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SANDBLASTERPLANS
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Theinformationcontainedinthismaterialisforreferenceonly.Theauthordoesnotassumeany
responsibilityin
regards
to
the
use
of
this
manualscontent.Inotherwordsyouthereaderareresponsibleforanyinjuryordestructionofpropertyfromtheuse
ormis-useofinformationcontainedinthismanual.
PleasenotethattheuseofsilicabasedsandcancauseaconditioncalledSilicosis.Idonotrecommendtheuseofsilicabasedabrasivesduetothisreason.Ifyouare
notfamiliarwithSilicosis,Iencourageyoutoresearchit.
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Itemsrequired:
Alotoftheseitemswilldependonwhatyouhaveavailableoronhand.Ire-usescrapmaterialswheneverpossible,sosomevariationmayberequired.Feelfreetosubstitute. TankorLPgascylinder(100poundsizeshowninpictures) I.D.Hosesuitableforpressure(usedhydraulichoseworksgreat) Miscellaneouspipe&pipefittings Qty2 Ballvalves Qty2 Ballvalve Ceramicsandblastnozzle(AvailablefromMcMasterCarr www.mcmaster.com) Wheels(HarborFreight) Axleforwheels1shaft Di-Electricunionconnector(usedforwaterheaters) WaterTrap(HarborFreight)
ThefollowingstepscontaininformationonhowIassembledapressureassistedsandblaster.Mostoftheitemsthatwereusedfortheconstructionwereacquiredfromscrapmaterials.Thesandblasterwasbuiltataverylowcost.AllsteelthatwasusediswhatIliketocallrecycledsteel.InotherwordsitcomesfrommachinerythatIhavescrappedoutorhaveboughtasrecycledsteelfromalocalscrapyard.Youwillnoticethroughouttheconstructionstepsthatsomeoftheitemsarerustyordifferentcolors.This
is
where
the
sandblaster
comes
in
handy----to
clean
all
that
stuff
up
down
to
the
baremetal,thenitwillalllooklikenewafteragoodcoatofpaint.
Thesandblasterfabricationrequirestheuseofawelder.IpersonallyrecommendusingaMIG(wirewelder)butanarcweldercouldalsobeusedifawirewelderisunavailable.Anotherusefultoolisaplasmacutter.Ihavehadaplasmacutterforseveralyearsandhaveneverregrettedbuyingone.Itmakesafastcleancutthatdoesnotgetveryhotsothatyoucanhandlethepartsrightafteryougetdonewiththecut(reallyhelpstospeedupfabricationtime).Acuttingtorchcouldalsobeifaplasmacutterisunavailable.Acuttingtorchalsodoesagoodjob,justcreatesabitmoreheatwhichtakesmoretimetocooldown.Ifatorchisnotavailable,theuseofasawzallanddrillwillbesufficient.
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Anotherusefultoolisarightanglegrindertocleanupcutedgesandareastobewelded.Ittookmearoundadayandahalftofabricatethesandblaster.AlotofthistimewasspentrummagingthroughmypipefittingpailstofindtheonesthatwouldworkbestforwhatIwastryingtoaccomplish.Asofthiswriting,Ihaverunatleast2000lbs.ofsandthroughtheblasterwithoutany
problemsatall.Istillhavenotyetpaintedtheblaster,butintendtowhenIgetdonewiththeotherprojectsthatIneededthesandblasterforinthefirstplace.
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ConcerningtheuseofanLPgascylinder.Thecylindermustbepurgedbeforecuttingintoit,regardlessofthemethodused
to
cut
itopen.
Ipurged
the
cylinder
by
filling
them
with
waterallthewayuntilitoverflows.Dumpthewateroutandrefillthetankonceagainandletitsitidleforacoupleofhourswiththewaterstillinit.
