Pics of your sandblasting setup?

Lorraine Chandler · #1 2010-12-19, 4:36pm

Anyone have a fairly quick, easy, "thrifty" sandblasting setup? I would like to do some deep blasting through enamels on glass and such but also some light etching, all on beads, nothing bigger for the time being.

I have looked at Diana East's set up that is pictured in the booklet on her by James kervin. It is a very nice setup but too expensive and takes up way too much room.

I think I could do her setup for under $700.00 using Harbor Freight and buying smaller units of everything in her photo, but am worried that I wouldn't be able to get the deep blasting. Also research showed people pointed out about the cheaper cabinet leaking and the light being in the way, not being very bright and getting broken.

Anyone have pics of their frugal setup that does deep sandblasting? Any advice to share on what didn't work so well? I would like to be careful and only buy once. This would be my Christmas present this year.

Thank-you for any help

PS I forgot to add that I would really like to have a frugal but complete setup with,cabinet, dust collector, air compressor, blast pot etc.
Lorraine

houptdavid · #2 2010-12-19, 4:47pm

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...hlight=redneck

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ight=sandblast

Lorraine Chandler · #3 2010-12-19, 4:55pm

That's a little too thrifty.. thank-you for the link though.

houptdavid · #4 2010-12-19, 5:21pm

Hey what can I say.

20# pressure pot 59.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-lb-c...ter-40925.html
or
Siphon pot
http://www.harborfreight.com/portabl...kit-37025.html

Cabinet 199.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-c...net-93608.html

Compressor 225.00 (this is really too small for much workas it will not keep up)
http://www.harborfreight.com/35-hp-2...sor-99925.html
so you need something like this...
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-hp-60...sor-93274.html

And...
a good water trap
a good shop vac with a large filter
Blast medium

So unless you plan to do a lot????

Lorraine Chandler · #5 2010-12-19, 6:37pm

Ahhhh... There we go! Thanks sweetie!

Just what I was looking for.

Lorraine

squid · #6 2010-12-19, 6:39pm

Something important to remember - the abrasive you need to use for true blasting is way too coarse to use to lightly etch beads. IMO anyway.

Dale M. · #7 2010-12-19, 7:21pm

Actually if only beads and small glass work is all you are going to do, the smaller cabinet might work...

http://www.harborfreight.com/abrasiv...net-42202.html

And its all about air pressure and type and size of abrasives.....

Dale

glassactcc · #8 2010-12-19, 8:18pm

I have a Harbor freight small cabinet and it works fine. The only problem with mine is it leaks. Very dusty so you have to either caulk the seams or do it outside with a proper mask.

Deb Hopeful Journeys · #9 2010-12-19, 8:27pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassactcc

I have a Harbor freight small cabinet and it works fine. The only problem with mine is it leaks. Very dusty so you have to either caulk the seams or do it outside with a proper mask.

From what I heard from my jewelry instructor, they ALL leak, unless you spend a ton of money.

Lorraine Chandler · #10 2010-12-19, 8:28pm

Aluminum oxides? Sundance sells a 30 pound box of silica sand they say works well...and has a very high glass content....

So many choices, I feel like I did when I was trying to figure out my ventilation!!!

Thanks everyone. I think this is going to take a little time to get together...

glassactcc · #11 2010-12-19, 8:30pm

That's interesting to know. Now I don't feel so bad. I only paid $60.00 for mine but it was on sale.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb Hopeful Journeys

From what I heard from my jewelry instructor, they ALL leak, unless you spend a ton of money.

Lorraine Chandler · #12 2010-12-23, 9:54am

I did tons of research and ended up buying the siphon blast cabinet from Harbor fright. It holds 30 pounds of sand in a bin inside. The picture makes the unit look small. IT IS HUGE!!! Almost 3 feet tall and over two feet wide. The gloves are small and fit my hands perfectly. Has ceramic nozzles in different sizes. The gun seems kinda large to me but I will use it first and only replace it if I don't like it.

I read in my research to seal all of the seams and add extra screws into the larger gap areas, file down the sharp screws near the gloves, seal the gloves also because they leak too, add an extra lock hinge to the door because most reviews stated one just wasn't enough, add a bigger brighter light and get extra film for the window.

They also said to ground it especially if I am using AO which apparently causes static electricity. I might use SC if I can find it for a good price. I think that is most of what I will need to do to get this unit perfect for blasting and at $119.00 it is worth doing all of that.

http://www.harborfreight.com/abrasiv...net-42202.html

I also bought the 4 HP upright air compressor. The reviews on this one were very good and most loved how quiet it was. We bought it at Harbor Freight for $349.00. All in all I think we did well for my Christmas!

http://www.amazon.com/Gallon-120-PSI.../dp/B0046NL7EK

I have a shop vacuum I will use for the dust extraction. I had 220 installed in the garage last year so we are good to go for now (until the house sells).

I am thinking of taking pics as we set up like we did with the horse trailer to help others who want to do this. Thanks everyone for all of the info.

Lorraine

houptdavid · #13 2010-12-23, 11:53am

Make sure that you add a water trap as close as you can to your sandblaster.

Lorraine Chandler · #14 2010-12-23, 12:48pm

David, yes, they said to do that. I didn't see any at Harbor Freight, they could have been out of them.

Do you have a preferred brand or style that you like better?

Lorraine

houptdavid · #15 2010-12-23, 1:39pm

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...ter-43242.html

Throw the lubricator part away from these
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...npt-45009.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-too...tor-40312.html

They should be by the nail guns or paint guns

Don't get a dissecant type for a spray gun they are to small

Lorraine Chandler · #16 2010-12-23, 7:00pm

Thanks David.

I spent a good two hours today trying to find abrasive locally. Hummmph! Much harder than you would think. I found walnut shells, I found our tractor store has 20-40 and 80 grit AO. They might be able to order some in the size I want but the company is on the east coast and closed until next year.

Sundance has some "almost pure silica", 100 mesh. I called to see how that translated to grit size but the person that answered the phone didn't know, didn't want to try to find out on his own, didn't want to ask anyone else and just bluntly stated that the one person who knew was not in the store.

So not happy with Sundance right now. I did some research and the 100 mesh translates to anywhere from 160-225 grit on the charts I saw.

I couldn't find much information on comparing "pure silica" to AO.

I'am tired...gonna watch some tv and have a small piece of chocolate!

Lorraine

houptdavid · #17 2010-12-23, 7:46pm

You want to stay away from pure silica and go with Silicon carbide or Aluminum oxide

http://www.mediablast.com/grit-size-conversions.php

Lorraine Chandler · #18 2010-12-23, 8:24pm

Okay, I rested a bit and feel a little more refreshed. Thank-you David I am printing out that chart, going to laminate it and keep handy.

I felt like the AO was the better choice also. You confirmed it. Thank you again.
Lorraine