De Soto Frank Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Hey Guys, Was up at my buddy "Hudson Bob"'s place last night, trying out his new Harbor Freight blast cabinet.... I was cleaning-up front suspension for the '41 De Soto... This is the first time using a blast cabinet ( or sandblasting )for either of us, and I have a few questions... 1) Compressed air supply: Bob has a 30-gallon vertical Craftsman direct-drive compressor, good for 130# and about 12 cfm. It seemed like the air supply was "wet", and the abrasive kept clumping and drawing sporadically through the siphon gun. 2) Venting the cabinet ?: Bob had his shop-vac hooked-up to a port on the left end of the cabinet, but it seemed like the cabinet/window quickly fogged, not sure whether this was from dust or moisture. Doesn't seem like there's anywhere for fresh air to enter cabinet. We had to run down to Lowe's to get a larger breaker for the garage - the compressor kept tripping the 15 amp ,so we went and got a 20 Amp; that resolved the power problems. We also picked-up an in-line air-drier, a Kobalt disposable 1/4" NPT, with blue dessicant beads - the only thing we could find at 9 PM. We changed the breaker, then put the drier on the air supply at the cabinet; the result was that the drier restricted the air-volume so much that the blasting action was barely evident. We took the drier off and went back to using "wet air"... I guess what I'm looking for is a recommendation on size / type / source for a drier or moisture trap to put on the air-supply line, so we can blast ( and eventually paint) with "Dry" air... ( We also need a bigger compressor, BTW... the 30 gal Craftsman was working hard to keep up...) Any suggestions ? Thanks ! De Soto Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Frank I think we might have the same one. Also with similar issues on the air. Works much better when it isn't humid out. Sorry can't help you too much we have pretty much the same issues! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38plymouth Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 I have the same problems. I periodically wipe the glass on the inside because of the dust build up. Moisture has been a problem before and after my water seperator broke, I still haven't found a good replacement that will work. When my gun plugs with moist sand I pull the hose off the gun and shoot the air backwards through the line, it usually blows out the plugged up sand and starts working again. I usually blast away until I start having having problems and then quit for the day until things dry out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 I have a smaller bench top blaster from Harbor Freight. The one that opens on the top. My compressor is a Craftsman 30 gallon upright with 6 HP motor and operates the blaster without a problem. Of course, it does run more with the sandblaster but so does any compressor. Blasting takes a lot of air. I don't have a problem with dust inside or outside the cabinet, or wet media. However, I don't use sand, I only use glass beads in it. There is also a light inside the cabinet to help see what you're blasting. I do not use a moisture filter on my compressor because I don't use it to paint. If you guys are having problems exhausting the dust fast enough it could be because you don't have the other vent open. On mine there is a plug in the opposite side as the filter vent, near the top of the cabinet on the back wall. That's there to draw outside air into the cabinet to get a better air flow to the filter side going to the shop vac. If you leave that plug closed while blasting, the media gets forced out the seams of the cabinet and also creates more dust inside the cabinet. So.........if you haven't done so, look for that other vent and open it when blasting. Mine is just a plastic plug like a plug in the side of an electrical circuit box. That should solve most, if not all your problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 I use a large 5 foot wide blast cabinet at home, have an industrial size dryer...no other water trap..powered by 5 HP 60 gallon tank with approx 9.4 CFM at 90PSI..it is about the smallest to go with for this type blaster...also feeds the pressure pots good...I also have a vacuum vented cabinet for dust collection. No moisture problem..can the tank be drained of its condensation? look for a petcok on the bottom of the tank... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Tim, even without draining the air tank I still never had a moisture problem while blasting. Before about a month ago my tank had not been drained for at least 4 years or so. Finally decided I should do it and it did have lots of moisture in there. However, that moisture never interfered with my blasting. Going to have to remember to drain that tank on a somewhat better schedule though. Not good to leave that sit in the tank that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 you be lucky and living under a whole set of different stars than we do here in the south..with high temp and high humidity..draining water in the tank is at minimum a weekly event...my compressor is also online and available 24/7-365 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splat1955 Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 I too have a smaller bench type....and then the portable 40 lber. I use glass beads for my bench blaster and sand in the portable which hold much more sand than my bench holds beads. Both I run off my 60 gal 5 HP. I try to remember to drain my tank every few months or so....but even when when I do, there's moisture in the tank, I don't have a problem with the bench unit and beads. I've only used the portable a couple times but again, no problem with moisture in the sand although I do run 2 separators....one near the tank and another on the opposite side of my garage that feeds the bench unit and separate lines for tools with an oiler. I once screwed up though and hooked a hose to my portable mistakenly off of one of my hardlines that that is for my tools and has the oiler inline....didn't do much good for blasting sand. Had to clean my portable out and replace the sand. But, get a good full size separator and drain the tank occasionally...a good insurance just to keep the bottom of your tank from rusting and getting weak and also from sending rust through your lines and tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Tim, I know, that's why I said I have to pay more attention to draining the tank. That said, I do not leave my compressor on all the time. It may sit idle for a month or more before I turn it on, and then for only about a day or a few hours. Still should drain it more often though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Norm...I leave my compressor on due to the fact that it is some 100 feet away and in another outside building detached from my shop..I used to have a self drain on it..for every 10 psi differential it would blow the drain line a second...that finially went south on me and the only ones they have now operate off the cylinder relief valve and I don't care much for that style...next time I am by the compressor supply house (we do have one in this area to my surprise) I will inquire about getting the differential model again. Sure is nice having them installed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Tim, I have one of those industrial rated inline self draining separators. It's the glass one in a nice metal cage. Had it on my old 3 HP, 15 gallon tank compressor before the compressor went south. Never put it on this compressor though. Not sure if I tossed it or it's in a cabinet somewhere. My garage is also detached. I do not have hard lines running in the garage though. I run straight off the compressor into about 50 feet of air line on a hose reel. My compressor is portable on wheels. This way I can roll it outside if I want and have another 50' of hose I can use if outside. 