Automated Blast Media Sifter?

[larry4406]

Anyone have an automated/vibrating sifter for media? The TSC grit I am using has some particles that are too large and clog the nozzle.

Would like to be able to pour the whole 50# bag in, sift it, then dump in to the pot blaster.

 

[1948]

man i run into that issue when i go to reuse media when using my outdoor blaster. most of the media stays good so its a waste to just leave it all over the yard. so i put down a tarp, and pieces of rust and dirt and rocks ect come off what im blasting so i gotta sift it all by hand back into the blaster.... takes forever!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I use the glass bead from TSC and it has been promblem free. I also use Blast Snad (silica sand) from my local concrete supplier, it works fine for me too.


What products are you having problems with Larry ?

 

[1948]

you blast with silica sand? you should read up on that...... its dangerous

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

 

[larry4406]

What products are you having problems with Larry ?

TSC has a black coal slag like product. Not sure of grit size at the moment. I have a TIP pressure pot.

The grit has random particles that are almost "needle" shape, very small diameter yet about 1/8" long that wedge in the nozzle while the vast majority of the grit is small chips/flakes.

I also want the ability to sweep up used grit and power sift it for re-use again.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Would window screen be too be big and not fine enough to get the bigger pieces out ?

 

[1948]

Would window screen be too be big and not fine enough to get the bigger pieces out ?

thats what i use and it works perfectly, but... you have to shake it, otherwise it just sits there and doesnt fall through(dont ask me why) hence the need for something.... but i guess i might need to just make something up with an electric motor/off balance weight on it, and a frame with some sort of rubber or spring mounts.

 

[NUTTSGT]

thats what i use and it works perfectly, but... you have to shake it, otherwise it just sits there and doesnt fall through(dont ask me why) hence the need for something.... but i guess i might need to just make something up with an electric motor/off balance weight on it, and a frame with some sort of rubber or spring mounts.

I was thinking of a box frame and aluminum window screen. Instead of shaking it, what about a sander placed against the side of the box ? I think that would make enough vibrations to keep the sand running.

 

[larry4406]

Manual window screen method currently in use. PIA and slow......

I am thinking two 5 gal buckets with the bottoms cut out. Slip one in to the next but with appropriate screen mesh in between. Them some sort of horizontal spindle/axis of rotation, small crank arm, rod, motor.

 

[FrankieD]

McMaster Carr sells air powered vibrators.They come in sizes from tiny to huge,pick the size that suits your frame size and weight.The way I hooked ours up I used an air regulator to dial in the best speed to keep the media moving.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about some pics Frankie ?

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Put a jitter bug sander on it. That will shake it.

 

[rsanter]

I use window screen bungie tied over a 5 gal bucket and pour through all the used stuff to clean it up

bob

 

[MatthewM]

Although it won't solve all your problems this is a system I use and like. It requires the following:
2 x 5 Gallon Buckets
1 x Bucket Lid
1 x Piece of Window Screen

Cut the bottom off 1 bucket, the center out of the top, and sandwich the screen between the two. Then the sifter you just created will easily fit into the other 5 gallon bucket. Easy and cheap.

-Matt

 

[JamieK]

Attach an old drill to the side of the bucket, and chuck in an offset weight. Or attach a reciprocating saw blade to the bucket, and then attach the reciprocating saw to it.

 

[BJ42LX]

THAT is a great feckin' idea! And it's only like $10 in parts.

Thanks for that, Matt!

Although it won't solve all your problems this is a system I use and like. It requires the following:
2 x 5 Gallon Buckets
1 x Bucket Lid
1 x Piece of Window Screen

Cut the bottom off 1 bucket, the center out of the top, and sandwich the screen between the two. Then the sifter you just created will easily fit into the other 5 gallon bucket. Easy and cheap.

-Matt

 

[LutzTD]

wrap screen around a drum with big holes in the side, hook a motor to the drum to make it turn..... viola a power sifter

 

[OccupantRJ]

A friend of mine drilled a few hundred small holes in the lower corner of the drum of a small concrete mixer. He trapped used grit with a tarp, then shoveled it into the mixer under power to sift the grit, catching it underneath. After sifting was done, he simply tilted the drum to dump the undesired material. It worked really well, and seemed worth all the small hole drilling.

