sand blasting

[broker-len]

am cleaning up some leaf springs, tie rod and front I beam------looking for suggestions as to what to use,,,,,have a small compressor 90 LBS,,,,and with a small syphon blaster and have used play sand for other things,,,,,,,,should I use the plastic stuff ,,,more expensive,,,,,looking to here from people experience in this,,,,,thanks

[Restorer32]

The plastic stuff won't cut rust. Use sandblasting sand. It's ground so as to have sharp edges unlike play sand. Better even tahn sandblasting sand is manganese oxide known as Black Beauty. It contains no silica so less risk of silicosis. Expensive but you can reuse it many times as long as you keep it dry.

[Friartuck]

Agree with Restorer32, plastic won't work, just waste your time. While black beauty is good, unsure how good in a syphon blaster.

My blasting tips:

1. Totally and I mean totally degrease the parts, with hand wire brushing. Blasting is not a substitute for degreasing and will triple your blasting time if you don't.

2. Use the play sand, double or triple sift it

3. Dry it in the hot sun or on a gas grill. It should flow freely through your fingers. Absolutely no moisture.

4. For pressure blasters, run air at 40-50 LBS, not 100+ its not needed and gives a smother finish with minimal clogs. The syphon balster may need extra air so maybe 60-70 LBS. Not everything is done at 125.

5. Wear a good double canister air respirator under the hood

[Restorer32]

We used to sandblast 48 hrs/week, each and every week. Antique car parts, tractor parts, concrete mixers, boat trailers, car trailers, ornamental iron. Even blasted all the fenders etc for a Duesenberg in another resto shop. Also used to blast Stearman biplane air frames and landing gear for a shop that specialized in rebuilding them. Nasty and dirty job but at the same time very satisfying to see instant results unlike much of the work on old cars. We built our own pressure pot from an old air compressor tank and used it for 20 years or so. We now farm out that operation mostly because we have difficulty finding someone who wants the job.

[broker-len]

thank you all for your feed back,,,,,,,I can do the job with play sand ,,thought it world gouge the steel I do not have a cabinet I run the air line out of the garage and do in on the lawn again can I use play /??? will it damage the steel it is $ 4.00 for a 50 LB bag

[smithbrother]

I just purchased a 110 pound load capacity tank blaster from Harbor Freight, $104.00 with a 20% coupon. I live back in the woods, have a long gravel drive. I have an old INTERIOR smooth door that I put on top a couple trash cans, then spread my play sand on such to allow the SUN to dry. The sun will turn wet sand to DRY sand in an hour or so.

I sift sand thru a scrap piece of door/window screen, a large funnel came with the blaster. The blaster will handle pressure up to 125 pounds, I adjust the lower control to approx. 1/2 open, it controls amount of sand thru the system. It works great, SUPER DEAL.

Dry sand is a MUST. I haven't used anything but sand, Harbor Freight said their sand/soda/walnut shells was to expensive, so I went to BOX store for play sand.

I agree, DEGREASE FIRST...... I wear long sleeve shirt, good charcoal mask, hood with window, and long gloves.

I bet neighbors will soon be bring me things to blast, I will probably pay for system with 3-4 jobs. lol.

Dale in Indy

Edited May 31, 2012 by smithbrother (see edit history)

[jpage]

I had a small siphon blaster that I used on my Model A frame and parts. It took forever with only moderate results. I used silica sand,a type of sand used for blasting. It cut paint and rust very well. I also tried "Black Beaty" with poor results. Not enough pressure and volume. My suggestion is to skip the time consuming ,dirty job and farm it out to a professional. I used a commercial sandblaster in my area who has a lot of experience doing cars to sandblast all the parts on my '36 Dodge. The whole car cost about $ 800.00 but I had it back within 3 days,clean as a whistle and he even primed the body for me! When I did my own ,I would stretch out a large tarp and sandblast on it,that way I could sweep up most of the sand and reuse it. Problem is ,with sand,even silica sand , it gets pulverized into dust within a few hours and looses it's effectiveness! I found it way better to farm it out!

[trimacar]

I used to sandblast when I was young, restoring my own cars. My brother and I had a cotton gin and cattle feed business in central Louisiana, so there was both off time to do the work, and equipment to sandblast.

Everything was fine, I used hood and respirator and, while it was hot during the summer, it worked.

One day I finished blasting, pulled the hood off, pulled the repsirator off. Went home. While taking a shower, a piece of sand that had fallen in my hair when I pulled off the hood got in my eye.

The sand embedded itself, and I ended up in the hospital having it removed.

Last time I ever blasted.

Be careful......

[broker-len]

thank you all,,,,,,,I own two cars of the 30s restored them both,,,, body,,and parts with my TRI-CON,,SAND BLASTER ONE,, BLASTED THE BODY TO BARE METAL AND CRAFTSMAN 90 LB COMPRESER ALWAYS USED PLAY SAND,,,NEVER USED A RESPERATOR OR BODY COVERING,,,JUST TOOK A SHOWER ------GUESS i WILL DO THE SUSPENSION WITH PLAY SAND

[smithbrother]

Take a cheap mask, wear it and then after you have blasted a few minutes the color of the mask will tell you WHAT IS GOING INTO YOUR LUNGS. In my opinion and many others I might add, it is a very big mistake NOT to use a mask.

Dale in Indy

[Bhigdog]

Take a cheap mask, wear it and then after you have blasted a few minutes the color of the mask will tell you WHAT IS GOING INTO YOUR LUNGS. In my opinion and many others I might add, it is a very big mistake NOT to use a mask.

Dale in Indy

Silicosis isn't a very pretty condition to inflict upon yourself and you can't give your lungs a shower. BTW those cheap paper cup type masks are next to useless. ....................Bob

[smithbrother]

I was only suggesting what he could do to PROVE how much stuff was going into his body. I agree he and anyone blasting should use proper equipment to protect their health.

I use a double filtered TIGHT fitting system, a hood, long sleeved shirt, and long gloves.

Dale in Indy

[broker-len]

I appreciate the advise-----when I did my restorations the blasting was in the garage-should have used a mask------now the work I do is out doors on the grass next to the garage----my compressor goes to 90 LBs tops ,,so most of the time am blowing with 50 LBs at the nozzel------since I never smoked or took drugs this will give me some thing to die from

[broker-len]

I have a few houses---the blasting is usefull for redoing old wood work and doors with 20 coats of paint-----the sand has always worked

[Restorer32]

Ever watch someone die from ephysema? I have. Wear a respirator.

[Bhigdog]

I was only suggesting what he could do to PROVE how much stuff was going into his body. I agree he and anyone blasting should use proper equipment to protect their health.

I use a double filtered TIGHT fitting system, a hood, long sleeved shirt, and long gloves.

Dale in Indy

Oops! Didn't mean to imply you advocated using those POS masks, Dale. But I guess it did sound that way. I was just trying to be informative..............Bob

Edited June 1, 2012 by Bhigdog (see edit history)

[Bhigdog]

I have a few houses---the blasting is usefull for redoing old wood work and doors with 20 coats of paint-----the sand has always worked

Ah yes, silicosis with a lead chaser..............Bob

[smithbrother]

Bhigdog, No problem here, I didn't make myself clear to start with.

Love this site,

Dale in Indy