Regardingcompressorsize,Irecommendatleastatwo-cylindercompressor.MyfirstblasterwasrunbyaSanborn2cylinderthathada3HPmotor.Outputofthatunitwasaround7CFMat60PSIandlessathigherpressures.Itwaspumpingupa25-gallontankatthecompressor.Iwouldn'trecommendanythingbelowa3HPforthefullpressurizedversion,althoughsomepeoplehaveusedthemandreportedthatitworkedokay,theyjusthadtostoponceinawhiletoletthecompressorbuildupairpressure.Analternativetothisistoutilizeanauxiliaryairstoragetanktoincreasethetotalcapacityofairstorage.Thiswillallowyoutoblastathigherpressuresifneededforalongerduration.Ifyouhaveacompressorthatyoudonotknowtheoutput,most110-voltcompressorsproduceapproximately1to2CFMperhorsepower.220-voltunitswillproduce2to3CFMperhorsepower.Inormallyruna3/32"orficesizeonthenozzleforthefullpressurizedblasterversion,
this
allows
asmaller
compressor
to
be
used
(this
type
uses
the
nozzleassemblythatIsellonEbay).OncethenozzlewearsmoreCFMoutputis
required(asseeninlowertablebelow).Thepressurizedmediasystemallowsyoutochangefromfullpressuretoasiphonunitveryeasilyandquickly.Irunasiphonunitintheblastcabinet,andthefullpressureversionforheavyrustoroutsideofcabinetblastingAlthoughitisnotshowninthemanual,youshouldinstallapressurereliefvalvesomewhereeitherontheblastermediatankoronyourcompressorsothattheairpressureinthetankdoesnotexceedasafelevel.Ihaveminesetto125PSI
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anditislocatedonthecompressor.Itisnotshowninthismanualbecauseitisnotactuallypartoftheblaster.Keepinmindthattheweldsmustbeabletowithstandthepressurethatyouwillbeputtingintheblastmediatank.
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Air requirements for pressure fed siphon blaster
8CFMwith1/8"orficeat80PSI 4.5CFMwith5/64"orficeat80PSI 6CFMwith1/8"orficeat60PSI 3CFMwith5/64"orficeat60PSI
Air requirements for Full Pressure Sandblaster (C1seriesnozzles)(Thisisthestyleofnozzlethatissoldwithmynozzle/valveassembliesonebay)
1-6CFMwith3/32"orfice 7-21CFMwith1/8"orfice 22-45CFMwith3/16"orfice 46-80CFMwith1/4"orfice 81-140CFMwith5/16"orfice 141-200CFMwith3/8"orfice
Asyoucansee,airrequirementscanbeverylow,allowinguseofvirtuallyany2-cylindercompressororevensmalleraircompressors.
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STEP 1
Thefirststepistolocateatankofsomesortthatwillbesuitabletoholdaminimumof150psi.Ichosetouseanold100-poundLPgascylinder.Thesearetheoldsilveronesthatareabout15indiameterandabout40tall.Makesurethecylinderisemptyandthenremovethevalvefromthetopofthecylinder.Besurenottomakeanysparkswhenremovingthevalve,asitmaycauseanygastoignite.
Figure1Agoodcandidatetomakeasandblaster
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Step 2
PURGING & CUTTING THE CYLINDERCuttingthecylinderopen.Astrongwordofcautionhere.NeverjustcutintoanLPgascylinderwithatorch.Thecylindermustbepurgedcompletelywithwatertoremoveanyandallleftovergasfromtheinsideofthecylinder.Ifilleditcompletelywithwater2timesandthenletitsitidleforacouplehours.Regardlessofwhetheratorchorasawzallisusedtocutthetankopen,itmustpurgedwithwaterbeforecuttingopen.Thesecylindershavearimweldedtothebottomofthetanktokeepthemupright.Thisrimisnormallyflushwiththeendofthecylinderandmustberemovedaswell.Beforeremovingtherim,Iusedtherimtomeasureabout6downtomarkmycutallthewayaroundthetank.Thefollowingpictureshowsthetankaftertherimhasbeenremovedandthebottomofthetankhasbeencutoff.
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Figure2Rimandbottom6cutoffcylinder
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Figure3Anotherviewofbottomcutfromcylinderandthetopend
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Step 3 -Sandblasteroutletassembly.Thisassemblywillattachtowheretheoriginalgasvalvehasbeenremoved.Inotherwords,whatusedtobethetopofthetankwillbecomethebottomofthesandblaster.Itisconstructedofacross,2closenipples1-1/2longandabrassballvalve.Ididnothaveacrossavailableinmyassortmentoffittings,soIjustmadeonefromaTfittingandacoupler.IburnedaholeonthesideoftheTfittingandweldedinthecoupler.Icut
thecouplerinhalfsothatitwasnotsolongandIwillusetheotherhalfonthesandblasterinalaterstep.
Figure4Homemadecrosswithattachedclosenipplesandballvalve
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Step 4
Afterassemblingtheoutletassembly,itistimetothreaditintothecylinderasshowninFigure5.Itisturnedintightsothattherewillnotbeanyleaks.
