Air compressor big enough for a media blaster?
- Thread starter Rod N
- Start date
That 4 hp ch probably makes about 6cfm, so if you get a media nozzle that only fires 6fm you should be good, I cant imagine it being very fun to use. Get 2 more of them units 
. Most media blast nozzles are 14+ cfm a decent one is 17ish..
. Most media blast nozzles are 14+ cfm a decent one is 17ish..finn
Well-known member
And it goes up rapidly as the ID of the nozzle wears with use.
well if you are just doing a set of tins, then you will just take a lot of time waiting for the compressor with your hands in the gloves...
You blast around 90psi, so that tank stores at 125, you will get a few seconds of good blast until it is just wasting energy and time, then wait for it to build back to 90 and then blast for a few sconds until your storage is gone, and repeat, and repeat...
There is a great company that charges like $25 an hour to blast, and Powder coat your parts, the are in the US, but maybe someone out there that does the same thing...
You blast around 90psi, so that tank stores at 125, you will get a few seconds of good blast until it is just wasting energy and time, then wait for it to build back to 90 and then blast for a few sconds until your storage is gone, and repeat, and repeat...
There is a great company that charges like $25 an hour to blast, and Powder coat your parts, the are in the US, but maybe someone out there that does the same thing...
csp
Well-known member
Compare the CFM requirements of the blaster you're looking at to the CFM capacity of your compressor.
Firebird 1
Well-known member
I have a 60 gal. and when I blast constantly, it works to keep up. I don't think what your looking at is big enough.
goodysgotacuda
Well-known member
Same here. Even for parts that I consider pretty reasonable sized, say 16"x3" plate, take a bit of compressor work to get done.
I'm sure a 13gal "could do it"....eventually ...and a pretty substantial run time. If that's the answer you're looking for.
BillK
Well-known member
Rod,
We have a 7 1/2 HP 80 gal 2 stage at the shop. When we are using the glass beader it kills it real quick. If you are only doing small stuff and don't mind waiting pretty often for it to catch up you might get away with something smaller.
We have a 7 1/2 HP 80 gal 2 stage at the shop. When we are using the glass beader it kills it real quick. If you are only doing small stuff and don't mind waiting pretty often for it to catch up you might get away with something smaller.
I just checked my HF spot blaster and it consumes 7 cfm. The spot blaster only holds 2-3 minutes worth of media, so it will go empty about the time your compressor has fallen behind.
I think the spot blaster and a big cardboard box as a cabinet is all that will work with that compressor.
I think the spot blaster and a big cardboard box as a cabinet is all that will work with that compressor.
I have a spot blaster, and I have about 20cfm right now (soon to be more), and it kicks the compressor on after 25-30 seconds, not sure if mine is different or them ratings are off, but that little pump wont empty it before getting low enough to catch the sand with your other hand..
beakie
Well-known member
maybe add a pressure pot to the cabinet
runs @ lower pressure,
and "I think" lower cfm?
my 60gal 5hp Eagle unit will keep up with my cabinet for a few minutes... then it starts lagging behind and I have to wait for it to charge up again.
I will be looking into adding a pressure pot in the future.
runs @ lower pressure,
and "I think" lower cfm?
my 60gal 5hp Eagle unit will keep up with my cabinet for a few minutes... then it starts lagging behind and I have to wait for it to charge up again.
I will be looking into adding a pressure pot in the future.
Thanks for all the info gents. Looks a blaster is not in the cards for me as I'm not about to start shopping for a bigger compressor.
In a way this is a good thing as I can focus on my engine rebuild and let my neighbour do the blasting for me for a couple of hundred bucks. Not to mention I hate dust!
In a way this is a good thing as I can focus on my engine rebuild and let my neighbour do the blasting for me for a couple of hundred bucks. Not to mention I hate dust!
Guys, as noted by jonjon and csp above, the key is CFM output of your compressor head. The "gallons" you guys keep quoting is the size of the tank and is only the reserve of air you have when you are not using any air.
Once you start to use compressed air at a serious rate it is the CFM output of your compressor head that determines whether or not it will be able to keep up with your demand. Use it faster than your compressor head can produce it and you will experience pressure drop, not good for any compressed air tool and certainly not good for blasting.
I have a small blaster cabinet with a two stage 25 CFM compressor that runs to about 145 psi and it is on the edge. If I want to blast for 10 minutes my compressor will be running constantly after about 2 minutes or so.
For big stuff we have a blaster supplier locally that rents time out on his demo blaster, 50$ an hour but well worth it. Note the 40 cfm screw compressor in the corner, quiet and BIG TIME air....
Once you start to use compressed air at a serious rate it is the CFM output of your compressor head that determines whether or not it will be able to keep up with your demand. Use it faster than your compressor head can produce it and you will experience pressure drop, not good for any compressed air tool and certainly not good for blasting.
I have a small blaster cabinet with a two stage 25 CFM compressor that runs to about 145 psi and it is on the edge. If I want to blast for 10 minutes my compressor will be running constantly after about 2 minutes or so.
For big stuff we have a blaster supplier locally that rents time out on his demo blaster, 50$ an hour but well worth it. Note the 40 cfm screw compressor in the corner, quiet and BIG TIME air....
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CudaChick1968
Member Emeritus
X2 on all of the above.
I'm at $30 an hour now before the GJ discount.
I was referring to you
3 members pm'd me for contact info for the company that does that, lol...have a good holiday Leanna, I didnt realize you were on this forum too, you get around
....
You can wait but it will work to death and produce a lot of moisture which would clump up the media.
You may be able to blast something small, and blasting is actually quite slow that's why the process is not usually cheap. It's not like cleaning like a water spray, more like a small diameter at a time. I would say 15 CFM is the minimum to even attempt it.
You may be able to blast something small, and blasting is actually quite slow that's why the process is not usually cheap. It's not like cleaning like a water spray, more like a small diameter at a time. I would say 15 CFM is the minimum to even attempt it.
I have both a blaster cabinet and a 120 lb pressure pot here and have done ALOT of blasting in both, I have a 5hp. 220V 1 phase, 80 gallon upright with a 4 cyl, 2 stage pump. (Emglo W series) it's like 17.some CFM at 175 PSI if it is used straight off the tank/unregulated. I have it set about 120 PSI. That is the 1st compressor I have eve had that will keep up with any kind of blasting. and I have dome ALOT of sand blasting with this unit to a point that I have worn it out, I have a rebuild kit here to take care of that.
I bought this thing used about 12 years ago, unknown how many hours or how good of maintenance was done on it before it was mine... but the guy at the local air compressor shop asked if I wanted to double my money on it when I went in for fittings and such back when I 1st got it....
I have a 2nd compressor that I sometimes throw in the bed of my truck, much smaller and 5HP gas powered, I have used it with my cabinet for quick small jobs before, that's about all that compressor will do.
I bought this thing used about 12 years ago, unknown how many hours or how good of maintenance was done on it before it was mine... but the guy at the local air compressor shop asked if I wanted to double my money on it when I went in for fittings and such back when I 1st got it....
I have a 2nd compressor that I sometimes throw in the bed of my truck, much smaller and 5HP gas powered, I have used it with my cabinet for quick small jobs before, that's about all that compressor will do.
CudaChick1968
Member Emeritus
I was referring to you
have a good holiday Leanna, I didnt realize you were on this forum too, you get around
That's really funny because I was just being a goofball. With countless shops in my industry, I never in a million years thought you might be talking about me. Thanks for the very kind recommendations and words, and have a Merry Christmas!! << off and grinning >>