? about pot style sand blasters

[sevensandeights]

I have been researching sand blasters and blast cabinets for several weeks and am having trouble making a decision. I restore Jeep CJ's as a hobby and frequently need to clean up old rusty parts. The problem is that the parts range in size from nuts/bolts to axle housings to complete frames. The blast cabinets I have seen from TP and BadBoy have good reviews but start to get really expensive when you get up to the sizes that could fit a complete axle housing ($1000+ for anything over 52" long). In addition, even if I get a big cabinent, I still can't do any frame work. Lastly, this is something I would use a few times per year (for large items) but the footprint of a cabinet that big would take up alot of room in the garage.

So, I starting looking into pot style blasters but they seem to vary greatly in price. HF units are around $100 and BadBoy units go all the way to $1k. I don't mind paying more as long as the expense is worth it (better reliability/less clogs/more media options). I have all kinds of room outside so I won't have any issues with blowing media around and I still break out the angle grinder or wire wheel for the small parts.

I have a IR T30 two stage 5 HP compressor with an 80 gallon tank.

I have looked into outsourcing to local shops but only one will blast and prime but they are always 4-6 weeks behind schedule. I am worried about blast only places because of flash rust covering everything up before I get a chance to spray a coat of primer on. In addition, at the rates they charge it would only take a few jobs before I spent more than what I could get a decent unit for.

Any suggestions on pot vs. cabinets and what brand to get would be greatly appreciated.

 

[signcrafter]

I have this one and like it, http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_7960_7960. Made in the USA still.

Just make sure your air is completely dry and cool to avoid any issues with clogging sand.

 

[amolaver]

i've got, and love, a smaller TP cabinet - works phenomenally well with clean dry air. there is just no getting around that it is limited in piece size though. like you said, never getting one that you can do a frame in. i think the big issue with a pressure pot is the 'overspray' - you really need an enclosed space (tarps?) to work in unless you've got an outdoor workspace not particularly close to anyone else. its also more expensive since its difficult to recycle the media like you do with a cabinet.

perhaps if you lay down tarps you could fold them up and recycle the media? maybe buy one of the $75 EZ-Ups and hang tarps on the sides to keep it all contained?

ahm

 

[Brian_B_]

Look up home made blast cabinets online. There are tons of styles, designs, and sizes. My favorite style (no i do not have one) is made from a steel barrel. I do not have room for one right now.

I have a pressure blaster from HF. A trick with them is strap a small vibrating sander to the side of the tank. It keeps the sand from "bridging" across the bottom exit...makes it fall where it is supposed to.

 

[sevensandeights]

Anybody else with first hand experience with pot style blasters?

I may ultimately end up with a small cabinet as well but I need something that I can take outside and blast away on the big stuff. Not to worried about making a mess because I don't have neighbors and I don't care about reclaiming the media since I don't plan to use it that much (for now anyways!).

 

[farmall400]

I have a ruemelin 100 or 150 pound pot style blaster and I also have a cabinet. The pot style is great for the bigger stuff. I don't use it much but it does come in handy. Only thing I can suggest is if you get the pot style get a deadman valve for the hose. I don't have one and it sure wastes a lot of material. The pot blaster and cabinet are like a ratchet and combination wrench, you kind of need both in my opinion.

 

[Motofixxer]

I used a HF pot for an axle. The media I was using would clog. So I resorted to rocking the pot to keep it flowing. worked fine for my occasional needs.

 

[daw53]

I also have both.

My pressure (pot style) blaster is one that I made myself over 20 years ago out of a forklift propane cylinder. It has a deadman valve as Farmall400 suggests. It was my first sandblaster and I still use it, in fact I will be using it tomorrow. I have used it to clean up truck frames and car and body parts, old tractors, and even lawn furniture. Although there is a definite learning curve on body parts, to use it without warping the metal. Also, as stated, dry air works best. I started just using air straight from the compressor and would have problems with moisture causing clogging. I added a refrigerated air dryer and it made a world of difference.

I don't want to amke a big deal out of this, however, one thing to consider with a pressure style is protection (and comfort) for you. Some of the media, especially sand, can be harmful to breathe. You can search information on the internet if you want to learn more. I started with a pillowcase, goggles, and a dust mask - which was hot and miserable. Then I went to a canvas blast hood, which was not much different. I then purchased a supplied air system with a blasting helment made by Bullard. You can also use it for paint work with a different hood. I figured that I would be doing a lot of blasting and painting over my life so the investment was worth it to me to for my protection. However, it really does make a huge difference in my comfort level when blasting.