Figure5Outletassemblythreadedintooriginalgasport
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Step 5 -Attachingthelegs.Thesearesimply1-3/4X1-3/4X3/16angleiron20inlength.Positiononelegonthetanksothattheendisabout3belowthesandblasteroutletassembly.Thefirstlegistackedinplacesothatitwillnotmove.Nextanangleironisclampedtothetackweldedlegata90-degreeangle.Thisclampedangleservesasabracetopositiontheotherleg.Thiskeepstheangleironsflatwitheachothersothattheaxleforthetirescanbeattached.(SeeFigure6).Thelegsaresetsothebottomoftheblastertankis8totheendofthelegs.Thisgivesalittlemoreroomthanwhatwillberequiredfortheblasteroutletassembly.
Figure6Bothlegstackedandreadyforfinalwelding.Notetheangleusedasabracetokeepthesurfacesflatwitheachother
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Figure7Rearsandblasterlegsafterfinalwelding
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Figure8Anotherviewofthelegsafterwelding12
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Step 6 -Attachingthefrontlegtothecylinder.Thefrontlegispositionedonthefrontofthecylindersothatitisthesameheightastherearlegs.Thisallowsthesandblastertobefree-standingorstationaryifdesired.Iweldedanothershort3pieceofangletothebottomofthefrontlegaswellsothatwhentheblasterisoutonthelawn,thefrontlegdoesnotsinkintotheground.
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Figure9Frontlegweldedinplace.Wheelsnotyetattached,justgettinganideaofhowwideIwantthemplaced.
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Step 7 -AirpressurizingportAportholeiscutfortheairtopressurizethetank.Iplacedmineontheright-handsideofthetank.Itislocatedabout3belowwhatiscurrentlythetopofthesandblaster.ThisiswhereIusedtheremaininghalfofthecouplerthatIusedearliertomaketheoutletassemblycross.Icutaholebigenoughforthecouplertopassthrough.Iweldedontheinsideofthecylinderfirstandthenweldedallthewayaroundthecouplerontheoutsideofthecylinder.Thisshouldensurethatitwillnotleakanyairpressure.
Figure10Airpressureportweldedinplace
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Figure11Anotherviewoftheairpressureportafterwelding
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Step 8 -AirmanifoldsystemIusedpipebecauseitismoredurablethanhoseandwilllastaverylongtime.Hose(ausedhydraulichoseisagoodchoice)couldbeusedanditisalsoeasiertoinstall.ThemanifoldsystemiscomprisedofpipeandfittingsthatIhadonhand.ThisiswhereIalsoinstalledthewatertrap.IusedonefromHarborFreightthatIhadlayingaround(themountingflangehadbrokenoffyearsago).Youcoulduseadifferentstyleoftrap,butthesearethecheapesttrapsIhaveseen.Dontneglecttousethepipeunions,thesereallyhelpwiththeinstallationofthemanifold,andwillalsobeofhelpifthemanifoldneedsto
beremovedforsomeunknownreason.Pleasenotethattheoutletassemblywillneedtobeturnedslightlytoclearthefrontleg.SeethedrawingbelowfordetailsonwhatfittingIusedforthemanifold.KeepinmindthisiswhatIhadonhandandsubstitionscanbemadetoreducepartcount.Irecommendtheuseoftheregulatorinthemanifold,asthiswillallowyoutousethe
pressurizedmediatankforthepressurefedsiphonblasterversion.Ifyoufeelthatyoumayneverusethatoption,youcanleaveitoff.Thevalueofinstallingitrightawayisthatyoucanalwaysadjusttheregulatortoaccommodateforfullpressureifyouwant.Inalaterfigure,youwillnoticethatIhavetworegulatorsattachedtothemediatank.Thisisforthepressurefedsiphonunitversion.Youcansetupyourmanifoldlikethatifyouwant,butIjustusearegulatorattheoutletofthecompressorinadditiontotheoneonthemediatank.Istronglyadvisetheuseoftworegulatorsforthesandblaster.IwillexplainthislaterinthemanualintheBlasterOperationportion.
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Figure12Lowerportionofmanifoldsystem
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Figure13Anotherviewofthemanifoldsystem,watertrap®ulatorSeefollowingfiguresforalternativemanifoldoptions
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Figure14Manifoldsystemarrangement
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Figure14aManifoldsystemarrangementwithregulator
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Step 9 -Constructingthesandtubandfillerport.TheportionofthecylinderthatwascutofffromStep2willbecomethesandtub.Aholeiscutinthetubsothatapieceof5diameter3/16wallpipeabout2longcanbeinsertedandweldedinplaceasshowninfigure15.Iuseda5diameterpipesothatifIeverneededtoreachmyhandintothesandblaster,theholewouldbelargeenoughtodoso.Asmallerdiameterpipecouldbeusedifalargeoneisnotavailable.Thepipeisweldedinthetubonbothsidesallthewayaround.Itisbesttodoacontinuousweldwhenweldingthisifpossible.
