BlastClean GB25 Pot Blaster Help

[Craig-SM]

Yesterday I picked up a BlastClean GB25 pot blaster. It has a T pipe going into the pot with a valve on side going to the moisture trap and on the other side a valve that feeds a pipe to the bottom of the pot via a blue hose. At the bottom of the pot there is another valve coming from the pot before it goes to a T pipe which is fed from the blue hose. I have no idea how to use it but assume it is:

Open air valve into pot until pressured
Open air valve to the blue pipe
Open valve from bottom of pot to supply grit.

I've started to pull it apart to inspect it and found the moisture trap full of grit and oil (can only assume it came from the compressor). Both valves at the top are also full of grit and the ball valves scored. The bottom valve was compacted with grit but cleaned out ok.
The moisture trap along with the two top valves are getting replaced and third valve will be installed before the bottom T pipe. The moisture trap will have a regulator and the additional valve will be used to prevent grit being fed back to the upper valves and moisture trap.

When finished blasting I am again assuming the process is:

Close off the bottom air valve
Close off the grit valve
Close off the air valve from the moisture trap
Open up the bottom valve to depressurise the pot
Close up the valves again

Please let me know if any of the above is incorrect and how I should operate.

Shotblasting Equipment, Sandblaster and Sandblasting Machines, Blast Cleaning, Abrasive Blast Cleaning, Lancashire, UK

With over 40 years experience in the abrasive blast cleaning industry, BlastClean Ltd design and build shotblasting equipment, machines and sand blasting machines to the highest standard. Based in Wigan, Lancashire, we supply blast cleaning equipment around the UK.

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[brightspark]

simlar to this

 

[brightspark]

grit valve

 

[Craig-SM]

Similar, excuse the poor sketch (very poor)

 

[brightspark]

right just leave the left hand valve open you only shut it off and on if the blast tube is blocked .once the grit valve is regulated leave it alone work the pot on and off from the shut off tap next to the water seperator /. just pressurise the pot in use and when your done just shut it off and it will de pressurize. only the one tap to operate

 

[Craig-SM]

Well that sounds much more simply

 

[Craig-SM]

Managed to get some time on the pot blaster this morning and fitted new valves and moisture trap, which are all air tight now.
Problem I have is filling cap is leaking air. I’ve tried to tighten, it’s about 70mm and my largest grips aren’t quite big enough, as much as I can and it's still leaking. There is a large rubberised foam gasket in the cap which appears to be in good order as does the threads on the cap and pipe.

How tight should this cap need to be?

The cap looks to be just a 2” pipe end cap.

 

[mr haynes]

Have the same pot and pretty sure only ever been handtight

If i come across the official instructions leaflet i will post a pic

 

[Craig-SM]

Have the same pot and pretty sure only ever been handtight

If i come across the official instructions leaflet i will post a pic

Cheers that would be a great help.

I have some rubber sheet so will try and make a new gasket and see if that solves the issue

 

[brightspark]

is it just a cap you tighten on with grips.weld a t bar across the top and you can tighten by hand .it shouldnt need to be 2 tight to make a seal

 

[Craig-SM]

is it just a cap you tighten on with grips.weld a t bar across the top and you can tighten by hand .it shouldnt need to be 2 tight to make a seal

I’ve just picked some 24” Stillsons so should be able to get it very tight. I’m going to clean up the pipe thread tomorrow and remove the gasket and see if I can screw it right down. Replace the gasket and tighten the cap down again to ensure it’s butting up against the gasket. If I can get it to seal then I will weld some bar on the cap.

 

[brightspark]

I’ve just picked some 24” Stillsons so should be able to get it very tight. I’m going to clean up the pipe thread tomorrow and remove the gasket and see if I can screw it right down. Replace the gasket and tighten the cap down again to ensure it’s butting up against the gasket. If I can get it to seal then I will weld some bar on the cap.

a bit of a pain to fill. i made steel boss and a sit in cap for mine using a neoprene o ring to seal it. the cap is held down held down with a quick release bar. if u have a lathe and a set of taps and dies and welder easy enough to make if u feel the need to make one

 

[brightspark]

another bit

 

[Craig-SM]

Worse case I’ll replace the pipe and cap as just looks like 2” cast pipe

 

[Craig-SM]

is it just a cap you tighten on with grips.weld a t bar across the top and you can tighten by hand .it shouldnt need to be 2 tight to make a seal

Removed the gasket and tightened the nut with the stillson and it cleaned the threads out. Tried it again with the gasket but needed to use the stillson wrench again to stop it leaking.
Cut two discs from a sheet of EPDM and placed under the original gasket. This time I was able to tighten by hand and no leaks. I will weld a bar on the nut to make it easier to tighten.
With the air pressure set at 120psi and the valves fully open the compressor was able to keep it supplied with the motor kicking in after around 4 mins. I was worried about this as it has a 3mm nozzle.
I just need to get some jobs ready for cleaning now