I also have a cabinet style made by TP. Like most cabinets, it uses a siphon style gun. What drove me to buy the cabinet was convenience - you don't have to drag everything outside and set it up to do a few small parts. You can also blast regardless of the weather.

I run both off of the same compressor, a 5hp C-aire, with a dryer as mentioned above. The pressure blaster will clean faster than the cabinet/siphon in my experience. My long term plan is to add additional compressor capacity to be able to run the cabinet with faster results.

To do the larger parts that you described, frames and rear ends, I would recommend a pressure blaster. But do yourself a favor and read up a bit on the breathing hazards and determine what you are comfortable with in that regard.

- David

 

[gearbuilder]

I have a 36" wide Trinco siphon feed blast cabinet and really like the convenience of having it ready to use anytime.
When I have a lot of blasting to do I run two 5HP compressors.
I also have a pressure pot blaster that holds about 80 lbs. It’s like the one sold by harbor tools. I would like to move up to one that had the top that worked like a built in funnel and held about 300 lbs. of sand. Stopping to refill the pot all of the time and messing with the big plastic funnel that mine uses is a pain.

Jamie

 

[kool55]

Ok, here is another thought. Who has a pressure feed blast cabinet? I have used a Snap-On siphon feed cabinet that sucked, and a 600 lb. pressure blaster with an IR 175 compressor that flat out kicked ***.
I know it would not handle large items. I think someone here has converted a siphon cabinet.Would be the best of both in one.

 

[PCO6]

Ok, here is another thought. Who has a pressure feed blast cabinet?

I use both syphon and pressure feed in my home made cabinet. I can easily detach my pressure feed blaster and take it outside for blasting larger items. That's when the fun begins. I've made temporary makeshift outdoor "cabinets" out of plywood, tarps, tents, etc. ... what ever it takes ... but it's still messy!

 

[PCO6]

Anybody else with first hand experience with pot style blasters?

I may ultimately end up with a small cabinet as well but I need something that I can take outside and blast away on the big stuff. Not to worried about making a mess because I don't have neighbors and I don't care about reclaiming the media since I don't plan to use it that much (for now anyways!).

sevensandeights - see my post above. When I blast outside on the driveway beside my garage I usually do it on a big old poly tarp that I hang on the wall and across the drive. I don't always reclaim the sand but it sure makes the clean up a lot easier. I have also done some things on the grass in the back yard ... no clean up at all.

 

[shovel]

I also have both. The HF blast cabinet works fine for small parts. At some point in time, you will have to upgrade your siphon-feed blast gun as the media will wear it out. I also added a light fixture that helps illuminate, but also helps keep the media dry. As far as the pot blaster goes, I have the HF unit and have made it work, but there are better options. Check out www.texasblaster.com. I will replace the POS HF model with this in the next couple of weeks. It is kinda getting hot to be sandblasting around here though...

 

[KPSquared]

We have what is probably the HF equivalent pot style at the farm. As long as you have lots of air and everything is kept dry, it works awesome. Takes a lot of patience though. . . those little blasters make a frame a HUGE project. I did a set of lockers and it took forever. (it may have been an old powder coat though . . .)

Invest in a good blast hood/helmet. . . eating sand *****.

In my home shop I hope to put a cabinet in being as I don't have a place for the HUGE mess associated with the pot style.

 

[rkevins]

I have a pressure blaster from HF. A trick with them is strap a small vibrating sander to the side of the tank. It keeps the sand from "bridging" across the bottom exit...makes it fall where it is supposed to.[/QUOTE]

thanks for this Idea

we picked up a hf pressure blaster th eother day I have spent most of the day building a blasting area 14' x 24' that will knock down and all move out of the way.

( sorry no pics don't have the camera only on my phone and it won't take good on something that size )

 

[sevensandeights]

Getting ready to pull the trigger. Any good reason not to spend more money on a made in the USA (I think) BadBoy unit compared to others (HF, Tractor Supply, TP, Eastwood, etc.)?

I am looking at the 300D:
http://www.badboyblasters.com/id95.html

 

[sevensandeights]

OK - I have narrowed it down to these three choices (I don't think the BadBoy unit is made in USA although their bigger units are):

https://www.texasblaster.com/index.php?categoryid=116

http://www.hornetblaster.com/

http://pressurized-sand-blasters.brutmfg.com/ - model 101H

All three are very close on price and have similar specs. Biggest differences I can tell are:

1.) Texasblaster has 3/4" blast hose, water separator and carbide tips
2.) Hornetblaster has 1/2" blast hose, NO water separator and comes with ceramic tips but holds more media
3.) Brut has 1/2" blast hose, deadman valve, water separator and comes with ceramic tips.

