Blast Media..

[RA Dunk]

Obviously there is moisture in the air, what or how does everyone do to keep this stuff as dry as possible? Is there a specific way to store it between use?

Also tungsten carbide nozzles, what are the main purposes of these is it purely down to being harder and given less wear? or do they block less than the cheapo nozzles that come with most set up's?

What would be the better size of nozzle to buy for using Blast Fine 0.7mm Supafine?

 

[brightspark]

the size nozzle depends on the size of your compressor a 14cfm comp will run a 3mm nozzle but will drop in pressure after a few minutes . carbide nozzles will last u a long time as it wont possibly be used daily , as for grit getting damp just make sure u have a water seperator on the blast pot. if your leaving the grit in the pot for weeks on end just tip the pot over to loosen it as it seems to compact being stood

 

[rtbcomp]

To keep grit dry in storage, keep it in the warm & dry. Mine is just piled up on the blast room floor. New grit isn't too bad, but when you've used it a few times and got dust in it the problems begin because the dust seems to attract moisture.

 

[brightspark]

To keep grit dry in storage, keep it in the warm & dry. Mine is just piled up on the blast room floor. New grit isn't too bad, but when you've used it a few times and got dust in it the problems begin because the dust seems to attract moisture.

then u need to coarse sieve it then fine sieve to get the dust out of it for re use otherwise u end up hurtling crap around and thats when a boatload of blockages ocurr

 

[rtbcomp]

^^
Doesn't really give me a problem, it's more hassle to sieve the grit twice than it is to shake the pot from time to time.

 

[Fixer]

Silica gel (desicant) sachets?

 

[brightspark]

^^
Doesn't really give me a problem, it's more hassle to sieve the grit twice than it is to shake the pot from time to time.

does that mean u dont sieve the used grit with large pieces of flaking paint and rust in it and fill the pot up again look what u put in previous post . the dust seems to attract moisture and problems occur

 

[RA Dunk]

Cheers folks, so it'll be a 3mm Tungsten Nozzle, is the J Blast Supafine suitable for blasting alloy, I had a quick play around with it today (between blockages lol) and thought the areas I tried left the alloy wheel slightly pitted in the little area I tried it on.

 

[rtbcomp]

does that mean u dont sieve the used grit with large pieces of flaking paint and rust in it and fill the pot up again look what u put in previous post . the dust seems to attract moisture and problems occur

Don't be silly.

I have a mechanical sieve with interchangeable meshes. I use this to sieve out the big bits, but I would have to pass it through again to get the dust out. I was going to make a multi-stage sieve, but I haven't got the room.

The dust doesn't attract maoisture if there's no moisture to attract, as I said, if you keep it warm & dry.

 

[rtbcomp]

........... thought the areas I tried left the alloy wheel slightly pitted in the little area I tried it on.

It can depend on the quality of the aluminium, especially with castings. I tend to use recycled grit for ally as it's not as aggresive.

 

[RA Dunk]

Oky Doky, cheers.

 

[awemawson]

My (admittedly very large at 140 cfm) road compressor I use for my Hodge Clemco blaster has three air separators in series each with a drain cock. I leave the drains ever so slightly cracked open so any moisture gets blown out continuously and doesn't build up. Some of my sacks of media are damper than others. (When I brought it all home in my open trailer it poured down on the way and they are vented sacks) however if spread out on a polythene sheet for an hour or so it dries very quickly.

 

[RA Dunk]

Would glass bead be suitable for doing engine parts like alternators, inlet manifolds and alloy wheels etc?

 

[brightspark]

Would glass bead be suitable for doing engine parts like alternators, inlet manifolds and alloy wheels etc?

only after they have been cleaned and stripped 1st then beadblast them .the beads are none abrasive and peen the surface .i sandblast most things 1st then beadblast unless there measurement critical like carburettors and pistons ect then i just beadblast

 

[RA Dunk]

What media are you using for sand blasting then Brightspark?

 

[brightspark]

What media are you using for sand blasting then Brightspark?

unoficialy it comes in bags from wickes for all alloy parts and after its been used u can fill the gaps in your block paving with it. and i use expendable grit for steel parts

 

[awemawson]

...ouch - I hope you are using positive air fed breathing apparatus and keeping onlookers well away. Google silicosis.

 

[RA Dunk]

Would it be ok to use this 'special' (lol) sand inside a blast cabinet hoked up to a hoover for dust extraction?

 

[brightspark]

...ouch - I hope you are using positive air fed breathing apparatus and keeping onlookers well away. Google silicosis.

in the cabinet a woodchip extracta and in the shed or outside an airfed blasting helmet and i have no near neighbours

 

[brightspark]

Would it be ok to use this 'special' (lol) sand inside a blast cabinet hoked up to a hoover for dust extraction?

even though a hoover can suck the dust away i think u need one with a fine micron filter in it i just exhaust mine out of the shed