Sand blaster options

[David H.]

Has anyone had experience with purchasing a sand blaster for frame and small parts? I spent some time on my frame today and it is obvious that a sand blaster will make my life a lot easier.
I am looking at many choices on the internet from $30 shoulder portibles to $400 brutes.
I dont need anything industrial, just one big enough that I dont wish I had bought something bigger. Home Depot has a Black Bull 10 gallon one for $100 that looks ok. I want to use play sand in it. My compressor is a Craftsman 2 hp 33 gal 150psi rated at 8.6 scfm at 40 psi and 6.4 scfm at 90 psi. The HD one seems a bit of an overkill even.
Any input would be most helpful.
Thanks.

[Wally A.]

Re: Sand blaster options

responding to your sandblasting question, my personal opinion, find a
sandblaster in your area to do your job, first of all, it would take
forever and a day to try to sandblast your frame with your compressor
and way more sand and mess you would care to have.. if you really
want to do your own hands on job you need more CFM out of your
equipment. even at that its just not plain worth it.. good luck

[Timothy B.]

Re: Sand blaster options

I agree with Wally completely, plus, don't use silica sand as it causes cancer. If you want really want to do this yourself get a large compressor and slag sand and a huge water seperator.

Don't ask me how I know this.

[Peter J.]

Re: Sand blaster options

I used a siphon blaster with a 5hp-30 gallon tank and it was brand new and didn't live to the end of the job. I wouldn't try it again. Pay somebody that has the right equipment and you keep your sanity and don't risk silicosis to boot.

[Larry M.]

Re: Sand blaster options

David:

Your compressor is too small for a typical pressure sandblaster. Best bet is to farm out the frame to someone who does commercial blasting.

Your compressor CAN be used for a small siphon type sandblaster for small jobs. I have one from SEARS that I bought about 10 years ago. Holds 50 lbs of sand. I also have a 3 HP, 11 SCFM compressor with 30 gallon tank. My compressor is marginal with the small siphon blaster, but if you take your time it can be used.

Many folks buy a blast cabinet for small parts......your compressor MAY work if you use a small blast nozzle. The advantage to the cabinet is essentially no mess or health issues, and the media can be recycled.

If you want to sandblast, a 5 HP, 15+ SCFM, 60-80 gallon tank compressor is what you need. IR and Quincy have some nice ones.....but a bit $$$.

If you use silica sand, you should/must wear a GOOD respirator. Otherwise your health will suffer. Google "silica sand sandblasting health issues".

Larry

[Michael M.]

Re: Sand blaster options

Have seen this done, what a mess.
Sent mine out, cost about $250 to get done.

[Mike K.]

Re: Sand blaster options

Hi David, I am in a similar situation. Although I have gone a bit wild and purchased a 60 gal 5 hp 18.5 cfm compressor and a large floor model sandblasting cabinet for my project, I do plan on doing more in the future and have had sandblasting experience in a previous job. I am doing the whole car myself including the frame, body and related rusted metal parts. I will eventually need to buy a sandblasting "pressure blaster". But I will certainly agree with the others, Hire someone to do it for you since there is so much more involved and the health risk is just not worth a few hundred dollars.
Good luck.
PS- check out a local "monument {head stone}" company, they are usually very quick and reasonably priced.

[Rick C.]

Re: Sand blaster options

Hi David,

I agree with others you will never finish if you use your equipment. I did my frame, rear axle, and front crossmember myself so I knew it would be done the way I wanted it done. I rented a blaster and gas powered air compressor from a local rental company. Blasting, priming, and painting took two long days. If you do it yourself, make sure you have a water separator otherwise clogging will slow you down a lot as it did me. Instead of using sand, use the fine version of Black Beauty. It does make a mess but by laying down a large sheet of plastic, you can recover 75% of what you use and then can reuse it in your blasting cabinet, if you should get one for smaller parts. Whatever you do, you're going to want to paint shortly after it's blasted, especially if the air is humid.
Rick

[David H.]

Re: Sand blaster options

I guess it is unanimous, let someone else do this part of it. I appreciate all the input. I've called my body shop guy and he is going to come look at it tomorrow.

[Benjamin C.]

Re: Sand blaster options

I am in the monument business and have portable and large in house machines. When it came time to do my 54 frame I sent it out. These guys who sandblast large items can do it so fast and in large indoor rooms.$100 was the charge for my frame. I can't do it myself for that price.

[Dick W.]

Re: Sand blaster options

If you insist on doing it yourself, rent a large pressure sandblaster and a 60-100 cfm gas or diesel powered compressor. Also rent a hood and supplied air respirator. Sand can and does cause silicosis, not a very pleasant disease. In the end you will wonder why you did not send it out and let someone else do it.

[Gerald C.]

Re: Sand blaster options

Question for the group: I have a standalone Harbor Freight and it works well for my smaller items. My compressor seems to be underpowered as I'm always ahead of the air pressure and the tank capacity. My Compressor is a Craftsman 155 PSI 20 Gallon 4.3 SCFM @ 90 PSI. AND it just crapped out today! Any thoughts on what size and model I should look at? I'm starting the restoration of a 1967 Roadster that's been sitting for years so you can imagine the rusty parts I'm dealing with.

Thoughts as to the best size?

Thanks

[Dan D.]

Re: Sand blaster options

Several years ago I did the front part of the frame and front cross member, in my 57. That is what I could get at. Car was together, no engine, and I just did what I could. I have a 60 gallon 3.2 HP compressor from HD (10.2 SCFM @ 90 PSI), and for the intermittent use I gave it air supply was not a problem, although it ran steady at times. I used the Black Beauty media and I had a tarp down under the car.

Results; Black Beauty all over everything, went through several bags, humid weather and it plugged up constantly, went through one orifice, high pressure hose blew off a couple of times, very hot with all the protective garb I had on, but I managed to keep it off the fiberglass.

Worst part was Wiffie was not at all happy when she saw the mess in her driveway. I really heard about it. I would not do it again.

Dannn

[Mark S.]

Re: Sand blaster options

When you are doing it yourself, even if you are well suited up, the sand will get into orifices on your body that you would not imagine! I do it out in my driveway with a tarp under the frame. I scoop up all the excess sand with a dustpan and put it through a strainer to shoot it again. I paid to have my frame done and the job was not to my liking; so I did it myself. It is a messy job; however, some of the people doing it do not get into every crack and crevice of the frame.