Hi

Does anyone have this setup at home ??
I only have a 20 ltr tank on a compressor that runs 4cfm (max) but i would like to blast some wheels etc
wot do i need?

steve

I do a bit...but wheels are just two big to go in the cab...
They would take hours to do...
They would have to be done with a blasting pot ie man in suit with breathing equipment very large quantities of air needed...fad of 18cfm ish
I would have them done profeionally the cost is going to be around £20-40 depending on size ect...
I will say some firms wont touch alloy ..
Where in the world are you ?

NS Dev built his own blasting system, so he may be along to explain all soon, if not a search might bring up some useful info...

Ned.

Even a 4cfm compressor will be pushed -- and its messy, unhealthy.

My bike building mate swears by a a sandblasting attachment for his pressure washer --- I haven't see it in action but it made a good job of a couple of Norton Featherbed frames he did recently.
Aparently the only big downside is drying out the blast media to re-use it.

Incidentally one thing to watch out for when using normal dry blasting about 12 years back a guy was killed at a major airport while bead blasting in the workshop he got zapped static electricity build up fromthe blst media passing through the nozzle..

Yep Ive added a seperate earth to mine

i built a blast cabinet out of an old machine guard. It had a hinged lid whereby the dust poured out - not healthy. Gaffa tape kept it down to a more reasonable level. Holes in side were lined with car inner tubes and i had good rubber gloves on - dust still escaped - not healthy. I tried my 50l 6cfm ish compressor and it was hopeless. Even my mates big compressor (at least 200l, approx 12cfm) struggled to keep up. I gave up in the end - better to pay to have it done.

Conclusion - not worth the effort making a cabinet - iffy results and sore lungs.

I built mine 700mm Cube.
Got the glove bits from Machine Mart Spares. cut up a bit of perspex / acrylic and bolted that in for the window.
A cheapo bulkhead mains light to see what I was doing.
gun is a £25 one from Machine mart.

Piece de la restance is the dust extractor:
1 x busted hoover, sucks the air out, via car sponge over the pipe in the cabinet, and the micro filters and bag in the panasonic hoover.
total cost was £55 and an day welding and sorting it out.
Top panel is hinged, and sealed with draught excluder (sponge) tape. I just sit 6 x 5 litre jugs of old engine oil on the top to stop the dust getting out.

The hoover makes a huge difference, as you are pumping air in from the gun, so it will try to open the hatch (really need bonnet type catches).
The hoover helps to get the air out, which stops it lifting the hatch.

I have a 3 horsepower motor, a 14CFM pump and a 200Litre tank, and it makes that lot grunt!.
It runs continuously and can only just keep up.

I used Swimming pool filter gravel £10 /25kgs. for the meduim.
I also wear a fine filter industrial rubber sealed respirator mask.

It all works fine, but is very slow.
built to take Land Rover wheel rims!.

I must admit rusty metal comes up clean and bare, and is a dream to paint on afterwards.



WARNING....

Take proper precautions as and silica based grit like my pool sand, breaks down to a fine silica dust.
This WILL give you Sillicosis if you breathe enough in. (What miners can suffer with).
I have got some Alluminium Oxide grit from machine mart, which is finer, and works well also.

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Take ALL safety precautions, If in DOUBT - DONT, and consult a professional.
The above is what I have done and do NOT endorse it as SAFE.
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