Figure15Bottomsideoftubwithsandfillerportweldedinplace
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Figure16Anotherviewofthetubwithsandfillerportweldedinplace
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Step 10 -MakingaplugforthesandfillportTomakeaplugforthesandfillerport,IusedanolddiskbladethatIhadlayinginthescrappile.Icutthebladesothatisabout2indiameterlargerthanthepipeusedforthesandfillerportthatwasweldedinplaceinStep8.Apieceofplatecouldalsobeusedifadiskbladeisnotavailable.Iwouldbesuretouseatleastathickplatesothatitdoesnotwarpwhenweldingandsothatyoucangetagoodweldwhenweldingonthesteminalaterstep.Thediskbladealreadyhadasquareholeinthecenter,whichIrecuttomakelargeenoughforthe1diameterstemtopassthrough.Ialsocutoutasmallercircleof3/16plateabout3diameterthatwillbeusedinalaterstep.
Figure17Plug(RHside)forsandfillerport.Smaller3circleshownaswell.
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Step 11 -MakingthestemforthesandportplugThestemismadefromapieceof1outsidediameterpipe3inlength.Theinsidediameterislargeenoughforapieceof5/8all-threadtopassthrough.ImadesureoneendofthepipeisgoodandsquareasIwillbeweldinganuttotheendandifitisnotsquare,onemayhavetroubleoncetheallthreadisinstalled.Agoodwaytoensurethatyoudonthaveanyissueslateristothreadanutononeendandplacethelongendthroughthepipe.Tackthenutontheendofthepipeinabout3placesaroundthenutandchecktomakesuretheall-threadturnsfreely.Nextremovetheall-threadandweldthenutontothepipeallthewayaround.Figure18showsthestemandall-threadthatIused.Imadetwoofthesestems,asonewillbeusedinalaterstep.
Figure18Stemwithweldednutandall-thread
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Step12-WeldingthestemtotheplugNowthestemwillbeweldedtothesandfillerportplug.Ifusingadiskblade,thestemgetsweldedsothatthestemisonthehumpedsideoftheblade.Weldthesteminplaceonbothsidesofthebladeorflatcircle.
Figure19Topviewofsandportplugwithstemweldedinplace
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Step 13 -CappingoffthestemTheholeinthebottomofthestemwillneedtobecappedoffusingthesmallercirclethatIcutoutinStep9(Figure17).Thiscircleisplacedontheundersideoftheplugandisweldedallthewayaroundtokeeptheairfromescapingthroughthestem
Figure21Bottomviewofsandportplugwithcapweldedinplace
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Step 14 -MakingthetightenerforthesandportplugTomakeatightened,IusedapieceofX2flat,bentasshowninFigure22.Itismadesotheinsidesofthelegsarethesamedistanceapartasthediameterofpipeusedforthesandportand3inheight.An11/16holeisdrilledinthecenterofthestrapafteritisformed.Ialsocutacoupleofgussetsforthecorners(Figure24).Thetightenerwill
beweldedinplaceoverthesandport,beingsuretocentertheholeinthetightenerwiththecenterofthesandport.
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Figure22Plugtightenerformedwithgussets
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Figure23Topofplugtightener
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Figure24Plugtightenerwithgussetsweldedinplace
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Figure25Plugtightenerweldedinplace
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Step 15 -GasketforthesandportplugTomakeagasketforthesandfillerplug,Iusedachunkofoldtiretube.Iplacedthe
plugonthetubeandtracedaroundtheplugandcuttheprofileoutwithascissors.Thencutaholeinthecenterofthegasketforthestemtopassthroughandplaceontheplugassembly.
Figure26Tracingprofileofplugontorubber
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Figure27Gasketinstalledontoplug
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Step 16 -T-HandlefortightenerNowisthetimetousetheextrastemweldedinStep10.Cutanother10longpieceofpipethatwasusedforthestem.Thispiecewillbeweldedtothenon-nutendofthestemtocreateaT-handlefortheplugtightener(Figure28).Nextthreadthe5/8allthreadintotheplugstem.Placetheplugstemupthroughsandport(beingsuretohavethegasketplacedontheplug)andtheall-threadthroughthetightenerhole.Nextthreadanextra5/8hexnutontotheallthread.ThenutwillbelockedagainsttheT-handle,whichisinstallednext.AdjustT-handlesothatwhenyouturntheT-handleeverythingistightandthegasketsealsgood.LockthehexnutagainsttheT-handle.
