Sandblasting abrassives, what to use?

[Gouky]

i'm trying to clean off some H1 rims and having no luck. this is my first time using a sandblaster.

i looked around and picked up what appeared to be the best (according to the labels on the boxes) and ended up with 24grit wallnut shells. it ain't doing much at all to the paint on the rims. does a bitching job on the transmission i had sitting beside the rim, but nothing to the paint.

i don't want to do this using trial and error, someone else out there knows the solution to this already, i'm sure

[chrisk]

Black Beauty
http://cgi.ebay.com/25-lbs-BLACK-BEAUTY-Blast-Media-Sand-Blasting-Abrasive_W0QQitemZ4449540596QQcategoryZ43570QQssPa geNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
works great but the stuff is nasty

[Gouky]

works great but the stuff is nasty

would you not want to use it in open air?

[Beast]

i'm trying to clean off some H1 rims and having no luck. this is my first time using a sandblaster.

i looked around and picked up what appeared to be the best (according to the labels on the boxes) and ended up with 24grit wallnut shells. it ain't doing much at all to the paint on the rims. does a bitching job on the transmission i had sitting beside the rim, but nothing to the paint.

i don't want to do this using trial and error, someone else out there knows the solution to this already, i'm sure


What PSI are you running?

Walnut shell should take off paint pretty fast - thats what its designed for

Starblast or aluminum oxide would be my next choice

[Gouky]

i tried 60psi, 90psi and 125psi. 125 definately made a bigger dent. i also tried a big nozzle and a small nozzle. the small nozzle seemed to make the best dent in the paint, probably because of higher velocities.

i tried altering the abrasive flow and found very little difference in the end result for high or low flow, so i'd assume low abrasive flow would be the most economical.

for the record, my compressor can more than keep up with the demand, it'll flow continous 20-22cfms at 125psi (220V, 10HP compressor)

i assume there's something special about this paint, the reason i tried sandblasting it is because the wire wheel wasn't making much of a dent in it.

[ironpig70]

i used regular sand to do my frame. it says not to but if you use a respirator you'll be okay

[Aces'n'8s]

Walnut shells are for delicate media removal on substrates that you don't want to severely alter the base material. They are good for cleaning engine components like camshafts, crankshafts, rods, and even removing carbon from electric motors.

For the ultimate in economical media, at least around Memphis, you could try calling a local brick yard or masonry supply store. Ask them how much "white brick sand" or "white sand" costs. This sand is usually washed, dried, and sifted to be free of contimants that would alter the tints in motor mixes. Anyway, I would assume they won't sell anything less than a yard at a time, but that can accomplish A LOT of sandblasting.

A year ago, I bought a yard of sifted sand for $120. Heck, most of it is still over at my dad's house attracting all the stray cats and errant burmuda grass volunteers. I think a yard of DRY sand weighs approx. 2000-2500 lbs. If it's in the back of most any pickup truck, even a 1 ton, and it gets wet, its bad juju...

[JNoble]

I just get the bags of Silica sand from the building supply store. Cheap, works good, but you'll want to wear some sort of mask.

[Gouky]

after reading all the health risks asociated with silica i think i'd rahter spend a few extra dollars than slowly kill myself.

[guidolyons]

Like Aces and Eights said, walnut shells are for delicate work where you don't want to damage the base material like restoring an old car body. I would stay away from play sand or the like from your local hardware store. In fact some bags have a warning label on the side stateing "not for use in sandblasting". Spend the few extra bucks and get the correct blasting media from a welding shop or if you have a Northern Hydraulics or HF near you they carry 25lb buckets, I would want to pay shipping on it if you don't have to. Check the yellow pages and see if there is a sandblaster in your area and see if you can buy some from him.

[Gouky]

i ended up ordering some black beauty. we'll see how that goes.

[poolville02]

do they make respirators approved for silica dust? never seen one before; id steer clear of regular sand for that reason.

[Pook]

are they powdercoated? if so you need some serious psi and sand to get that stuff off.

[keebler303]

do they make respirators approved for silica dust? never seen one before; id steer clear of regular sand for that reason.

any particulate respirator will protect you from dust. all the specialized ones are for vapors, which are much harder to filter out.

i used play sand on my jeep and i sandblasted everything, ie. body, frame, engine, axles, roll cage etc.

it is real dusty and nasty when it gets in your hair and ears and stuff but i always wore a particulate respirator to make it a livable.

[Gouky]

just figured i'd post an update... the black beauty stuff works frekin' great. the only problem now is it keeps jamming the nozzle. i may have gotten too coarse a mix. at this point i called and a place in town said they'd blast them for 100$ for 5, i'm just gonna bring them there, not worth my time at that price. i'll keep the black beauty for small odds and ends i have to do here and there.

[cebby]

just figured i'd post an update... the black beauty stuff works frekin' great. the only problem now is it keeps jamming the nozzle. i may have gotten too coarse a mix.

Sounds more like water in the air.

[Gouky]

nah, the problem is i bought a cheap ass HF blaster. i hate cheap tools, but i could not justify the expense of a real sandblaster for this project. instead i bought crap and it worked like crap... surprise!

[javelinpr]

is this worth 60$$$ plus shipping???

http://www.homier.com/detail.asp?SessionKey=L8R0E1jxtCERM8vMLmJxfxmAM0K0 6fLUHZV71nlDH1BOvRUO4Tq9suhKYfIQmVrSPskwaUSA9h%2bN&dpt=&cat=&sku=03020


should i buy it for small or regular jobs????


well somewhere between 60 to 80 bucks cost a single small panel so i should be ok with that crappie :flipoff2:

[SHERPA]

dry sand is paramount to successful sandblasting....... I re-use my sand maybe 6 times, with each re-fill being screened thru a funnel.......... after
6 times thru the gun, it's more of a fine-dust, than sand..........

sandblasting is by far the most work a compressor will ever see.... it's basically running an open-ended hose all the time.......

I have a refridgerant dryer on my compressor, and it does cut down on
moisture.......

--Sandblasting sucks, but the results are sooo awesome.....