Sand Blasters

ScottNC · Dec 5, 2019

First, I want to admit I did not do a search. It's time to go deer hunting but I wanted to post this first.

Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply have what appears to be virtually the same small, key chain size sand blaster. 6cfm at 60psi and something like 15 - 20cfm at 120psi. TS's $100 more than HF's which I can't figure out since they look to be made by the same manufacturer. Other than adding wheels and tossing in a helmet I swear they're the same unit. Anyway, for occasional dinking around cleaning the random bumper, dinner bell, ax head or tractor parts would Harbor Freight's be worth its on-sale price of $75?

Steve@Advance · Dec 5, 2019

It probably would. For that price not much to loose if it worked only a few times.

The problem with the off brand blasters is finding parts. It will eventually need a new nozzle. But if the same unit is sold other places, you might find parts, or replace the entire gun.

The air supply is a common problem with sand blasters. The air must be dry, and they consume a lot of air. It will only work as well as it can be supplied with air.

Tractor Supply is not a cheap place to shop. I have seen several items there, exact same as Walmart, HD, Lowes, HF, but at a substantially higher price. It falls more into the "convenience store" category.

timcasbolt · Dec 5, 2019

(quoted from post at 21:33:11 12/05/19) First, I want to admit I did not do a search. It's time to go deer hunting but I wanted to post this first.

Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply have what appears to be virtually the same small, key chain size sand blaster. 6cfm at 60psi and something like 15 - 20cfm at 120psi. TS's $100 more than HF's which I can't figure out since they look to be made by the same manufacturer. Other than adding wheels and tossing in a helmet I swear they're the same unit. Anyway, for occasional dinking around cleaning the random bumper, dinner bell, ax head or tractor parts would Harbor Freight's be worth its on-sale price of $75?

When you're comparing item for item like that, Harbor Freight almost always wins the price war. And the quality is probably about the same also.

I had a HF bench model sandblaster. Upgraded the nozzle, siliconed the seams. Worked ok, but still leaked. Later I bought the larger one. It leaked too, but for the money I think I did ok. An Empire costs about 8 times as much.

jeffcat · Dec 5, 2019

I have the little 40 pound harbor freight blaster going on 20 years. If you put
a good bisk ceramic nozzle on them and have at least 20 plus CFM of air you
should be fine. The ones HF sells do NOT have that handle and wheels. If you
can get one with the wheels DO IT. The thing that really kills any sandblasted
is wet air. You must have it as dry as possible. They constantly plug up.
Check around on Utube for videos on how to dry your supply air. Beleave it or
not, some good blasting weather is the middle of winter.

Hobo,NC · Dec 5, 2019

Look on Youtube there are plenty of videos on up-graging a HF blaster... They all are a simple machine its the perks that cost ya... It seams they go in spells on craiglist you go a year and not see one then a few pop up, a nice one can be had for 3/500 you just have to wait for it and be the first to call..

I have not owned a HF I have a nice one I got off cracklist they are more of a convenience item a want item a man thang... : )

Sand Blasters

ScottNC

Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

timcasbolt

Well-known Member

jeffcat

Well-known Member

Hobo,NC

Well-known Member