Homemade one Dad and I built our sandblaster back in 1970 using an old air compressor tank, a couple of valves, nipples, and hose. It was fashioned after the T.I.P. sandblasters which were very popular back then. Here's a picture of it https://talk.classicparts.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=170&ppuser=5385
I have a sandblaster like kens(pressure blaster) they work the best. I have two air compressors that are about 10cfm each that I hook to the blaster, never run out of air. The most Important tool I us to sandblast is a good resperator, silica sand....BAD
Very good point, AZ A good respirator is a must. I got anxious the first day and did not wear one. The crap that came out of nose for the next couple of days was not pretty! Another thing to remember is to have a good water separator at the air compressor. The sand doesn't want to come out very good when you get moisture in your tank.
i borrowed a small sand blaster from a body shop buddy of mine, it had set around for years without being used. Hooked it up to my 6hp tank compressor and went to work. I worked almost as hard on keeping sand flowing as I did on the actual blasting. Used number 5 sugar sand. I also found another friend with a small windowed "blasting box" that worked great for smaller parts. Before you blast all of your little parts to remove rust, look into "rustbeeter", an organic way to soak iron oxide from parts that won't hurt steel, chrome, or paint, unless there is rust under the paint. No silica. My photo gallery has some photos showing the rinky dink blasting rig i used in my back yard, it worked! What I put my truck through would likely drive some of you sheetmetal artesans nuts! Jim
Bead Blasters Fisrtly , use glass beads , not sand and you won't tear up your irreplaceable parts so much . Although I use a BIG commercial one here at the shop , I've seen some really nice hommade ones , made out of 1/2" angle iron , plywood and a bit of sheet metal for the blast backing so's you don;t blow a hole in it by mistake. The sheet metal is easy to get from any old restaurant range hood , they're always tossing them out . If you make the top and sides out of fibreglass , it'll have lots of good light inside . Always use a glass window , never a plastic one . Hang a two bulb flourescent light inside the cabinet . make it at least TWO times bigger than you're sure you'll ever need ! . (you WILL thank me for this tip if you follow it ) The Harbor Freight cheapo nozzle is great once you replace the tip , they use margerine or somthing . Have several 5 Gal. buckets and sift the sand through a hommade screed regularly . ALWAYS de-grease thoroughly before blasting ! that little bit of black stuff in the very edge of a rockerbox , is grease and it'll contaminate and ruin all your beads .