 

[DekeT]

Good selection on any of those blasters. I try to make it easy on myself when faced with choice like that and buy from my home state.

 

[larry4406]

I have a TP-99'r pressure pot that is about 25 years old when TP tools used to sell pots. I believe that there is/was some relation between them and Brut. Mine has the "cougar valve" that Brut sales replacement parts for. Any event, I have been very pleased with it. I like the funnel detail at the top. Having dry sifted media, the proper tip relative to the media size, and plenty of air is key. I am also looking at blast cabinets, TP Tools look like nice units.

 

[W-Cummins]

I too have a tip/san-blast/Brut 100lb machine with the cougar valve, it's a great machine! I went and looked at the 2 others you posted. I would still buy the Brut machine over the other 2.
Why?
Although the Texas blaster has some nice "features" it also has one I don't like. The cheap *** valve on the end of the sand hose, it will last only a few times before the sand completely destroys it. When I first got my TIP it too had a ball valve on it ( a HARDENED steel valve) and it got chewed up fast, the brass valve doesn't stand a chance. The other machine also had this setup. The dead man valve that Brut uses is a good compromise on a cheap sand pot. The one feature that the Brut lacks is the 3/4" sand hose. Tthis will not effect most small shop/home shop users though as it will not become a problem ( the 1/2" hose) until you get into a nozzle size that is much larger than a 10hp compressor can run.

William....

 

[rkevins]

what is the advantage of a deadman valve verses the one like on my HF where you have a ballvalve on the end of the hose where you install the tip. any pointers will be helpful we just started with the sandblaster this morning.
will a bigger tip clean a larger area or at the same pressure will it just eat up more air volume making compressor run more?

 

[signcrafter]

what is the advantage of a deadman valve verses the one like on my HF where you have a ballvalve on the end of the hose where you install the tip. any pointers will be helpful we just started with the sandblaster this morning.
will a bigger tip clean a larger area or at the same pressure will it just eat up more air volume making compressor run more?

A deadman valve has a couple advantages but the main one is that it won't wear out like a ball valve will. A ball valve is constantly getting blasted with shot which will wear it down. A deadman valve uses a piece of rubber that caps the tip of the nozzle. This rubber will also wear out but it will take a little longer and also the rubber is cheap and easy to replace. Also sand seems to get stuck in the valve and cause issues. The deadman is also easier to use, just squeeze the handle and go and when you want to stop just let go. With a ball valve you need two hands to turn the handle on and off.

A bigger tip will eat up a lot more air. A 3/32" tip uses 7CFM, a 1/8" uses 15 CFM and a 5/32" uses 25CFM. So the bigger the tip the more air you need.

 

[W-Cummins]

A bigger tip will eat up a lot more air. A 3/32" tip uses 7CFM, a 1/8" uses 15 CFM and a 5/32" uses 25CFM. So the bigger the tip the more air you need.

Those values are way low for most uses ( they are the values at 70psi). Most blasting will be at 80-100 psi with 90psi really common and will take lots more air. Like I posted in the other thread a 5hp 2 stage industrial compressor will have problems keeping up with a 1/8" nozzle at 90 psi.

Here is a link to the chart from the Texas blaster site.

William....

 

[sevensandeights]

Thanks for the replies - I have a few major issues that I need help with.

I like the Brut unit but they don't seem to sell carbide tips for their deadman valve (7000 series squeezer). Also, they don't specifically state that I can use soda with their unit.

As for the Texas unit, it holds twice as much media (150# vs 75# for the Brut) and they state you can use blast soda with it. The ball valve at the end of the blast hose is any issue but at least you get a carbide tip.

Anybody have experience using soda through a pressure pot style blaster and has anyone had a good experience with ball valve style nozzle control vs. deadman valves?

 

[W-Cummins]

You can live with the ball valve if you turn off/on the sand with the mixing valve and then turn off/on the air with the hose end valve. It will be a pain in the *** to do it that way but the valve will live much longer if you do. As for the soda blasting, I bet the Brut will blast it, at least as well as the Texas blaster will, but a call to Brut will answer that question. The larger size is a plus, the carbide nozzle and low price is good too. I'm sure that either unit would work good for you!

William....

PS...

Some thing else to look at (and I'm not sure either offer it) is to get a ASME tank on the blaster. This is REQUIRED to use the blaster in any type of commercial setting. I know that when I got mine from TIP they sold it as a "99er" w/o cert and a model 100 with it. It may not matter to you now, but it may in the future and it will allow you to have a much larger audience to sell to if you ever want to sell the blaster!