DIY Sand Blasting

[smestas]

I'm in the middle of my rebuild and I was going to have a bunch of stuff sand blasted. Instead of paying to have it done I was researching what it would cost to purchase the tools to do so. I found this guy at the SEARS website. Has any one here used this kind of setup and comment on the quality of the blaster?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00916708000

[addictionMS]

yep, I did my whole car with just that sand blaster, well it really was the 50 lb one. It works great, just be sure that your compressor is up to the job, mine was marginal, it is a Craftsman 5hp 30 gal one.

Plus get a few extra nozzles right away, once they are worn out you loose a lot of effectivness

Jim

[Randy Webb]

Depending on what you sand blast you may have a toxics problem. Esp. if it is really old rust-resistant paint (contains lead). How old I don't know. But I don't think they got the lead out of house paint until the 1970s -- maybe that's a guide.

I would not risk it. How much ar eyou gong to save after you buy all the equip.?

[widebody911]

I have the Harbor Fright [sic] 40lb pressurized blaster - the one that looks like a red propane tank.

Out of the box, it sucked. I upgraded the fittings, hose and nozzle, and now it works like a champ. The only problem is, after the upgrades, I'm $20 over the price of a nice one at the local industrial blasting shop (Temple Associates, Sacramento).

I use #80 Australian Garnet ('mate!). It works very well, and you don't have the silica issues. I used to try and filter and re-use my sand, but now I don't bother, for a little blasting as I do.

There are industrial places that you can take a car to be blasted; Perfect-It in Rancho Cordova specialises in blasting, painting and powder coating stuff; they charge ~$70/hr to blast a car. They quoted me $1500 to blast and prime a VW bus.

[RickM]

I've used many different types of gravity/siphon fed sandblasters with much success. I recently decided to step up to a pressure fed unit. The prices have gone down considerably in just a couple of years. When shoppin around I found that the low cost units came with very hefty shipping fees. I finally stumbled on this 110 lb pressurized blaster deal and pulled the trigger. If interested you may be able to call and get the same deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2336759029

(805) 388-3000 and ask for Maria Rivera at Ext. 5560

[smestas]

Originally posted by Randy Webb
How much are you going to save after you buy all the equip?

I think I won't save to much for what I’m trying to accomplish (fan, pulley wheel, engine tin, fan housing, intake runners, and exhaust pipes) but I will own my own blaster for future uses once all is said and done. The original one I linked to is the 100 pounder but I think all I'll need is the 50 pounder, which is 49.95 aside from air compressor, which I already have. All that Ill be missing is the actual sand itself. Where do I get some of that stuff?

[jpnovak]

If you are just cleaning up small parts, get a small cabinet. They will recycle the media and work well. I got one for about $70/shipped on ebay. Its big enough for a single wheel.

I got my media from McMaster-Carr.

Jamie

[jester911]

If you are only going to use it once you might think about renting what you need. In my work I recently had to rent a sand blaster for a painted metal roof that had to be stripped. It used a pull behind air compressor.

It made short work of the paint. If you have a compressor that will handle it then it would be even cheaper.

[catuck]

You can pick up a siphon sandblasting gun at Home Depot for $15 and a 5 gal. bucket for only a few bucks. You'll need a big compressor to keep up if you're going to do a lot of blasting. A small portable compressor could overheat if it's constantly running.

I picked up a small blasting cabinet from Northern Tool and Equip. Co. for around $140: Sandblaster Cabinet ]sandblaster cabinet[/URL] - this works great for small items and you don't get sand in your hair! Plus it recycles the sand. I fit a 16x7 Fuches in it.

[catuck]

try that link again: Sandblaster Cabinet

[dc96819]

I did my engine compartment with a blaster i got from Sears,and what a mess.I ended up throwing it away.The Sears blaster works fine but you will need a big compressor tank to keep up. I used silic sand from home depot,was $3. for a 50 lb bag.Have fun.My car was done with some kind of shell blasting so the metal was not pitted that i was told when i had it stripped and repainted.

