HF Pressure Pot Sandblaster

[so2315]

I have the large HF pressure pot sandblaster. I purchased this several years ago and used it a couple of times without much luck. It wasn't due to the product performing the job, it was just the huge mess this thing made with media all over the driveway. I used the silica sand, and this just went everywhere and the wife wasn't too happy.
I now have a 3 ton floor jack that needs to be cleaned up. It is a Car and Driver jack purchased at Target. It is made by Shin-Foo and is a decent jack. Sitting in my garage over the years have made it pretty rusty. I was wondering what you guys that have the pressure pot blaster use to contain the mess? Would I be better off buying a blasting cabinet from HF or do you make something up with tarps?
I don't really have the room to store a blast cabinet, and really don't like being restricted to the size you can put in the cabinet. I am going to try the coal slag the next time I use this, hopefully it is not as dusty. Any suggestions on getting the most out of this blaster?

 

[sberry]

This is not for you if you are not able to handle the mess, no good way around this, needs to be used outside in a place it doesn't matter.

 

[gtlaw]

do it in your yard on a big piece of cardboard the sand will settle under the grass so there won't be a mess

 

[Unearthed]

This is not for you if you are not able to handle the mess, no good way around this, needs to be used outside in a place it doesn't matter.

Yep, pretty much.
I don't do a lot of blasting, but when I do, I blast in the yard. A day of rain and mother nature reclaims what is hers.

 

[tyndall]

Put down big tarps. Short of a cabinet, there is no clean way to sandblast.

 

[so2315]

Thanks for the answers. I was looking at trying to figure out a way to do this in the garage over the winter months. Having a mess outside is fine with the cheap silica based sand, but I am looking at trying to reclaim the higher priced stuff. Will try the tarps on the ground and maybe making some plywood walls to contain what I can for re-use.
On a side note, do any of you have a problem with the hose dry rotting from HF? I just looked at mine and it is all rotted out.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'm surprised no one yet chimed in with the warning NOT to use silica sand. It is extremely dangerous and subjects you to silicosis. NO, using a respirator will NOT protect you and a dust mask certainly will not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis

 

[tyndall]

Oh, and don't use silica... I use crushed glass. About the same price as silica. I still use a respirator.

If you're blasting in your garage you'll have to cover the walls and ceiling too in plastic as well as tape any cabinet doors. Otherwise it will be raining sand from the rafters for months. That stuff goes everywhere.

The hoses do rot rather quickly. Chinese rubber ain't all that great. Make sure you have some sort of air drier, they clog quickly with a bit of moisture from the air lines.

 

[shannonw]

This seems like way too much work and overkill for a target floor jack...

Just get a poly disc or wire brush on your angle grinder take it apart go at it clean it up, and paint it. You'd be surprised what a simple angle grinder, poly disk and wire brush will clean up.

 

[so2315]

This seems like way too much work and overkill for a target floor jack...

Just get a poly disc or wire brush on your angle grinder take it apart go at it clean it up, and paint it. You'd be surprised what a simple angle grinder, poly disk and wire brush will clean up.

I had to laugh when I seen this. Is there such a thing as overkill on this board? This is Garage Journal, home of the tool nuts!! Guys that tear down old vises, use micrometers to measure their sockets and wrenches just to take them back for being a thousandth of an inch off. I could use my 4 1/2" Milwaukee grinder and hit it, but I have the blaster so I might as well use it. I may even powder coat it, or chrome plate it. It is just the run of the mill China jack, but I might as well put some bling to it.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This seems like way too much work and overkill for a target floor jack...

Just get a poly disc or wire brush on your angle grinder take it apart go at it clean it up, and paint it. You'd be surprised what a simple angle grinder, poly disk and wire brush will clean up.

Pretty much

I've also read that you can form a V with a couple sheets of plywood to "catch" and drop the media. Then run it through a filter and reuse. I've not done it, but have read it on the HAMB.

 

[240sxguy]

What about making a janky sandblast cabinet with a trash can or something?

 

[jmauld]

What about making a janky sandblast cabinet with a trash can or something?

I use a covered litter box for smaller items.

 

[shannonw]

use micrometers to measure their sockets and wrenches just to take them back for being a thousandth of an inch off.

You do have a good point here...

just sayin what i would do =)

I'd avoid the silica stuff though

 

[evintho]

I've got a ten foot square spot behind my toolshed in the backyard. Some 1" strapping from the fence to the back of the toolshed, staple bisquene to the strapping and lay a HF blue tarp on the ground. I use silica sand with a respirator and an HF 90lb pressure pot blaster. I easily scrape the sand off the tarp with a dustpan, filter it through a WalMart strainer and reuse it. Did I mention I'm cheap?
This enclosure is very easy to erect and tear down and keeps 99% of the sand inside.

 

[R6 Racer]

What about a tent?

Steve

 

[KenB]

Or, you could always (gasp) take it to a body or welding shop and have them sandblast it for you...

Ken