Hi all,

[This was first posted in the chit-chat, and I thought I could get answers from there. Stupid me... These people for sure are lo-tech... Anyway, I'll try here, because it deals with construction and so and so... But do I need to justify myself ?]

EDIT 07-02 PLEASE CHECK THIS :

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71505

I want to build myself a homebrew el-cheapo ghetto-engineered "homeblaster" " (EDIT: =home-made shot blaster... I don't mean to blast my home of course !) with minor investment (read : only the junk I have laying around, which is not much...)
After having sandblasted the frame of my LC, I'm tired or the suscion gun type we have at home.
The compressor just cant get the GPM @ 70psi it would need... really annoying having to wait 2mins for just blasting 15 secs... The venturi effect needed for the siphon needs a LOT of pressure, and the home compressor (which is already 1.5 Kw) just cannot give enough. I read that the pressure pot units work much better, and I want to build my own. As a fast prototype, I'd use a piece of pipe for a gun, with another pipe welded on it at an angle for feeding sand. I thought I'd use an old kitchen pressure pot, but it appears that these can only hold 7 psi... I have two air compressor (a little one which I'd use for the pot, and the big one fully getting it for the gun.)

My questions are (Yes I do have some...) :
-Anybody know what pressure and flow do the commercial units use, both in the gun and in the pot.
Anybody here has one and want to forward me the design and specs. ?
-Anymore ideas for the pot ? It appears that I happened to FIX one of the old pots while trying to make'em work... thusfar this one will probably be back on service... OMG what did I do ??? No more pot for my prototype...

Thanks,

Make or buy a pressure blaster ... much simpler solution to me. I have one, it works great.

- jack

"Pressure blaster" ... that's the exact thing I'm willing to make, with just an easier design.
If I undertood the basic design, the tank is pressurized, right ? What pressure is it ? Then the sand and high pressure air (what pressure ?) are mixed, then go their way to the gun nozzle...

Now it's time to refine my questions. What is the hose made of ? Do you think I could use regular air or water hose ? or ???

Alternative design : drive low-pressure sand and high-pressure air in two different hoses (so that the blasting HP sand won't wear the hose through immediatly ...) and then they mix in the gun... What do you think of this ?

What could I use for the pressurized tank ? I need to know the pressure in it, since I'll have to make the door for sand airtight ??

Is there anything special in the gun nozzle ?

Thanks,

I have a smaller version of this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38375

with the exception of I changed the ball valve for a deadman switch, neither of which shut off that well after time in the sand ...

- jack

Jack,

What pressure does the tank run ? Or is it the same as the gun ?
Also, what is the power of your compressor ?

Thanks,

Denis,

I have a medium sized (100 lb) pressure blaster.

It consumes 7-25 cfm, depending on nozzle size used (3/32" to 5/32"), runs at 80-100 psi, will blast 0.5 to 2 sq ft per minute, and uses from 100-200 lbs of abrasive per hour.

It's driven by a 5hp, 60 gal, 230 volt, light industrial compresor rated at 18.5 cfm @ 100 psi, and it works the compressor pretty hard when doing large (bumper size and up) objects.

OK, thanks for the input guys. I did refine my search a bit, and I think just using a different system will not help a lot. I thought the pressure pot would be softer on the compressor and require less air, but it looks that it just ain't the case. I won't try to build a proto now, I have more urgent work (though I'm on holiday :flipoff2:), but may be back after a compressor compressor upgrade.

Thanks,

This was first posted in the chit-chat, and I thought I could get answers from there. Stupid me... These people for sure are lo-tech...

Lo-tech? Yes, stupid you, fawk off.

*cheesy French accent* Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time-uh!

Originally posted by denis
Hi all,

[This was first posted in the chit-chat, and I thought I could get answers from there. Stupid me... These people for sure are lo-tech...

as an unofficial representitive of the Chit-chat section I politely ask, that in the future, you refrain from asking TECHNICAL QUESTIONS in the Chit-Chat area. We are to busy having fun to even contemplate your techno-mumbo-jumbo:flipoff2:

thank you, and please drive through:flipoff2: