Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Sand blaster

I am looking to buy a sand blaster to strip the paint from pumps ect. Any recomendations on brand or size. Also I read about not warping the metal with one, how do you prevent this? (preasure, or grit size?) Also where do you buy the sand,and does a certain kind do better for pumps? And do you just do the blasting in the back yard? Any info on this would be helpful. Thanks

I have been using a TIP sandblaster for years and have had no problems. It is a pressure feed unit that holds 100 lbs. of sand. You can find them advertised in Hemmings. We run the air thru a refridgerated drier before use to eliminate clogging. When you blast, move the nozzle quickly and never hold it in one location for long periods of time. We use the above method and have never warped a panel yet. We usually use a 01 size blasting sand and blast out in the yard behind the shop. Good luck.

Trip,
I use a homenade pressure pot [holds 250# of silica sand], with 80-100#'s of air. I buy the 60 grit sand from the local lumber yard in bags. I also set up a booth [3 walls & floor] to contain the sand. I reuse the sand by sifting it thru alum. window screen. After I finish blasting, I store all sifted sand in covered drums to keep it dry for the next use.

Warping useually happens with TOO much air pressure and staying in one place too long.

Dick