Recomendations for an Inexpesive Sand Blasting System ???

Question

This will be a fairly sporadic, light duty service. I will mainly be doing smallish metal parts that have been neglected over the years. Many things can be handled with a wire brush and some sweat, but I anticipate a few items that really do need to be blasted for paint removal and whatever reason.

I have a 33 gallon Craftsman oil less compressor that was given to me. It seems to work ok the last time I used it. It is 110v on a 20a circuit and never trips the breaker. When it dies I will upgrade to a bigger system. I don't remember the cfm on the unit, and it is several hundred miles away at the moment.

I have looked at the HF blasting systems a couple of times. I bought their cheapest system, a vacuum unit, a few years ago for some very light work. I was not thrilled with it, but managed to use it to get the job done.

I would appreciate any recommendations of things to look for. Outside of my use of the HF vacuum system, I have zero experience with sand blasting. I don't want to spend a ton of money, but don't want to have to fight it every time I need to use it either.

Much obliged,

Roy Parker

MJ · Accepted Answer

Look around on the Internet. I found several sites discussing merits of one system or another. The HF is about the cheapest, but it's not well made and many problems exist. MJ

Bob La Londe · Answer

A blast cabinet is really the way to go, but a small gravity fed Harbor Freight gun has worked for me for small projects. I'm on my second one.

They both will use as much or as little air as you care to put through them. Both will use the same media. The gun is dirt cheap, but the plastic sand tank will get brittle and break after a few years. You should wear face shield, respirator, long sleeves and gloves when using the gun. The blast cabinet will last for decades. The windows will get crazed, but are easily replaced. Recycling media is more practical with the cabinet. The cabinet pretty much is its own protective gear.

Just Wondering · Answer

I'm Just Wondering, if the cabinet pretty much is its own protective gear, why should you wear all that protective gear?

Sonny · Answer

LOL.

Because Bob said so. :-)

Kidding aside, I've never done blasting, but have watched. There's debris and dust flying all over, even when using a cabinet. Small investment for protective gear, which can be used for other tasks and other times.

Sonny

Bob La Londe · Answer

I'm Just Wondering, if the cabinet pretty much is its own protective gear, why should you wear all that protective gear?

**** Rather than explain it to you and restate what was already said I suggest you re-read my previous post. Please note words included and not included in specific sentences, and note that a period typically denotes the end of a sentence. Even a poorly worded one. I'm sure you will figure it out.

John McGaw · Answer

As he wrote: "You should wear face shield, respirator, long sleeves and  gloves when using the gun."

Roy · Answer

Thanks for the comments. My B-I-L tipped me off to using sand and high pressure water instead of regular sand blasting. I had never heard of it, but some videos on the web make it look plausible and relatively inexpensive. Nice thing is no dust so no issues with silicosis.

I may go this route in the fall, still digging for info.

Regards,

Roy Parker

DerbyDad03 · Answer

Not sure if this will work for you. Just a suggestion...  and/or

Recomendations for an Inexpesive Sand Blasting System ???

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