The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop sand blaster questions

I need help deciding what kind of sandblaster to get. I want to spend as little money as possible but still get the job done in a reasonable fashion. I have read about all I can find about the subject and the choice of whether to go with a siphon unit or a pressurized unit. I am doing a full ground restoration on a 51 five window cab so everything is coming a part. Can I get away with a siphon unit? Or will it just be so slow that it will be not worth saving the money? Does anyone have any suggestions on some affordable blasters? Thanks!

I have never used a sandblaster before, but from what I have read here on the 'Bolt they are fine for frame work but not for sheet metal. Too much heat from friction and causes warpage and distortion.

I am assuming that if you don't sand blast then you use some kind of chemical treatment? What do you do to remove rust, paint, and bondo from the body? I have read that many times chemical rust removers can bubble to the surface and ruin the paint and all of your work. I have always read and heard that proper sand blasting is the way to go. Your thoughts. Thanks!

Speaking from my own experience, I can tell you
it takes a huge amount of compressed air to get the job done. I have a Sears 30gal, 6hp unit and
it didn't even come close. I ended up taking
every nut and bolt off and called a sandblasting
business to come out and do it right. He did
it with a huge truck unit in about 5 hrs. I
don't know what size tank it would take, but I'm
sure the cost of it would be way over what I had
to pay to have it done. If you have a need for
a large compressor, other than for sandblasting,
then it would be worth buying the large unit.
Cecil..........

I have a 60 gal. 7.5 hp compressor and a $50 siphon sand blaster. It works, but as others have said it is slow. I have done my frame (or at least sections of it), it is time consuming because the compressor is almost constantly running. I usually sandblast for 5-10 minutes, let the compressor catch up and wait another 10-15 minutes. Basically, it does the job, but it is a slow process with my setup.

There's another side effect about doing your own sandblasting. If your not real carefull about covering up your sandblasting area, EVERY cat in the neiborhood will find your sand pile and like it! :mad: If you know what I mean. :mad:

Here's what worked for me. I bought a tank type pressurized unit from Harbor Freight. I hooked it up to a 5HP compressor and it seemed to work OK. I got the sand from HOME DEPOT (Play Sand) and it did OK after I strained it through a kitchen strainer. Before I strained it, it clogged up the nozzel. I sand blast on a 4' square plywood placed on a big tarp and reuse the sand. Sweep it up and vacuum it up and restrain it. Seems to work OK.

What kind of sandblaster are you using stevec? I have a total of about one hundred gallons of air but not really that much power. I can also borrow another compressor from my brother so I will end up with about 120 gallons of air and about maybe ten horsepower. I am willing to go slow but just nothing ridiculus. How much is a lower end pressurized unit? I am just trying to do the weights and balances thing. Thanks!

Sorry stevec I must be blind.

I have the pressurized unit from Harbor Freight about $90 on sale. The only problem as the other posts say is the volume of air. I use a 5hp 20 gal compressor and the wait time is the problem but the sandblaster works good. I buy sandblasting sand from a local building supply co.

I used a simple $9 siphon blaster you can pick up at sprawlmart. Get some fine blasting sand from a builder supply or Sears Hardware store and go to town. Place a tarp under your work area and you can capture most of your sand to reuse again and again. I strain mine through a soffit vent screen. Slow going but affordable and effective.

I use a pressurized sandblaster from TiP. It holds about 50 lb of sand (I use black beauty, otherwise known as slag). I have a 7 hp sears compressor and it will drive my sandblaster all day long.

Pressure pot blaster is the way to go if you want to do more than a bolt or other small part. Even then your compresser will run more than it was designed to. Also the stuff you are blasting off is nasty. Wear as much protection as you can get your hands on. Also plan on steaming up your glasses under the stupid helmet!! :mad: Also the finer the sand you can find the better it works. At least for me it does. And make sure it is REALLY dry.
Jim

A presure unit is the way to go. I have one that you can get differnt nozel sizes to match your compressor. Bigger is faster. I am trying to remember the maker of my unit, but it is in storate while I am on a long term assignment.

Geez, I hope Metal Man doesn't read this!