Cheap sand blasters

dhermesc

Well-known Member
I borrowed one from my brother - brand new never used. Similar to the ones TSC sells (50# pot). Any idea how to get these to work?

I tried it with the valve at the bottom of the tank wide open, partially open and nearly shut - all it did was clog up after a few seconds. I tried bigger and smaller nozzels - no change - clogged after a few seconds of operation.
 
Hi
If your sand is damp it will plug up and if it is contaminated especially if it's a small unit. Screen some sand then spread some out in the sun to dry then try to see if that makes a difference. Jim Will
 
You also have to have dry air - air will trap moisture as its being compressed, and unless your setup delivers dry air, you'll plug up in short order.
 
The valve at the bottom never gets opened fully. Only till the sand starts to flow. Usually have to mess with it a couple of times

Last time I used mine I ran it without the valve at the end of the hose cause I was tired of unplugging the hose. Seemed to work just as well.

Someone else mentioned on here to use coarser abrasive in the cheap units cause it flows better. Have not tried that yet.

Still think waterblasting off the pressure washer is easier and less messing around. You may not have a pressure washer or want to deal with the water mess.
 
I have one of those. It had 3 valves on it when O got it and yep had the same problem. I removed the valve at the bottom so it now has only the 2 upper ones and as long as the sand is good and dry and the air is good and dry it does ok but you do at times have to shake it some to keep it going
 
dry screened media, close the bottom valve on the pressure pot, then fill the tank with sand. about 3/4 full. put the lid back on, plug your supply air to the blaster. you will have an air valve on the blaster up near the air line fitting. open the air supply valve fully. you should have a valve on the end of the blasting hose where the nozzle is. with the media valve off, open the nozzle valve fully, then adjust your media supply valve about 1/4 to 1/2 turn, to get a good sand flow. never throttle the valve that is by the nozzle. either full open or full closed. if you do, it will plug up and it wears out the valving in the nozzle.
 
The only sand I could get to go thru mine was the finest grade of Black Diamond or playsand. Guys on here say not to use playsand so I don't can't remember the reason think it was something called silicosis from the dust.
 
(quoted from post at 12:37:26 09/04/12) The only sand I could get to go thru mine was the finest grade of Black Diamond or playsand. Guys on here say not to use playsand so I don't can't remember the reason think it was something called silicosis from the dust.

You are thinking of silica sand, not playsand. Silica sand should not be used without a breathing respirator that is rated for silica dust.

I use silica sand in my cabinet blaster, but it has a shop vacuum attached to it.
 
I tried the black diamond the the silica sand - neither worked more than a second or two. The only time it seemed to work much at all was when I completely removed the valve on the end of the hose and sprayed with a 1/4 opening.
 
150 PSI with a 30 gallon tank. Didn't ever operate long enough to even find out of the the pump could keep up or not.
 

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