Sand blasters

I'm going to sand blast the frame and body from my jeep, but instead of getting it done, I'm looking into buying a blaster and doing it myself. It doesn't look like it will be much more expensive than having it done (if at all), and It solves my problem of not having a way to transport the pieces.

This is the one I'm looking at getting:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38375

Does anyone have any experience with doing this? I'm assuming that I'll need to build an enclosure to do this in, or there will be a huge cloud of sand over everything, right? From what I've read, it seems like I will want to use a coarse abrasive for this, does that sound right? I'm going to try to find the abrasive locally so that I don't have to pay shipping on it.

Thanks.

 

I've got one very similar to that. The biggest problem is making sure you dry the incoming air and if you sweep up the sand and reuse it, that you run it through a fine screen (like a window screen.) they like to clog up if sand gets damp or a coarse piece of rust or paint get back in the hopper. Otherwise not bad. I'm a world away from you , but I buy sand (think it's 0 grit) from Napa locally. 10 bucks Canadian. 7 bucks US.

Paul

 

What size compressor do you have? The ad say's you neen between 6 cfm's to 25 cfm's.With a 6cfm compressor it will be running all the time and it is likely that it won't keep up and you would be waiting for it to build pressure.Also you don't want to be breathing the dust so a good mask will be needed. I did a little blasting on an old truck that I had, I had a much smaller unit wit a compressor of about 8cfm's and it was running all the time.
Jeff

 

Do you use it in an enclosed area, or can you just use it outside in the open air and sweep it up afterwards? How big of a mess does it make? Also, if the body im blasting has a lot of bondo on it, would it be better to remove most of it before I use the blaster on it so the sand is cleaner to re-use? Or do the finer things like that not matter much?

I think I'll probably end up ordering it tonight, they sell nozzles for it separately, should I buy ones for fine abrasive or coarse abrasive?

Thanks for the help.

 

I would rather be horse whipped than blast a jeep frame with 6 CFM. Rent a 100cfm compressor and sand pot and do it right. Blasting is miserable work with small gear.

JB

 

I have access to a huge air compressor at the auto shop at my school that will have no problem running it, provided I can do it without making too big of a mess.

How large a sand blaster would you go with for this? Would the one I'm looking at work ok, or is it small enough that I would be better off renting a bigger one?

 

I sent the tub and big parts to sand blast, before painting and all. But it's here, in Israel...
Is it so expensive to do sand blast in the U.S ? or that you have environmental laws to limit it ? All those questions is just for my knowledge.
Ziv

 

I have a unit just like that. doesn't work very well with small compressors, but if you have access to a large unit should be ok. Sand has to be very dry or it will plug up.

 

sand blasted on summer while in collage...... use the coarse sand, get a "good" mask, NOT a paper one, wear really old clothes, use old gloves, put annoying neighbor downwind, and lastly bath outside, as you will leave a ring around the shower.

 

I've read that if you use hematite (iron ore) it cuts faster with less material than beach sand. Also, no problem with silicosis like beach sand, and you can blast outdoors legally. Cheap too. Availability may be a problem.
http://www.optaminerals.com/virginia/products/crystalgrit.aspx

 

Try and do it in some kind of enclosure. I'll warn you now it gets EVERYWHERE. All good advice above. Sand dust can stay in the air for hours so be prepared to clean out neighbors gutters and everything else if doing it outside. Nickmil.

 

I learned a long time ago that there are certain jobs that you hire out.

Sand blasting something that size is one thing I would always hire out instead of trying to do it myself.

For starters you'll need around $200 - 300 worth of respirator / eye / body protection. That is before you power up the compressor, buy abrasive, sand blasting equipment, and the all important clean up.

Also, if you do this anywhere but at a shop of some sort, the neighbors are liable to call 911.

You can get a frame blasted for only 200 - 300.

I have a sand blast cabinet in my shop and my 60 gallon 7 hp campbell hausfeld compressor runs all the time when I am blasting.

My advice would be that you first try a ~ 3000 psi pressure washer that you can rent. It'll take off all the rust scale, grease, paint and leave you with a pretty clean result. Plus, you can leave the axles on the frame and clean them too. Sand'll go everywhere, including bearing seals and bearings. Only a very small amount of sand in a bearing race will cause a problem.

Since you will most likely be putting POR 15 or equivalent on it, a little residual rust is of no consequence.

AND, you won't be blowing sand off the frame for six months from all those areas that are inaccessible for cleaning purposes.

It'll be cheaper and a lot safer - just don't run that 3000 psi nozzle across your foot or any body part that you'd like to keep. Any body parts you don't want to keep you can blast with the washer.

good luck

kamel

 

These units work fine if used with a large compressor, positive displacement type is the best by far, but I doubt anyone on here could afford one for hobby use
To be honest even a 6hp with a 90 gallon tank is not gonna cut it with these types of units, you need to large a volume of air. The compressors we use at work are positive displacement units and they will fill a 1000 gallon tank in about 4 seconds, we could actually run about 12 of these sandblasters side by side all day long without a problem or even straining the units, this is what you need to sandblast with or an industrial gas powered unit.
If you don't want to pay someone to sandblast use a wire wheel on a side grinder or something similar.

 

OK I know you are stuck on sand blasting. And I am not trying to convert you. Just wanted to share an option of removing rust and paint. I used 4 1/2 inch angle grinder with a wire cup on the end of it. I went through about 10 wire cups brushes and took it down to bare metal.

An Angle grinder is on sale for $ 9.95 and the wire cups are $ 4.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=3150

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45650


Sand blasting is probably the better way to do it. I have used a sand blaster. However afterwards I had sand in places on me that sand was never not meant to be.... And when I went inside the house after sandblasting. I would bring in sand. Then I got blasted from the wife for bringing in the sand. The cat was the only one who did not object to the sand.

 

I did my whole frame with paint remover from Home Depot, and the above mentioned Harbor Freight grinder and wire wheels. I then painted the bare metal frame with self etching primer.

 

I just had my frame sandblasted with fine sand in my front yard (dirt) for $100.00 even. He did a good job but never trust a sandblaster. He told me i wouldnt really need to cover up my things. wrong! I got sand all over the place now i am worried that its in my boat engine (that was covered) and my buick 225 that was open on a stand!

Just cover everything! there will be a mess to clean up. but if you have a powerful compressor you can just "blow" away the sand

 

Ok, I'm leaning towards not doing it at this point... but I'm not sure.

I found someone I could borrow a blaster from for free now, and have access to a large compressor. All I would have to do is buy sand (not sure where to get that locally yet), build an enclosure to do it in and completely clean it up when I'm done.

I've been reading that sand blasting will cause sheetmetal to warp and basically destroy it, but that it might be ok with lower air pressure. I'm also a little worried at how well the blaster will go through bed liner.

I have an angle grinder and metal cup brush, and I don't mind spending the time doing it that way. The reason I didn't want to is that there are parts of the frame the wire brush won't be able to get into. I'm boxing the frame, so I figured the less rust that got permanently sealed in the better.

 

You can get the sand a a building supply store ,get the kiln dried as it won't clog.
Jeff

 

It's probably illegal in your city to blast with plain sand in the open (silicosis - health hazard) as well as dangerous for your lungs. Depends on how close your neighbors are.