need some help with a sandblasting project

[andrewj]

I have a sandblasting project I need to do - a small john deere corn planter I need to paint.

I have a el cheapo sandblasting nozzle, hose, and plastic box that holds the sand. (I hope the consensus from your answers is that you have to have the expensive one...that would kill my project!)

I have been using sand.

I have a 21 gallon air compressor that manages to only hold around a hundred pounds of pressure.

When I press the button, sand will come out but soon stops and when I pull the nozzle off the gun, there is sand plugging up the hose.

I need a solution and hope to get some ideas - thanks in advance.

 

[davkir]

If you don't have an adequate air compressor and a pressure tank type it will take a LONG time to get anything done. Make sure the sand is clean and VERY dry.
Places that do sandblasting are usually very inexpensive for things like that.

 

[Willis Fecon Bushhogging]

I have a sandblasting project I need to do - a small john deere corn planter I need to paint.

I have a el cheapo sandblasting nozzle, hose, and plastic box that holds the sand. (I hope the consensus from your answers is that you have to have the expensive one...that would kill my project!)

I have been using sand.

I have a 21 gallon air compressor that manages to only hold around a hundred pounds of pressure.

When I press the button, sand will come out but soon stops and when I pull the nozzle off the gun, there is sand plugging up the hose.

I need a solution and hope to get some ideas - thanks in advance.

I have tried about every appilcation there is and it all comes down to, if you cant afford the right equipment, pay someone to do it. It is a little skill involved in sandblasting correctly (no you dont need a college degree) You can rent a compressor and blaster, but by the time you do all that you can hire it done. If I were to do it, I guess around $300, including a coat of primer. One of your problems is volume of air, you can try cutting the sand supply down, if youre getting too much sand and not enough air, it will do what you describe.
Good Luck and get someone to do it for you, look for someone that does it on the side

 

[andrewj]

I have tried about every appilcation there is and it all comes down to, if you cant afford the right equipment, pay someone to do it. It is a little skill involved in sandblasting correctly (no you dont need a college degree) You can rent a compressor and blaster, but by the time you do all that you can hire it done. If I were to do it, I guess around $300, including a coat of primer. One of your problems is volume of air, you can try cutting the sand supply down, if youre getting too much sand and not enough air, it will do what you describe.
Good Luck and get someone to do it for you, look for someone that does it on the side

well, i'm not exactly the "pay somebody to do it" kind of a guy. and three hundred dollars...the whole planter cost me $40.00 bucks!

I already have a compresser and sandblaster? is there no way I can proceed from here? for 300 bucks I can buy a pretty nice piece of equipment, can't I?

 

[PA hayseed]

there is a sandblasting thread that was posted not long ago, read it for some real good advice.

here is the thread
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/117211-sandblaster-buying.html?highlight=sand+blasting

 

[Defective]

How fancy and/or fast do you want to clean it up?

If you're hoping to clean it up for a professional looking paint job, spend the money, you don't really need the frustration.

If you're just trying to get rid of the rust & crud and you've got lots of time, your current equipment will do the job. Just get that sand dry and don't push it.

I spent years with a simple siphon type sandblast setup and rebuilt 2 backhoes, 4 tractors, a skidder and too many trailers & trucks to remember. My plan of action with blasting was always to just get it clean enough for paint.

 

[andrewj]

How fancy and/or fast do you want to clean it up?

If you're hoping to clean it up for a professional looking paint job, spend the money, you don't really need the frustration.

If you're just trying to get rid of the rust & crud and you've got lots of time, your current equipment will do the job. Just get that sand dry and don't push it.

I spent years with a simple siphon type sandblast setup and rebuilt 2 backhoes, 4 tractors, a skidder and too many trailers & trucks to remember. My plan of action with blasting was always to just get it clean enough for paint.

oh it's a corn planter....I just want to get some green paint on it and maybe prolong it's life another 50 years. Before I pay crazy money on it, I'll tie it to my truck and drag it down a secluded beach. haha.

OK, is there a better medium than sand for small jobs that may be a little more forgiving on a small compresor?

 

[RonMar]

What kind of sand are you using now? If it is from your kids sandbox, it may have other larger particles that are messing your feed up. As mentioned a few times, it also needs to be DRY. Go out and buy a bag or two of dry blasting sand and try that. Make sure the feed hose is not linked and is layed out as straight as possible with any bends being as larg a radius as possible. Having the non pressure feed hopper up above you gets gravity in on the feed process.

Get a large sheet of clear plastic to layout and put the planter on, then pull the sides up as walls to try and contain the blown sand. If you are carefull, you can recover quite a bit with broom and dustpan, and a fine mesh screen to filter out the paint and rust chips will allow you to re-use a good ammount of the sand.

The CFM and recovery time of that small compressor are going to be the limiting factor on how fast you can go. It will work great for the first minute, then be mediocre for the next few till you stop and let the compressor recover. A bigger compressor will really speed things along and allow you to work till you need to collect, filter and refill the hopper. If you have the time, it will work eventually, but it will be a matter of how valuable your time is to you. A larger rented air compressor will really speed things up.

Wear a good respirator. That old impliment paint probably has lead in it, and the dust from pulverised blast sand is none to healthy either...

Good Luck

 

[Lazy]

Hi
I believe the problem might be the moisture the compressor is producing. A cheap filter/air dryer from harbor freight might be the answer along with very dry sand. Works for me.

Charlie

 

[Western]

What every one has said is good advice.
When you remove the nozzle is the sand wet, should be obvious, it will be caked in the end. If it is dry packed and the supply line is also full then you aren't getting enough volumn from the compressor.

I would call a rental place see if they have a 125 cfm pull behind compressor and check if your hopper will some how connect, sounds like a siphon type so you should be able to do it, probably cost around $85 half day, or better yet , rent the pressure pot and compressor. I bet it would be around $150 + sand, but you'll have that dude done in a couple of hours and primed before dark.

The smaller the air tank like yours, the more prolific the air moisture will be ( less area for condensed moisture) also the daytime humidity will greatly effect incoming moisture.