have several air tools from there that work perfectly. i did hit Sears for the impact wrench but the body saw, crimper/hole punch, air ratchet, inflator, etc. have all worked very well for me. saved a LOT of cash on that stuff. I tend to buy certain things from good brands (ie snap on digitorque wrench, SK flare wrenches, craftsman pics, etc) and other things that i just won't use much from cheapo sources.

Here's another style i'm looking at

[URY914]

beretta,
as you said, they have cheap tools. We agree on that.

[berettafan]

Yup. I still can't get over the set of metric impact sockets i got for $17.

they have offset ratcheting wrenches there now. i'm really tempted BUT i'll buy those at Sears if they carry them (just have to wait for them to be on sale).

[many944s]

I think you will find that walnut shell is too soft for what you want to do. Alot of times when it comes to dried up oil/fuel/grease the shell material will just smooth it out. Personally I use a medium glass bead in my blast cabinet, or if you want to go cheap, use baking soda! It won't pit your metal and a normal paper mask will save your lungs! You probably know this, but to play it safe DO NOT use the cheapo black coal slag from Lowes/Menards! Sure it works fast, but it will break apart leaving tiny sharp pieces in the metal, not a good idea for any part of an engine!

Hope it helps,
-Nick

[Superman]

Nobody's a bigger cheapskate than I am, and my advice is to avoid wishing you had upgraded. The one pictured will be frustrating to operate. You'll spend more time refilling than blasting. Another comment I'd make is that blasting makes a HUGE mess. HUGE. That is why cabinets are used. You'll see.
Use white sand.