Northern Tool Sandblasters???

[Bob_Skurka]

I'm considering buying a relatively inexpensive sand blaster. Does anyone have any experience with the pressurized units available at Northern Tool? I'm not looking for a professional grade unit, this would be for home use to help with restoration projects.

This is what I am thinking of: 20 gallon sand blaster

 

[Junkman]

Save your money. Everyone that I know that has purchased a low end sand blaster for doing hobby work on cars has been sadly disappointed in the results. If you want good results you are going to need a better unit and then a big compressor to power it. This unit would be fine for about a 3" x 3" area, but not much more from what I have seen.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

How much bigger compressor?

I'm using a 33gallon 6hp unit and figure I'll be getting another one of those for my new garage/workshop in a couple weeks (the garage should be done by then).

 

[Spiffy]

If you use both compressors, you might be ok! Actually 5HP running [roughly 220V X 20Amps continuous draw, not "peak" BS], is a good estimate for "small" blasters.

Figure 20 CFM for blasting, unless it is litterally spot blasting or very small and very occasional components [but then a suction or gravity {same gun, different hose} would work despite slightly slower results]. I will mention there is a guy selling plans on Ebay for a hybrid blaster; near identical to a concept of mine I almost built before getting a good deal on a TP [now Brut mfg] pressure unit. I won't share because he's making a couple bucks to "feed his project habits", but besides a couple quirks, I think the results are as good as presure, possibly more efficient and easier on hoses [I keep planning to try a back to back but never get around to it] not to mention pretty cheap for anyone even slightly constructive.

You'll also want 1/2" air line with a separator at the tank and a coalescing at the blaster [again barring spot blasting]. The more metal line coming from the tank [and draining backwards, the better too].

As far as the blaster, again if it is ocassional use you may be happy with the unit you posted, but for that style Ebay sells some real cheapos, else Northern [and many others] do have some nice pressure units. I was tempted to try the Texas Blasters on Ebay.

Let us know what you decide, Bob!

 

[Spiffy]

I'd say you about nailed it Junkman. The sad irony is that cheap blasters take just as much air as more expensive ones, despite the "creative" advertising....I also found [the hard way] that cheap ones come with "frustration" as added bonus, but if you have any moisture in your air the frustration is free anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Bob, I notice the specs on that sandblaster calls for 6 to 25 CFM "depending on which nozzle" is used. Is this the compressor you have? If so, I'd be inclined to think that Northern Tool sandblaster might work well enough with your compressor. Naturally, bigger may be better, but if you aren't doing big jobs . . . why spend more.

 

[Spiffy]

Thanks for the link Bird! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The air compressor marketing has gotten worse than I thought! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I should have said 4 compressors!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Bird is right, don't buy more than you need. But if you are looking at hoods & fenders or anything more than the small parts [BTW, a cabinet is nice then] and expecting even close to 1sqft/min [I'd still cut the rating in half or 1/4 if you have solid paint {also, nothing worse than stripping a brush job} or solid rust] you will need over 20cfm @ 100psi.

I suspect you are doing the hoods, fenders, and frames; so if you're set at the $200: I'd say go for a real cheap blaster and put the extra $150 toward a bigger compressor; if the blaster frustrates you, then you're only out $50 when you buy a different one later. Not the very top of the line, but I like the way Eaton rates their units so I bought one of their 2 stage pumps and a 20Amp motor for about $500 [but I already had a tank and starter].

Also [for even remotely continuous blasting] don't let anyone tell you that the tank will make up for low CFM. Bigger is still better, though in that it helps precooling for water knockout.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

OK guys, I think I got it! Bird, the compressor I already have is the vertical version of the one you posted. I've never sandblasted so I don't know what to expect, but I guess at the very least I'll be getting a larger compressor for the new shop/garage!

 

[Bird]

Bob, I'm not sure what kind of "restoration" projects you're talking about. I had in mind small items, but if you're talking about cars, then I certainly agree with Junkman. I used to have one of the Craftsman sandblasters (not a pressure feed) that held 100# of sand. And I sandblasted two 5' x 10' trailers with it. Of course I didn't care about getting everything perfectly blasted off to clean metal all the way; just wanted to get rid of rust, loose paint, etc. before painting them. When I did the first trailer, I had a 30 gallon, 4hp Craftsman oilless compressor. And I let it run long enough that it broke a reed valve. That's when I learned how easy it is to rebuild oilless compressors and how often they need rebuilding. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif So before I did the second trailer, I bought a 60 gallon, 6hp, twin cylinder oil lubricated compressor. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Bob my father used to use a machine similar to this for restoring Model As. He did have a large 2 cylinder, 220 volt, horizontal tank air compressor to power it. And they do make one heck of a mess.

A respirator is a necessity when sandblasting or silicosis is a possibility, and nasty stuff.