[dad911]

If you have the room, Harbor Freight has a fairly large cabinet that goes on sale for $199.

[RickM]

Regarding the mess: Yes these certainly make a mess. I usually do it outside after making a temporary enclosure out of clear plastic and duct tape. Additionally, the warning of breathing the silica dust in is good advice.

Using a small compressor will also introduce more moisture into the air supply as it it is working harder than it should if not properly matched with any tool. Be sure to have a compressor based moisture trap and one near the tool. Nothing worse than water in your media.

[rjp911]

I have the HF unit, propane tank looking. Personally I don't think it's worth the mess and cleanup to sandblast yourself. Anyone wants to buy this unit from me cheap let me know, but I won't ship. I don't see me using it again.

If any one is near Lake Elsinore, So. Cal there is a guy on Grant St. who sandblasts stuff who I think is very reasonable on price. I used him instead of finishing the parts myself.

[RickM]

RJP,

Which unit did you get? Is the mess and cleanup the only thing you dont like about sanblasting/this unit?

[kcope]

I have the 50 lb setup and it works ok with the large 175 psi 25 gal Sears compresser.
I'm currently doing a Frame up restoration on one of my Triumphs. It took me about a week to do the frame. The compresser can't keep up, but I save the sand so I stop frequently to gather up the sand, adjust the equipment, change the lens in my hood and any other little tasks that need doing while the compresser catches up.
With a small compresser don't go any larger than 1/4 " on the nozzles. The gun has a air orifice and a nozzle. Make sure that both are right for the setup you want. (small orifice and small nozzle etc.) I'm quite happy with the setup.
Get a hood, their a pain to wear but really work well keeping the sand off your head and from going down your shirt.
I just got the larger Eastwood Bench top sand blasting cabinet and it works great. I'm going to hook up an inside light and a foot pedal. I also have a small shop vac hooked up to it. You pretty much have to use a vac or your garage fills up with dust. A small 30 dollar one works fine. I also use a small orifice and a 13/64' nozzle and I'm able to maintain 90 psi with no problem.

[rjp911]

I've got the 40lb pressure unit. My compressor is Sears 5HP with 20 gallon tank. I don't think the compressor was up for the task. To me it just isn't worth the setup, cleanup and constant adjustment, adding more sand, etc. If you can find someone local to do your stuff, that's what I recommend.

I'm not lazy...I do all my own prep and paint work, but the sandblasting just wasn't worth it.

BTW, I had an MG shell I rebuilt blasted for $300, at a powder coating facility. Came out great.

[RickM]

Ken,

Those plexiglass hood lens can be hard to find and pricey...at leat where I am. I extend the life a bit by cutting out a clear transparency sheet and using that as a cheap lens protector.

[project935]

I have a TIP 70lb pressure sandblaster that I've been using on my projects the past 10 years. Works great, but as others said, you need a compressor that can keep up. Cabinets work great (usually siphon fed) - there are some DIY plans/kits out there too that work well.

After blasting 4 vehicles though, I've gotten tired of the cleanup and hastle of dealing with sand in/around the garage and the car (its never totally gone). I just found a local commercial blaster that will blast my tube chassis for less than $200 - $ well spent for such a large and multi-angle project. I'll post some pics over the holidays.

[kcope]

Thanks Rick
I didn't include any advice on that because most people come to the same conclusion as you and I.... Too expensive! My brother-inlaw hooked me up with a bunch of lexan of the right thickness. They use it at his work for packing material. So i'm all set for now. My local Home Depot also has a decent selection of lexan and plexiglass. By the way although plexi is cheaper than lexan its harder to cut (melts), cracks easily, and scratches faster. The thin lexan can be cut with metal shears. I did some checking and if I buy a sheet of lexan and cut it myself I can drop the price to just under a buck... Eastwoot charges almost 4 bucks a lens.
I'm also gonna check these folks out http://www.palcoplastics.com/ and see if they have what I need. Their local and they sell retail.