Air compressor for sand blasting

AllisG · Jun 26, 2011

[size=18:1f56b15e3e][b:1f56b15e3e]What size of air compressor do i need to sand blast evenly with? The blaster I have is small and uses a 100#'s at a time.[/b:1f56b15e3e][/size:1f56b15e3e]

Anonymous-0 · Jun 26, 2011

Depends on the size of nozzle and whether it's a gravity feed blaster or a pressure blaster. A pressure blaster needs more CFM than a gravity blaster. Pressure probably need around 20 CFM minimum to work continuous. A gravity feed probably 12 to 15 CFM. You need a good HD compressor for sand blasting. Go to store that sells sand blasters and they should have a chart with the recommended CFM requirements for different types of blasters and nozzle sizes.

CNKS · Jun 27, 2011

Mine is 80 gallon 2 stage, puts out 24 CFM at 100 psi. Although I use it, it is very slow, goes thru 100 lbs sand in a few minutes. Nozzle is small, I have to screen the sand each time I fill the sandblaster. The compressor won't handle a larger nozzle for any period of time. Nearest professional sandblaster is 20 miles away. He is cheaper than me buying the sand, but inconvenient, as far as hauling stuff over there. Mine is ok for small parts, but when it comes to 38 inch wheels and rims it takes a while, and a LOT of sand. If your compressor has less than about 15 cfm at 100 psi, forget it unless you enjoy it enough to spend a lot of time.

circus · Jun 27, 2011

Asking how big should be the compressor be for a 100 lbs blaster is like asking how big should the engine be for a 20 gal. gas tank. Nonsense.
Buy the nossel size according to your size compressor.

John Harmon. · Jun 28, 2011

Ask "Eastwood" for recommendations.They have good customer service and will give out good advice even if you do not buy anything from them.I buy things every couple monthe from them and get their catologs reularly and even phone calls to see if I need any thing.Good company.

Dean Olson · Jul 2, 2011

Buy the biggest quality compressor and blaster you can
Cheap Chinese junk doesn't hold up. I wasted some money
on a couple of those.

I bought a 7 1/2 hp 2 stage 24 cfm compressor. I would have
gone bigger but the next size up takes 3 phase power and I
don't have it available. I bought a 100lb Texas Blaster and
use a 1/8" nozzle. It works great. I just did the front pedestal
off of a Farmall H. It took about 45 minutes and 75lbs sand.
That's a little longer than I would like but it'll do till I can afford
a diesel compressor and commercial blaster.

Dean Olson · Jul 2, 2011

That sure doesn't sound right. 100 lbs in a few minutes. I can adjust the flow of sand and get it just right, ie just enough to cut and not waste any. My Texas Blaster has 1/2' plumbing all the way to the nozzle which is 1/8". I don't have to screen and rarely have a stoppage. If I do it's in the nozzle and a quick easy fix. I buy the cheapest quickcrete play sand from lowes and dump it in.

CNKS · Jul 3, 2011

By front pedestal do you mean from the upper bolster down, or only the part the wheels attach to?--in 45 minutes. If so I can probably do that in 10 minutes. If you mean the whole front end, that's a different situation, but not 45 minutes, unless you are letting your compressor cool off several times. HOWEVER, I have not tried reducing the amount of sand, mainly because the thing is slow enough as it is. Play sand plugs mine immediately -- have to check the size of my nozzle, but it is the biggest my compressor will handle and still maintain the recommended 90 lbs or so. And mine does not have a 100% duty cycle, and cools off when I am refilling the sand. Could be that you are using a larger nozzle with less flow, which would explain lack of plugging and longer blasting time. BUT, you still used 75 lbs on a relatively small item, that is about the same as I use at full flow for that size part. At any rate a 24 CFM doesn't do much, but can be adequate for relatively small jobs.

SWMO · Jul 3, 2011

Here is a company that I have bought a lot of equipment from over the last 20 years. I highly recommend them. They have everything from sandblasters, paint guns, air compressors, etc.
www.tptools.com
TP TOOLS & EQUIPMENT, Division Tip Plus Corp.
7075 State Route 446, PO Box 649, Canfield, OH 44406
Ph: 800-321-9260, 24-7 Fax: 330-533-2876, Tech Line: 330-533-3384, Ext 22

charles todd · Jul 3, 2011

My blaster hold about 50 lbs. Harbor Freight pressure blaster.

I built my own compressor. Started as a 150 gallon propane tank. 13 hp gas engine, 2 stage pump, throttle control, and other misc parts.

Works for my blasting needs.

CT

CNKS · Jul 4, 2011

Very nice! Compared to yours mine is a toy.

charles todd · Jul 4, 2011

Thank you CNKS. I just wanted something to use for blasting and painting and came up with this. I can fill up up my blaster, blast until I run out and not run out of air. Sometimes it will actually cycle off.

CT

charles todd · Jul 4, 2011

Also I am using sand straight from a river. My FIL and I go to the river and gather sand from sand bars. It is real fine. Sometimes it takes two or more passes on heavy rust. Upside is it leaves a nice finish once blasted and it is free. We get it when we are fishing. A 5 gallon bucket holds about 100 lbs or so of sand. If you are using sand, make sure you are using proper breathing protection.

CT

Air compressor for sand blasting

AllisG

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Anonymous-0

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CNKS

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circus

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John Harmon.

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Dean Olson

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Dean Olson

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CNKS

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SWMO

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charles todd

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CNKS

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charles todd

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charles todd

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