Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Blast Media for a Visible

What is the most effective blast media to use on a rusted visible gas pump? Most effective and least damaging to the sheet metal?

You have to turn down the air pressure for non warping for sure on the heavy green grit.

We use starolite, if you can find someone in your area that can get it. Cuts and doesnt build heat. Leaves a slightly rougher than glass bead texture. No sand on anything we do anymore.

soda blasting works well and doesn't warp either

My research lead me to believe that soda is not aggressive enough for heavy rust, but I may have misinterpreted the info.

You are correct!....not for rust.

Never have had a problem just using sand on visibles, has to be filtered so blaster won't clog. Sand at home depot or any similar store, silica sand. Castings are heavy and sheet metal pretty thick generally on visibles. Our sandblaster is just one of those ubiquitous small red blasters you see everywhere, 5 gal, 10 gal? Not enough power to cause damage. If you send it out to a sand blasting service where they have the huge compressor, big blaster than yeah could be a problem but not at home. Also you don't have to put the nozzle right next to the metal, if it's running strong keep your distance from the surface.

That is the type of blaster I own and will try to use with a large enough compressor. I now know that the 30 gallon units are too small and spent my time waiting on compressor to catch up. Thanks for the info.
Joe

I use silica sand, 300 pound pot with 185 psi Sullair diesel compressor and regulated to 75 psi and cleans well on any pump. Just remember to keep the nozzle moving and swap ends so you don't generate the heat to warp it.

Phil , sounds like you have a great blaster . I have a common blaster that holds a 80 lb bag and I also use silica sand . My most important thing, good hood and paint style respirator .