The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop sand blasters????

I'm going to buy a blaster and was wondering which is best. Are the one's you just pour the sad in or the one's you pressurize. Seems like you would spend more time bleeding air and taking the top off than blasting.

I bought a pressure blaster from TP Tools & Equipment ( www.tptools.com ). I use it at least once a week on something. It was the best tool I ever bought. I have done nothing to it other than add sand. I have owned it for two and half years now. The suction blasters will work, they are slower and use more air and sand. I run mine off a 5 HP, 30 gallon 220V Craftsman compressor. With the pressure type tank I can get away with about 75 PSI and still get the job done. For chrome bumpers or something backed on, I will turn it up to 90 PSI.
My advise is to buy the best you can afford. You will use the heck out of it and you don't need to be stopping to repair it. Hows you compressor, it will run quite a bit. You may need extra cooling fans and some type of air dryer. Joe

I have been going through the same considerations about buying a sand blaster. Here are several tips I have come across from different sources:

1. Do NOT use an oiler
2. Use different hose, from sand blaster to gun, than the one you will be using for painting. Make sure hose ID is sufficient to deliver required amount of air at desired pressure. A multiple steel braid hose is best but expect it to wear as media passes through it.
3. Pressure type sand blasters are faster because of increased speed they produce in the blast media. Most can handle all types of media
4. Syphen type (non-pressurized and usually lesst than $100) do not produce the "hitting power" to get most jobs done in a reasonalbe amount of time. May not be able to handle all types of media.
5. Seclect blast media according to material to be removed and base material. Some media will remove rust but not paint. Others will remove rust and paint.
6. Keep blast stream moving on thin metals to reduce heat buildup and warping. Different blast media creat different amounts of heat.
7. The smaller the air storage tank, the more the compressor will cycle.
8. Wear full protective cloting, including gloves, ear protection and head & face cover.

AAAHHHHHGGHGHGHGGH!!!!

Sand blasting does not create heat!!! The warping comes from putting the surface metal in compression . . . not from heat.

Just wanted to stop the incessant spreading of the overheated sandblasted warped part rumor.
:p

I'll agree that the warping comes from the air pressure and media. There is some minor heat involved do to the friction of the media. I know this from when I sand blasted my head at my dad's shop. I spent quite a bit of time on it and it came out warm but not hot. Just got to keep an eye on the pressure and the distance of the gun from the part.

John J: I was just in a local Tractor Supply Center, www.tsc.com They have a pressure type sand blaster for less than $100. Looks like a nice unit for a hobbiest.

Remember to wear all necessary safty clothing.

Ooops: Correct e-mail address for Tractor Supply is www.tractorsupplyco.com