 

[LutzTD]

you could also bolt one of these to the side of a bucket

McMaster Carr Air powered ******** page no 513

http://www.mcmaster.com/#vibrators/=h6xw8e

(A) High-Strength Ductile Iron with NPT Threads—Side Inlet 5807K46 $77.97

 

[mdbeck1]

How about the inner tub from a clothes washing machine. The holes are already punched... ..but that's a LOT more work than two 5 gallon buckets...

...or a clothes dryer.

 

[Battle Ground DIY]

Here's a Youtube video of an automated abrasive sifter I made with window screen and a jig saw, and it works great!

 

[wolfsburged]

Here's a Youtube video of an automated abrasive sifter I made with window screen and a jig saw, and it works great!

Awesome! I may have to steal this idea.

 

[ADSR]

Here's a Youtube video of an automated abrasive sifter I made with window screen and a jig saw, and it works great!

fantastic!

 

[larry4406]

Very clever! I might have to try that.

 

[steel 35]

Here's a Youtube video of an automated abrasive sifter I made with window screen and a jig saw, and it works great!

Keep posting!

 

[fattogatto]

http://www.tptools.com/Abrasive-Sifter-Screen,9.html?b=s*abrasive+sifter+screen

 

[clubairth]

I also use the TP Tools screen and a 5 gallon bucket. I rarely need to screen as most paint and rust are turned to dust and leave the box going to my cyclone and then to my VAC-35.
.
.
.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Here's a Youtube video of an automated abrasive sifter I made with window screen and a jig saw, and it works great!

Great first post!

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

What about a 5 gallon bucket with screen "windows" in the sides. Put a shaft through the center and spin it with a tub below to catch the sand. Use a small motor to spin it or crank/spin it by hand.

 

[188slo50]

Here's a Youtube video of an automated abrasive sifter I made with window screen and a jig saw, and it works great!

Awesome! I'm defiantly stealing this idea

 

[Battle Ground DIY]

I posted a Youtube video of my Automated Abrasive Sifter earlier in this blog. Here's my new and improved version of the sifter. It now fills directly into the bucket while it sifts. Check it out!!

 

[larry4406]

I posted a Youtube video of my Automated Abrasive Sifter earlier in this blog. Here's my new and improved version of the sifter. It now fills directly into the bucket while it sifts. Check it out!!

I like very much!

 

[larry4406]

Started blasting again and I still need to make an automated blast media sifter. One of the above Youtube links is bad but I think it used to link to this one.

 

[larry4406]

Saw this video on Youtube and thought it was applicable here.

I still need to make something. Need to media blast and paint the metal outdoor furniture this summer.

Guy uses a washing machine motor with an eccentric weight to power sift sand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=AUqDl8I2Q54&feature=emb_title

The upper "raw sand" screen is tilted to one side so the dregs self eject while the screened sand falls thru along the bottom chute. Would be easy to raise unit and adapt collection buckets for both dregs and reclaimed sand

Clever.

 

[Jazz1]

Would window screen be too be big and not fine enough to get the bigger pieces out ?

I always sift media through window screen. Some brands only a dozens chunks big enough to clog valve, other brands will have much more. For the few minutes it is worth sparing the aggravation of clearing clogged valve. I guess the process of sifting through could be sped up setting a Mr Hitachi Magic Wand on the screen

 

[larry4406]

... I guess the process of sifting through could be sped up setting a Mr Hitachi Magic Wand on the screen...

I had to google that. "King of vibrators, Non phallic appearance". Kind of wish I didn't now know this...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005M1WE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[andyvh1959]

How about a Harbor Freight bench top cabinet (I don't need a big cabinet) on top of a plastic 55 gallon drum. Use window screen on the barrel top as a sift medium and let the blast media fall through into the barrel? I'd make a wooden frame to fit the top of the barrel, with a door on the front, and the screen frame would slide in behind the door.

Lift the door, slide out the screen to dump the big chunks, let the blast media fall back into the barrel.

 

[nadogail]

Thanks for Sharing.

 

[larry4406]

Saw this Youtube video of a DIY Drill Powered Sand Sieving Machine and figured I would add it here.

Guy is pretty clever. He has a home made ring roller, bending jig, and vise that he uses to build the sifter.