The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Sandblasting

I'm nearing the end of restoring an old Wheel Horse tractor, and am at the point where I need to get it ready for paint. So, a while back, I bought a miniature pneumatic belt sander (wasn't happy, cause it couldn't do large surfaces), then a 6 in pneumatic circle snader (slow, and tedious), so after sawing on (JUST THE HOOD!!) for countless hours of several nights, and still not getting done (or close) I looked into getting a sandblaster. So, yesterday, I got a pretty good deal on a kit at Northern. I used it for about 4 hours this afternoon, and discovered why people like to use those cases... Anyway, besides safety warnings, and the now obvious do it in a case, DO YOU HAVE ANY GOOD SUGGESTIONS for a beginer sandblaster..(word use...?) Thanks in advance, Ty

let someone else do it! is my first suggestion but if you choose to do it your self these are my tips from past experience. get someone else to do it ! OK make sure your compreser has enough cfm. to keep up to your blaster and you don't have any water in the system,next keep the sand flow off (if you don't have a valve install one) when you plug in the air,hold the hose away from you and the vehicle then gradually turn the sand on you will here the difference as it increases ,point your tip at the panel with one hand and increase flow with the other untill paint starts to come off don't open the sand all the way other wise the air just pours its onto the panel then on the ground very fast you need air preasure and lots of it and tape all your openings shut that stuff gets every were or you could get someone else to do it!

I'm with Bent, have someone else do it. For what it cost in equipment, it's not worth it. I also burned up one compressor in the process. Cecil.....

Go a head and try it yourself. I'd recommend getting a junked panel from another vehicle to practice on before you hit your tractor. Be aware that sandblasting improperly CAN cause warpage to your steel, so take your time and don't over-concentrate in any one area or the heat and pressure can warp your parts.

I don't recommend recycling your sand unless you send it through a sieve first to ensure that rocks, screws, or anything else that may be swept off your shop floor doesn't get blasted into your tractor the second round.

Also: You have to be extremely careful regarding inhalation of silicates. Sandblasting results in the breaking of the sand into fine pieces - those fine pieces contain silica.

Silica, if inhaled, causes irreversible damage to the lungs. It lodges permanently in lung tissue, which scars - reducing lung capacity. Many professional sandblasters have died slow painful deaths from silicosis.

Don't be afraid to do the work, but DO see to it that you are taking all necessary precautions against silicosis. Check out OSHAs website. They have a number of fine articles on silicosis and how to prevent it. In our manufacturing plant, we took this VERY seriously. Don't buy a disposable face mask and think you're good. Spend the money on a real respirator with canisters.

Not trying to scare you, just telling you to take the time to protect yourself. You aren't going to die of silicosis from a day or two of sloppy safety, but you can cause permanent damage. Each subsequent exposure causes more, so it is never too late to be safe. Have fun with your project!

In other words

Have someone else do it.

Wonderfully encouraging--thank you (Kimberly).
Thanks to the rest of you as well, I'm happy to say that the only thing I did majorly wrong was to have a crummy mask, and I'm told that I might be able to score one of those nice canister masks through one of my friends--for the price of sandblasting a fire hydrant (big chunk of metal that you can't screw up, right??...) to practice on. My compressor meets the minimum CFM, and the rig works pretty well. I NEED TO BUILD A CASE (I knew there was a reason that we've had that huge peice of plexi lying around the garage forever...)
Thanks, Ty

Hey man,

Here is what I did last night. I used a Campell Hausfield gun with a hose that goes into a bucket of sand. Hooked it up to my compressor and blasted the skirts that go around the edges of my seats in my 55.1. Worked great, I will be priming and painting tonight. Only draw back is that my compressor may have been to small for the job. Had to wait for it to build up PSI to effectively blast the parts.

This method worked great for the small parts with my set up. However I wouldn't attempt big parts with my set up, I would farm them out. I will be posting pictures in a new thread.

Thanks,
Chris