99% of the time though, it's hooked up to the hose reel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Yergin Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Are you using sand right out of the bag? If so, you may want to dry it out before using. I do not have a blast cabinet but when I use my pressurized sandblaster outside I will have trouble with the sand clumping up and blocking the flow if there is any moisture in the sand. I therefore spread out the sand in the sun for as long as it takes to completely dry it out. I do this with both the bags of sand I buy as well as with the beach sand I get from my in-laws waterfront property and even though it may take a day or so to dry out it works pretty well. Jim Yergin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Soto Frank Posted October 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Suggestions for a decent big-a__ water seperator / trap ? Does Harbor Freight have anything worth while ? Thanks for the response so far... Am curious- those of you who are favoring glass-beads - what are the advantages ? Thanks ! DeS. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splat1955 Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Hey Frank, Both both my separators are harbor freight units...my separator/Oiler is a harbor freight unit as well. They've held up well for over 10 years although a couple of times I've had to use some teflon tape on the fittings, just because I'd moved them to different locations in my garage, so the fittings loosened up while moving....but that's to be expected. You can get them on sale through HF for $20.....I even dropped one a while back....broke the oiler half of the unit....didn't need 2 oilers anyway, so I just unscrewed the oiler half and put the separator in line for another hard line that feeds through the side of my garage to a retractable airline at my garage door for filling tires or anything else I might need air for outside. As far as glass beads....I use those in my bench unit for primarily cleaning up parts....takes the rust and paint down real quick. I use the sand in my portable outside for blasting differentials and other parts like that...too big for doing inside and plenty of air outside so as not to have to worry to much about inhaling silica....Inside, sands not the best choice for health...should wear at a minimum a mask. Even outside I've read that it's wise to wear a mask, so I just wear one of those " throw away " masks....and sometimes nothing if it's windy. Oh, and sands way cheaper than beads. Jims right about bagged or beach sand......they generally need to dry out a bit before using. Suggestions for a decent big-a__ water seperator / trap ?Does Harbor Freight have anything worth while ? Thanks for the response so far... Am curious- those of you who are favoring glass-beads - what are the advantages ? Thanks ! DeS. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyHarold Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Frank, I may be wrong, but don't you need to make sure you have the correct guage wire in the circuit before upping the breaker size by 5 amps? Better safe than sorry. Harold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Soto Frank Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Yes, you're absolutely right Harold... That's why my buddy resisted my suggestion to throw in a 30 amp breaker... This winter we're going to run a 220 branch out to the garage and put in a sub-panel. Next time we're running the compressor, I will throw my Amp-Probe on it and get a true current draw... right now I think it's serviced with #14 Romex. With the 15 amp breaker, it would trip when the compressor fired-up (starting load); after the up-grade to 20 amps, it ran w/o further incident for at least an hour + (when we gave up for the night)... I felt the Romex into the outlet box and it did not feel warm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blackstone Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I have a vested interest in airborne pollutant safty since my grandfather was a sand blaster and died of silicoses. DO NOT use sand. Use Black Diamond blasting medium or an equivalent. DO USE a mask, yes even using a blast cabinet, of 3M quality NIOSH P100 particulate respirator N.07182 .For more info contact 3M at 1-800-243-4630. As you were, Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtfercomfort Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 My brother hooked up two dryers inline, in parallel once. Seemed to work okay, helped keep the volume up. Plumbing it was mildly tricky to keep things along the wall and accessible, not too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 As mentioned silica sand creates a lot of dust and is harmful to inhale. That is one reason for not using it in the blaster inside the garage. Another reason to use glass beads is because they are more abrasive and work faster than silica sand does. Also it does not create near as much dust. (by the way that dust is also harmful to inhale). Glass beads also cost a lot more than silica sand does, so that's why you may not want to use it outside of a blasting cabinet. If I use a blaster for large items outside the blaster, I normally use Black Magic (probably another name for Frank's Black Diamond). It also creates very little dust and cuts much faster than silica does, but not as good as the glass beads. Again, the Black Magic is a little higher priced than silica, but safer and not as costly as glass beads. Regardless of the media you use, or if you use a blasting cabinet, it's always a good idea to wear a mask AND safety glasses. Actually, when I blast outside the cabinet, I wear a blasting hood with glasses and mask under it. A hood is only about $11 or $12 and keeps the mess out of your hair and most of it from getting near your face. The hoods are washable in the washing machine. Just pull out the window first. If the window gets messed up from a lot of blasting, you can buy new windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Soto Frank Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Thanks Norm ! After the knuckle cleaned-up so beautifully, I started daydreaming about having a big old Schramm or Le Roi tag-along compressor and an industrial sandblaster for doing frames !!! We'll try the beads and maybe black-magic. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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