Coice of Material for Sandblasters

[Bedlam]

I was just curious what people use as the abrasion agent in their sandblasters?
And also what types and the results that they get. I have the small ones available from the auto shops like

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=30979

and works well ,Ive only used sand that I have sifted and dried on top of the wood myself works fine, but allot of prep work .

Any opinions of this
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40925
over the non pressurized?Does the sand flow more freely and in larger quantities?

 

[RWolf]

Playground sand.

 

[flusher]

I was just curious what people use as the abrasion agent in their sandblasters?
And also what types and the results that they get. I have the small ones available from the auto shops like

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

and works well ,Ive only used sand that I have sifted and dried on top of the wood myself works fine, but allot of prep work .

Any opinions of this
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
over the non pressurized?Does the sand flow more freely and in larger quantities?

I have one of those pressurized HF blasters. No good, the hose clogs frequently.

I have much better luck with a $15 sand blaster gun from TSC and playground sand.

Tractor Supply Company - Clarke Hand Held Abrasive Blaster

Use it with a Porter Cable air compressor from Home Depot

Delta Machinery|Porter Cable Product Details for JOB BOSS? 150 PSI, 4.5 Gal Oil-Free Portable Air Compressor - Model # C3151

 

[Scooby074]

I would avoid sand all together. Really not good stuff to breathe as you likely know. I only use crushed glass in my blast cabinet and i still wear a respirator and use a dust collector too. As a matter of fact, local places don't sell blast sand anymore.

I have a similar pressure pot to the one you linked to hoked up to my cabinet. It works better than syphon feed for sure. Some good advise is to screen your abrasive with fine screen before you use it and ensure your air is ABSOLUTELY dry. Nothing worse than getting a clogged nozzle.

Next time i get near my store that sells abrasive supplies, im going to change over to a different abrasive that will last longer in my cabinet. Ive had good luck with steel shot at work, but i likely will go to aluminum oxide

 

[ray66v]

I tried coal slag, it works ok. Not real expensive. Cleans rust and corrosion fairly well, not so good for removing thick layers of paint.

Nothing works like the now banned #2 silica.

 

[Tig]

Research silicosis before you start looking for blasting media. I use resiprators but still would not use silica based media.
Wikipedia "Silicosis is an irreversible condition with no cure."

 

[yankeerider]

I use mostly Black Beauty (slag). I usually use the fine, as the coarse tends to leave deeper pits. I've also used walnut shells (you buy them as blasting media, I got mine from McMaster-Carr), particularly on aluminum to avoid pitting.

I use a siphon feed blaster I bought from Montgomery Wards about 30 years ago, and built a cabinet from scrap plywood, glass, and an old oven rack.

The worst thing is running out of clean blasting media just shy of completing the job. And, there's few chores less pleasant than hand-screening media for reuse. i managed to find a small vibratory feeder on Ebay a few years back, and welded up a 12" x 12" frame to hang off it with a screen and a hopper below. The dirty media just "melts" right through, making short work of recycling it.

 

[3RRL]

I used to use #30 silica for general purpose.
Back then, we had a fully enclosed sand blaster unit.
Air pressure was around 175 for that unit and a regulator for more delicate work.

 

[flusher]

I would avoid sand all together. Really not good stuff to breathe as you likely know. I only use crushed glass in my blast cabinet and i still wear a respirator and use a dust collector too. As a matter of fact, local places don't sell blast sand anymore.

I have a similar pressure pot to the one you linked to hoked up to my cabinet. It works better than syphon feed for sure. Some good advise is to screen your abrasive with fine screen before you use it and ensure your air is ABSOLUTELY dry. Nothing worse than getting a clogged nozzle.

Next time i get near my store that sells abrasive supplies, im going to change over to a different abrasive that will last longer in my cabinet. Ive had good luck with steel shot at work, but i likely will go to aluminum oxide

Breathing any type of fine dust, whether it comes from aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide (common sand), coal dust, dust from grain products, walnut shell dust, etc, etc. is not a good idea. That's what masks with HEPA filters are for.

 

[Scooby074]

Breathing any type of fine dust, whether it comes from aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide (common sand), coal dust, dust from grain products, walnut shell dust, etc, etc. is not a good idea. That's what masks with HEPA filters are for.

I agree100% Alot of people using blasters dont really understand the risks. We only get one set of Lungs!!!