Outdoor sandblasting question

[havi]

Out here in the sticks, there is no concrete, lol. But I'm wanting to build an area for soda and sandblasting, that will allow me to sweep up the sand and such. I don't want it too heavy that it becomes permanent, however if I put rectangle tube underneath, then a tractor or skidsteer with forks can lift and move it. Something like an over sized snow bucket. Would the cheaper ribbed sheet metal like that used for roofs hold up for very long? Any other ideas welcome.

 

[GearBeer]

One of my coworkers lays out a very large sheet of heavy plastic sheet for blasting. He lifts one or two sides (depending on what kind of work he is doing) so he doesn't lose too much media. I believe his frame is made of 2x4s.

 

[metal1313]

really you could just make a shed. or just lay out a frame and some heavy plastic. if you made a shed i think that would be best. you could side it with corragated tin to make it lighter. but if not moving it often i'd just build some skids and drag it when you gotta move it

 

[OccupantRJ]

About 20 years ago, I sandblasted as one of my sideline backyard businesses. I used the green canvas tarps spread on the ground, then pulled up at the edges to gather and recycle the sand by scooping and running it through a screened funnel, back into the blaster vessel. Be sure to ground metal parts with a ground wire to prevent static surprises to your private parts as you lean across to get to large surfaces.

RJ

 

[Ruiner]

If it were me, I'd build a corrugated vented shed with wood floors and a mesh/expanded metal section in the floor to sweep the media onto, then below the mesh would be a sheetmetal and 1x1 tubing box on rollers underneath...blast, sweep and roll the bin out from underneath to reclaim your media...

 

[A_Pmech]

4-6 mil plastic tarp in the grass where it won't get full of holes. That's all I've ever used.

Many times though, I don't bother. Blasting sand is what? $4-$6 a bag? I stripped my whole Do-All saw with 8 100-lb bags of sand.

 

[35mastr]

I would try to stay away from sand in any blasting situations. The silca in the sand will make you very ill.

There are lots more safer medias avalible today.

 

[tcianci]

+1 on the silica but there are very inexpensive options such as coal slag (Black Beauty). As far as making up a place to do it in, go with a blue tarp, cheap, and adaptable.

 

[A_Pmech]

Any operation where you're making lots of fine particulates isn't a particularly healthy thing. I've read of blasters who never used silica sand, yet had silicosis-like symptoms from using other medias. There's no such thing as a "safe" fine particulate when it comes to breathing stuff.

For that reason, I would not recommend blasting without a supplied air system. Then, the media in use, it's concentration, or the particulate size is irrelevant. Just keep the air pump far upwind.

 

[havi]

Safety is kept in mind. Which is why I want the area portable. My hopes are to plumb the air and O2 through the back wall of my garage. But when the new garage is built (someday), then it will get moved. Also, since the current garage(eventually torn down) is roadside of the house in an open yard, I'm trying not to let the media build up and spread across the yard. Kinda hard to explain without seeing, I s'pose.

We do industrial blasting at work, and OSHA came by and said we need a shed/lean-to to be compliant. The materials were purchased, but since I've been laid off, I haven't been able to see what they built. However, their scenario is more permanent.

I guess I hadn't thought that a tarp would hold up very long to the blast. Perhaps I'm wrong. I guess I could try that first, with a 2x4 "skeleton" for holding shape.

Thanks guys for the info, and anything more, I'm all ears.

 

[billspit]

I too just used a piece of poly on the ground. It worked OK. You don't want to re-use the sand too many times anyway.

 

[OccupantRJ]

If it were me, I'd build a corrugated vented shed with wood floors and a mesh/expanded metal section in the floor to sweep the media onto, then below the mesh would be a sheetmetal and 1x1 tubing box on rollers underneath...blast, sweep and roll the bin out from underneath to reclaim your media...

Whenever you are in a shed with a sandblaster going, you are in effect, inside a sandblasting cabinet, and the sand swirl is terrible coming back at you. Without an enclosed pressurized suit, this *****. Ever tried sandblasting a cast iron cooking pot on the inside? Stew pots owners are some of your worst customers. They want it for $5, and it takes more time than that just to set up, regardless of the self-blasting effect of the sand curving into the pot and back at you. Best place I found to blast was in a heavily wooded or vegetated area in the country. The leaves dampen the sand drift from the wind, and act somewhat like an air scrubber.

RJ