Is it worth sorting it all out?

I have 2 of those cheap aldi compressors, and searching on ebay gives you some kits that will run (just) on them.

Whilst I still have to buy decent hose line, connectors etc (will be asking about that) is it worth doing?

Just thinking of all the mess etc

If you are bead blasting a larger item outside I would say forget it due to the cost of blasting media and for health reasons . For smaller items use a blasting cabinet and decent face masks. Might be cheaper and safer to get it done by a blasting company?

Doubt you will get enough air to do a proper job.

cleaner, easier and cheaper to pay some one elts to do it for you.


Imho

we use bead blasting(glass beads)just for bare non ferrous as a rule,easier than polishing welds,but gives a great key for painting/powder coating on any metal,we use 90 psi constant
regards wayne!!

sorry i am sure theres a question here, but i have just been distracted by IDONTBELEIVEIT's avatar ;p

If you want to do small areas of bead blasting outside, go to a builder merchant and buy a 15Kg bag of "clean, kiln dried silica sand"

this is similar to the sort of sand you get in an egg timer and is cheap enough to use on a total loss basis.

Bead blasting uses fine glass in powder form normally for cleaning ally. Do not use sand unless you want Silicosis!

^^^^ NO NO NO NO NO

Don't do it - sand pulverised into small pieces at high pressure, then in your lungs = silicosis = bad. Would need clean air fed face mask to do it safely.

Blast cabinet at home, or professional....

Chris (lung Dr!)

Ah - rusty nuts got in before I had a chance, I meant the one above his!

[Edited on 20/3/08 by chrsgrain]

OK

Don't use sand

I think this information needs to get spread around a bit further. Speaking to a bloke in the office the other week and he was "yeah, use sand". I'll be pointing him at this thread next week.

Oh I knew about the sand issue, I was looking at bead or if I can find a seller, wallnut (v expensive but better finish).

Its to do some alloy wheels, carb inlets, few other odds and sods.

Its just that I have a choice of either sorting out a place for bead blasting or a place for painting. At a push the space is big enough to do a bonnet but ideal for painting cycle wings and the rear arches I have.

Where abouts are you? perhaps someone in your area may be able to recommend a blasting company? or better still be able to do it for beer tokens.

stockport - manchester

Unless you are blasting heavy duty steel best crushed walnut shells or crushed cherry stones.

Other way of "sand" blasting is not to use air but an attachment for a pressure washer --- needs a fairly big pressure washer and you can't re-use the blasting media without drying it out. This type of blasting works very well for aluminium alloys but with steel you very quickly get light surface rust.