Sandblasting with a smaller compressor, feasible?

Corndoggeh · May 5, 2016

I have an 8 gallon husky compressor that is 4.5 SCFM at 90psi and would like to get into some sand blasting my restoration projects that I can't reach with a wire wheel.

If I use a hopper fed blaster that uses a 20oz hopper, could I get away with only using the 8 gallon for 1 hopper full or should I get an extra tank on the side? Duty cycle is not a problem for this as long as a full hopper can be used before I need to let the compressor fully charge again.

1961MGA · May 5, 2016

You might be able to do some small stuff but it will compress a lot and you will lose pressure a lot.

I did it with a 25 gallon and it ran and ran...

jomobco · May 5, 2016

I blasted a trailer with a smaller husky stand up. It was a lot of waiting. Instead of hours it was days.

BillK · May 5, 2016

Nothing big. I have a 20 Gallon compressor at home and it will do a few small things at a time but certainly not a whole pot. Shoot even my 2 stage 120 gal compressor at the shop needs a rest pretty often when using the bead blast cabinet.

BillK · May 5, 2016

I just re-read you question. 20 oz hopper ?????? That is almost nothing, like a large soft drink cup ????? You wont get much blasting out of that at all so you might be ok. It probably wont take 2-3 minutes at best to empty it.

Corndoggeh · May 5, 2016

Yeah I plan to do it more for smaller items more than anything else. More specifically I would be getting one from harborfreight or tractor supply.

Blazinzuk · May 6, 2016

I did some blasting years ago with the HF blaster. The pressure pot one.

Little 20 gal. 5 hp ( yah right) craftsman oiless compressor. Lots of waiting lots of running but it got the job done.

Also took many years off the life of that compressor

AV8OR · May 6, 2016

I have a "Speed Blaster" sandblaster for my little dinky jobs.

Jazz1 · May 6, 2016

If you consider it is going to be days of blasting because you are waiting on compressor to catch up why not rent a sandblasting unit.. Rental vs Your time

StingRay · May 6, 2016

11 CFM is a bare minimum and that won't sustain any kind of constant sandblasting with any useful sized blaster. 15 is better and for a hobbyist 20 is about right. I have an 11 cfm 60 gallon electric that I supplement with a 12 cfm gas powered unit when I'm trying to get anything bigger than the smallest of jobs done.

PCMusicGuy · May 6, 2016

I think it would be fine for small items. I just experimented with my 4.6 gallon husky ultra quiet compressor and some soda blasting. It could certainly do the job for small items, but you will definitely need some sort of dryer/watertrap/filter setup. After less than 10 minutes, my soda was turning to paste. Other media like sand may be more forgiving, but having dry air is always better.

Firebird 1 · May 6, 2016

Problem with using such a small compressor is the moisture build up from the excess heat from constant cycling. It will do ok for something like a bracket but I wouldn't plan on doing too much with it.

Corndoggeh · May 6, 2016

So I should plan in putting in some inline moisture collectors while I do it. The largest thing I would be sandblasting in the foreseeable future is a Stanley No 9 plane where I cant reach the corners and edges correctly with a cupped brass wheel.

ssdave · May 6, 2016

I did some with my pancake compressor. You only get about 20 to 30 seconds at a time, then have to wait. It was okay for some small items on guns that I wanted to duracoat, and did some cleanup on some C clamps and such. I use it after electrostripping to clean the surface and give it some texture to hold paint better. I just bought a 6.5 hp 60 gallon compressor, I'm looking forward to being able to do a few minutes worth instead of 30 seconds. What I did notice is I had a lot of moisture, that caused the gun to clog. A larger compressor and tank, and a setup that dehumidifies would be a real help. I think the moisture limited the time/capacity almost more than the lack of air did.

billspit · May 6, 2016

to the OP.

No. It will drive you insane.

stsmytherie · May 6, 2016

Most of this already said, but:

It will work.

You'll have to work slowly.

You'll need to address the problem of moisture in the air. Lots of moisture.

Your compressor will not like it.

But you can get the work done. I did it with an HF cabinet, TP Tools gun upgrade, and 5.3 CFM 20 gallon compressor. Just realize you're treating the compressor as a disposable item as you're doing it.

CatSplat · May 6, 2016

stsmytherie said:
Most of this already said, but:

It will work.

You'll have to work slowly.

You'll need to address the problem of moisture in the air. Lots of moisture.

Your compressor will not like it.

But you can get the work done. I did it with an HF cabinet, TP Tools gun upgrade, and 5.3 CFM 20 gallon compressor. Just realize you're treating the compressor as a disposable item as you're doing it.

Agreed on all counts. Due to funding constraints, I'm running my cabinet with an 8-gallon oiled CH that's around 4CFM. Stuff takes friggin' forever but I've blasted intake manifolds, cylinder heads, pistons, brackets, pulleys, you name it. Just have to be patient, have an air dryer, and do things in stages so you're not running the poor little compressor at 100% duty cycle. Empty the water out of the compressor tank after every blast session.

It's far, far from ideal for big stuff, but if you're in a pinch it can be done. For small items like the Stanley plane, it'll be no problem at all.

OccupantRJ · May 6, 2016

Sandblasting in a cabinet or not, air volume is the name of the game. I am now up to a 110 cfm portable to run my blasting cabinets, one of which uses a 5/32" air jet in the gun. It can outpace a 20 cfm compressor. The size of a nozzle on a suction gun is not what demands the air, it is the air jet inside the gun. This is one game where bigger is definitely better.

Corndoggeh · May 7, 2016

So then if humidity is around 10 - 20% for where I live can I get away with an inline moisture filter/trap?

Voi · May 7, 2016

AV8OR said:
I have a "Speed Blaster" sandblaster for my little dinky jobs.

Is that your review? If not, what compressor are you running that off of?

AV8OR · May 9, 2016

Voi said:
Is that your review? If not, what compressor are you running that off of?

Yes that is about it, but seeing as how you asked I have an Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate Air Compressor and it runs out of air too so I go off and do something else while the compressor recharges.

Jazz1 · May 31, 2016

I used a HF pot blaster to do this recent project. I have a 5 HP 18CFM RK compressor. No problem keeping up and there is a sheeeetload of sheet metal. Everything blasted, inside, outside, underneath..whole car!

Sandblasting with a smaller compressor, feasible?

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