Figure28T-handlearrangement
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Figure29Plug,gasketandT-handleinstalled
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Figure30Bottomviewofthesandtubassembly34
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Step 17 -WeldingthesandtubinplaceTheinsideofthecylindershouldbecleananddrybeforeplacingthesandtubinplace.Placethesandtubinplaceasshown(Figure31).Iplacedminesothatthetightenerinthetubwasorientedin-linewiththefrontlegoftheblaster.Tapitdownwithahammerabittogetagoodtightfit.Asseeninthepicture,itshouldfitprettytight.Measurefrom
thetopofthesandtubtothetopofthecylinderandmakesurethatitisthesamedistanceallthewayaround.Nextbesurethesandplugislooseandtackthetubwellsothatitdoesnotmove.Nextweldthetubinplaceallthewayaround.Trytogetagoodweldwithnopinholes,asthesepinholeswillneedtobefixediftheyleakair.
Figure31Sandtubreadyforwelding
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Figure32Sandtubweldedinplace
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Step18-Wheelsandaxles(optional)Theblasteriswellonitswaytocompletion.Wewillnowinstalltheaxleandthewheels.Igotthewheelsfromwww.harborfreight.com.Theyarequiteinexpensiveandworkquitewellformanyprojects.Theinsidediameterofthebearingsis5/8.Ifyouhavesomeotherwheelslyingaround,youcouldusethemaswell.Asfortheaxle,Ihaveametallatheintheshopanddecidedtoturna1diametershaftdownto5/8ontheends.Thewheelsarespaced17fromeachothermeasuredontheinside.Thisallowedfor
prettygoodstabilityoftheblaster.Beforeweldingtheaxletothelegs,Iplacedapieceofflatundereachlegtospaceitoffthefloorabit.ThenImadesurethetireswerefilledwithrecommendedairpressure.Simplyrolltheaxleassemblyagainstthelegs,centerfromsidetoside,clampandweldinplaceonbothsides(top&bottom)oftheaxle.
Figure33Axleweldedinplace
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Step 19 -ThehoseForthehose,Iusedainsidediameterhydraulichose.Ididnthaveonelyingaround,soIpurchasedanewone.Thispartwasthemostexpensivepartofthewholeblaster.I
boughta16-footlonghosesothatIhadplentyofhose.Ifyouhavesomeshorthoseslyingaround,youcouldcouplethemtogetheraswelltogetthelengththatyouwant.Youwillneedareducerattheblasteroutlettoattachthehose(Figure35).IalsouseahydraulicswiveltoallowquickdisconnectingoftheblasthosesothatIcanswitchovertothesiphonunitveryquicklywithouthavingtokeepturningthehosetoremoveitfromthethreads.
Figure35Hoseattachment
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Figure36Anotherviewofthehoseandnozzleassembly
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Step 21 -Nozzleholder/BlastEndThereareseveraloptionsthatyoucandoinregardstotheblasternozzleandholder.Afterlookingatthedifferentnozzlesthatareavailable,Idecidedtogowithalargeceramicnozzle.TheseareavailablefromMcMasterCarrorIhavethemavailableaswell.Theirwebsiteiswww.mcmaster.com.Thenozzleisthesameaswhatisusedonthedeadmanstyleofholders.Thedeadmanvalveassemblyisquiteexpensiveandtherubberblocksontheenddonotlastaverylongtime.Thereareothernozzlesandholdersavailablebuttheytooaddafairamountofcosttothesystem.TheassemblythatIhavecomeupwithisacheaperalternative.
Theholderiscomprisedofabrassballvalve.Thecheapestonethatyoucanfindisthebest,asthisisthepartthatwillwearoutintime.Minecostabout$5whichischeaperthanasetofthereplacementrubberblocksforthedeadmanvalveandwilllastmuchlonger.Oneoftheseballvalveswilllastforatleast5000sand-poundsworthofblasting.
