Air Compressor requirement

[skidlm]

Hello all, I am a newbie who needs some air compressor advice. I have a log home I'm going to media blast (sand blast) to strip the finish. I need to run the blaster as continuously as possible @ 90 psi thru a 1/4 or bigger blast nozzle. The big log home stripping companies use a 185 cfm diesel portable towable air compressor which I think delivers around a constant 105 cfm at those rates. Is there one I could get, a portable one that I might get at a big box store that would deliver similar specs for a job of this type? I've never sand blasted before so this will be an experience! It maybe doesn't need to run for hours on end but dont want anything that recycles every 5 minutes either. Something out there affordable for a homeowner?

Thanks

 

[Stuart in MN]

You're not going to find anything at a big box store that will deliver anywhere near the capacity of those big commercial units. Your best bet will be to rent one.

Also, be very careful with sandblasting a log home. as it's very easy to ruin the wood. I would guess some other media besides sand will be a better idea.

 

[J.A.Varela]

Yup. You need hundreds of cfm not tens.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

Northern Tool used to sell a Chicago Pneumatic tow behind compressor. Not sure if they still do

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Go rent if you need. I bought a 105 cfm Atlas-Copco for doing just what you are going to do. Haven't done it yet. Gotta get the compressor running again, was starting it regular but now it won't feed fuel, like a hose has collapsed. Still need to find the large (60 gal or so) pressure tank and hose and nozzle.

Charles

 

[larry_g]

Hello all, I am a newbie who needs some air compressor advice. I have a log home I'm going to media blast (sand blast) to strip the finish. I need to run the blaster as continuously as possible @ 90 psi thru a 1/4 or bigger blast nozzle. The big log home stripping companies use a 185 cfm diesel portable towable air compressor which I think delivers around a constant 105 cfm at those rates. Is there one I could get, a portable one that I might get at a big box store that would deliver similar specs for a job of this type? I've never sand blasted before so this will be an experience! It maybe doesn't need to run for hours on end but dont want anything that recycles every 5 minutes either. Something out there affordable for a homeowner?

Thanks

You sure can, if your willing to turn this into a year long job. The horsepower of the compressor will determine how fast the job progresses. What you are proposing by getting a homeowner compressor at the big box store is akin to putting a 10hp brigs motor in a Cadillac and going racing. That towable compressor is probably in the 50-100 hp range and you will need it all. The horse power of the compressor is directly proportional to the area you can cover in a day.

Good luck with your project.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[stonesfan68]

1/4-inch orifice at 100 PSIG = 100 CFM

You're going to need a 25HP electric compressor for that application.

 

[930dreamer]

Look on Youtube, there's a video that compares soda vs. dry ice blasting on a log home.

 

[retfr8flyr]

Your best bet is to rent one that meets your needs. You're talking big bucks to buy one that will do the job and unless you are going into business with it, you will most likely never need that much capacity again. Much better off renting.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

If you manifold about 5 or 6 big-box store compressors together (talking the largest 5 HP models) you could likely do it, yeah.

The rule of thumb is 4 CFM per HP. And with normal single phase house current @ 240 VAC you will draw about 5 amps per HP at peak load. So you will need at least a 125 amp panel wired up for dedicated circuits on each machine.

Obviously this would be insane when you could rent a commercial machine for much, much less. But it is fun to think about how you could do it if you *had* to do it.

GD

 

[rlitman]

1/4-inch orifice at 100 PSIG = 100 CFM

You're going to need a 25HP electric compressor for that application.

A 25HP scroll compressor would be in the ballpark, but you'd better have three phase power to run it, as no residential power feed can turn a 25 HP motor (10HP is already pushing the limits very hard).

If you manifold about 5 or 6 big-box store compressors together (talking the largest 5 HP models) you could likely do it, yeah.

My compressor is 7.5 [real]HP and 80 gallons. Its rated something like 24 CFM.
Box store compressors stop at 5 HP. The 2 stage Husky (you NEED a 2 stage for this, as a single stage will not deliver regulated 100 PSI air) 5 HP 80 gallon is 12.7 CFM @90.
So you'd need 8 of them manifolded to get the air you require.

Also note that the CFM per HP ratio above is the ideal amount you can get from an electric compressor. Gas powered compressors have lower CFM per HP ratios.

 

[GeneralDisorder]

I have run plenty of full industrial single stage machines at 110 - 120 psi. They actually deliver higher volume than two stage machines and that is their benefit. If you don't need the pressure you can get better volume with a single stage set around 100 psi.

If a machine reports 12 CFM at 5 HP then it is likely not a true 5 HP machine. A true full 5 HP with a 1.15 SF motor and quality pump ought to get you into the 18-20 CFM range @ 90 psi. That is not to say that anything from a big box store would actually accomplish this..... At least probably not for long!

GD