I've been thinking about building one of these for a while and finally made the time. You're not going to make a living with this little pot, but for small jobs it does a good job. I'm refurbing a 5' brush hog and debating on blasting and painting that. I'll probably regret it half way through, but a little regret hasn't killed me yet. Photo of the final product and my #1 helper.
Homemade sandblaster
- Thread starter adamlj
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Sberry
Platinum Member
Done it too.
Hey Sberry, what do you use for media? So far I've used the coal slag from Tractor Supply which works well but curious what others have used.
Sberry
Platinum Member
There is a sand plant near here and I can buy graded for 20 a ton. I put pallet boxes on the truck.
Sberry
Platinum Member
Looks like we have them plumbed the same way. I extend the wand and used 1/8 xxh pipe nipples for nozzles. Got a bunch of 6 and chopped them in half. I need to get some more, I forget.
PILOON
Super Star Member
I once DIY'd a sand blast system.
Worked quite well for minor tasks.
To prevent my glass viewing window from getting blast fogged I added black nylon window screening about 1/2 inch from the glass. The sand beads simply bounced off of the screen leaving a clear view.
Another trick was to use duck (duct) tape on things you did not want blasted like perhaps shaft ends that fitted a bearing.
Worked quite well for minor tasks.
To prevent my glass viewing window from getting blast fogged I added black nylon window screening about 1/2 inch from the glass. The sand beads simply bounced off of the screen leaving a clear view.
Another trick was to use duck (duct) tape on things you did not want blasted like perhaps shaft ends that fitted a bearing.
Cougsfan
Veteran Member
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- Sep 10, 2008
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- Eastern Washington State
- Tractor
- Ferguson TO35, Branson 4720CH
You may want to pay more attention to your sand, all sand is not the same. In fact few natural sands are the same. Some are soft and not very abrasive, others are quite hard and very abrasive. Man made materials such as aluminum oxide and silicone carbide will work so much better that most random natural sands.
Sberry
Platinum Member
Yes, I am aware. I didnt write the details, I used the term "graded" to include this. Fine for pitted rust and sharp hard for removing coatings is kind of general but somewhat to the point. Its sized by grit for sure and the hard is called superblast.
I have been using the sharpest grade below that as I really dont want to switch around.
I have been using the sharpest grade below that as I really dont want to switch around.
07wingnut
Silver Member
I am too cheap to buy the the stuff. Just go to an adjacent pit around here, pick up a bucket load of sand, then screen it with a fan to blow away the dust. A couple of hundred pounds of medium ready to go takes about an hour and works well for preparing surfaces for painting. Total cost $0.
ETD66SS
Platinum Member
It's better to used crushed glass vs. sand. Sand has free silica, very bad for lungs.
Sberry
Platinum Member
Its sold by grit similar to sandpaper. It comes off the conveyer so fast I get way more. If you got 4 or 6 ton it was 12.50. Its been a while since I got it though. I dont use much anymore, most my work is done and it works so well it doesnt take much. I can do 2 rims in about 10 minutes. 15 white.
Sberry
Platinum Member
I have used supplied air but I use shield and old paint respirator, have long wand, stay out of the plume and often can stand upwind. I haven't used glass, super blast is similar and really bounces, really flies. I think the last I got was 220 or so. Fine soft wont cut paint. Right grade means speed. Sandblasting ain't good, taking all day to do hr work cause using the wrong grit is worse.
