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Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:39 am
by Yogie
I have a small portable unit that I picked up at Sears. I've done a whole 54 blade, Cyclone seeder and several rims so far and I love it.
I do all my blasting at work after hours with endless air pressure, usually out on the gravel parking lot so the mess dosn't matter. I've found that the play sand picked up at most hardwares works just as well as the Black Beauty stuff at TSC

Yes it's a mess to use but I'm usually that way after work anyway.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:29 am
by randallc
Very interesting information in this thread, thanks. Right now I use the 4 1/2 inch grinder but been thinking about a small blaster. Don't do a lot, but the even with the grinding done outside it's a dusty mess with little shards sticking everywhere, but sounds like a blaster would be the way to go for bigger items.
Video for us please, Barnyard, on how it works for you.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:04 am
by Steve Butram
I have one of theses in my shop. It runs on a 5 HP single stage compressor with an accumulator tank sitting next to it. I found that every part from a cub will fit except for the torque tube ,steering shaft and hood.

http://www.tptools.com/p/868,54_960-Pro-Blaster-Abrasive-Blasting-Cabinet.html

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:31 am
by Gary Dotson
I'm on the list of "tried it, didn't like it". I have a fellow not for away, that has a large commercial blasting outfit and does my blasting very reasonably. After hooking up with him, I gave my portable blaster away. I do use my cabinet quite often, though. If I were looking to buy one, though, I'd certainly check out TP Tools, as Bill H. suggested. They're pretty much an industry leader in the blaster business.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:51 am
by Jim Becker
My cabinet was made by Trin-Mac. An unusual feature is a front door. With the front door, I rarely open the side. It is much handier for loading/unloading, many fewer steps when you open it up. One nice thing about the front door is that you can open it without spilling any media. The side door spills a little every time it opens. It is very similar to this one:
http://www.netmachinery.net/cgi-bin/sold/archive.cgi?db=zfinish&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=7804&query=retrieval
I got it second hand. The front door probably was an extra cost option.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:02 am
by scotlem
Jim Becker wrote:My cabinet was made by Trin-Mac. An unusual feature is a front door. With the front door, I rarely open the side. It is much handier for loading/unloading, many fewer steps when you open it up. One nice thing about the front door is that you can open it without spilling any media. The side door spills a little every time it opens. It is very similar to this one:
http://www.netmachinery.net/cgi-bin/sold/archive.cgi?db=zfinish&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=7804&query=retrieval
I got it second hand. The front door probably was an extra cost option.


I've got that same blast cabinet at work that I've used on many cub parts

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:20 am
by Rudi
I do most of my rust removal etc., in the electrolysis tanks, but sometimes you just gotta have a sand blaster. I couldn't see investing a whole lot into a unit for the few things I would do so I built my own. Sand Blaster on a Nickle and Dime Budget Since I have always had a commercial Devillbis lay-down tank and compressor I always have enough air.

One of my hope-to-complete projects is a blast cabinet. The TPTools kit seems to be the way to go. I have heard a lot of good about them. This is my preferred model mostly because I am not a pro and the pro series is way out of my budget.

Image

Build Your Own Cabinet - Foot Pedal-Operated System

If could afford to buy a prebuilt unit then this probably would be my preferred choice. Since I don't do a lot of sand blasting


780-TL Top-Load Abrasive Blast Cabinet

Image

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:11 pm
by Ray 59
We took a small grain bin cut a door in the side put a furnace fan in the top to pull the dust out you can reuse your sand and there is plenty of room

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:15 pm
by Barnyard
I have looked at a bunch of the ones mentioned, but so far none of them are big enough hold a jeep body or my trailer. :(

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:27 pm
by ScottyD'sdad
Barnyard wrote:I have looked at a bunch of the ones mentioned, but so far none of them are big enough hold a jeep body or my trailer. :(

Bill, get a small truck body, and make a walk in blaster. They have one at our ag achool, commercially made, about 8x12 feet. They wear a "space suit" tyoe outfit,inside the blaster, with the object being blasted. The unit has powerful exhaust fan, to keep the air clear and clean, inside. Ed

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:46 pm
by Barnyard
ScottyD'sdad wrote:
Barnyard wrote:I have looked at a bunch of the ones mentioned, but so far none of them are big enough hold a jeep body or my trailer. :(

Bill, get a small truck body, and make a walk in blaster. They have one at our ag achool, commercially made, about 8x12 feet. They wear a "space suit" tyoe outfit,inside the blaster, with the object being blasted. The unit has powerful exhaust fan, to keep the air clear and clean, inside. Ed

Ed, I have the blasting room figured out, I just need to know about a good blaster. So far everything points to a cabinet which won't work for what I intend to do.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:55 pm
by RaymondDurban
Bill, if you are intending to use a blasting room, then any portable blaster will suit your needs. The only question is your compressor size and matching it up to a blaster's CFM usage. You want the compressor bigger than what the blaster needs, and one that can handle being run continuously for long periods of time.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:54 pm
by Rudi
Bill:

Image to what Raymond said. You might want to consider the following:

100 Lb Pressure SandBlaster

10 Gallon Pressure Sandblaster

Along with a full SCBA or an External Air Supply Suit, mask and gloves this should work nicely. Lots of varieties around.

Harbor Freight Abrasive Blasters

or

Northern Tool Abrasive Blasters

have a wide variety as well. Depends on how much you really want to spend, how much quality you desire and how often you might use it. I would be more concerned about investing in a commercial quality lay-down compressor in the 5hp range such as a Devilbiss or equivalent, even a used one before I would get a cadillac sandblaster. I can't remember what compressor you bought or it's stats ... so just guessing.

My nephew has my father-in-laws Campbell Housefield 5 gallon upright and it probably would not handle one of these portables except maybe the smaller ones.

Re: What Sand Blaster?

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:18 pm
by scotlem
Located in Canton, Ohio. http://www.badboyblasters.com/. I've heard good things about the place from other forums and was going to try they're accessory replacement kit to upgrade my harbor freight sand blaster.

Re: What Sand Blaster? Thanks Jeff!

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:50 pm
by Barnyard
My good friend Jeff Silvey has offered to loan me his portable to see if that is what I want. Sounds like the best way to decide if you ask me. Let's see where this takes me. I won't decide until I try it. Thanks for the offer Jeff.