NextisamodifiedDi-electricconnector(about$4).Thesecanbefoundatmosthomeimprovementcentersintheplumbingdepartment.Irecommendtheoutletwiththepipethreadsontheotherend.Theycomewiththebasepartaswellasalargenutalongwithabrasssleeveandaplasticbushing.Thebrassandplasticpartswillnotbeusedforthisassembly.TheveryfirstonethatImade,Ijustfiledoutthediameterofthelargenutsothatwhenthenozzlewasinsertedthroughtheholeinthenut,thenutmadesufficientengagementwiththethreadsonthebase.ThisworkedprettywelluntilIboughtanothersupplyofceramicnozzleswhichhadaslightlysmallerdiameteronthelargeend.Inthiscase,thenozzlenowpassedallthewaythroughtheholeinthenut.Irecommendusingametallatheortakingittosomeonethathasoneandhavingthemcuta.375deepdepressioninthenozzlefaceandmodifythenutinsidediametertowhatisshowninFigures37&38.Ihavefoundthistobethebestmethodandhavehadnoissueswithitwhenchangingnozzles.Thenozzleisnotsupposedtopassthroughthenut,
butratherthetaperistobeengagedintheholetowardthelargerendofthenozzle.AttachthenozzleholderassemblyasshowninFigure36usingareducertogofromthethreadsonthehosetothethreadsoftheballvalve.Ihavefoundthissetuptoworkthebestinregardstowearontheballvalve.Aballvalvewillwearmorequicklyduetotheholethroughtheballvalvebeingsmallerthanthevalve.Besuretoassemblethecoupleronthecorrectsideoftheballvalvesothattheleverdoesnotgetinthewayincaseyouneedtoremovethenozzle.
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Figure34Blastnozzleassembly
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Figure37 Di-Electricconnectormodifications
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Figure38Di-Electricconnectornutmodifications42
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Step 22 -FinishedSandblasterNowthesandblasteriscompleteandreadyforuse.Besuretousedrysandormediainyour
sandblaster.
This
is
very
important
so
that
the
blaster
does
not
clog.
Alsomakesurethatyourmediaissiftedtoremovelargechunksofdebristhatmaybepresentifyoureusethemedia.IfIaminabind,Iusuallygotothelocalbuildingsupplystoreandbuysandblastsand,butInormallygotothelocalcreekbottomandloadupsomesandfromthere.Ispreaditoutonacouplesheetsofplywoodonanicesunnydaytomakesureitdriesoutcompletely.ThenIsiftitthroughasiftermadefromanoldwindowscreen.Thewindowscreenworkswellforanozzlesizeof3/32whichiswhatInormallyuse.Istartwiththe3/32nozzleandovertimeitenlargestoabout3/16whichiswhenInormallyreplaceitforsand.Ifyouuseanothertypeofmedia,youmaystillbeabletousethewornnozzleasitdependsonparticlesize.Blaster operation
Ihavearegulatorinstalledonmycompressor.Isetthisregulatortowithin10PSIofwhatthekick-inpressureisforthecompressor,otherwiseyouwillnoticethatalargeincreaseinpressureattheblasterwillgreatlyaffectyourblastervalvesettings.Thisissomethingthatalotofpeopledonotrealizeandtheyeitherdontusetheregulatorcomingoffthecompressor,ortheysetitatthemaxpresurethecompressorwillputout.Thebigproblemthattheythenencounteristhesurgingasthepressurevaries,andtheythenbegintogetfrustratedastheychangethefeedsettingsontheblastertoaccommodate
for
the
pressure
changes.
They
then
find
that
as
the
pressure
increasesagain,theyencounterthesameprobemandonceagain,theyarefrustrated.Besureto
usearegulatorcomingoffthecompressorandadjustittowithin10PSIofIfyouhaveneverusedasandblasterbefore,thenhereareafewpointersFirstoff,makesuretheballvalveattheblasteroutlet(atthebottomoftheblaster)isintheoff
positionbeforefillingwithmedia.FilltheblasterwithmediaandturntheT-handletoclosethesandportshaketheT-handlefromsidetosidetoremoveanymediathatmayhavecollectedonthegasket.Ihaveaballvalveinstalledbeforethewatertrap;thisshutsoffallairtotheentiresystem.Hookuptheairsupplyhosetotheblasterandthenturnontheballvalvetoallowairintotheblasterandhose.Adjusttheregulatoronthemanifoldsothatnotfullpressureentersthemediatank.Thisregulatespressuregoingintothetankpressureport(notinthewholemanifold).Withthisconfiguration,youcansettheregulatortocontrolthepressuregoingintothetanktobelessthanwhatthepressureinthemanifoldis.Airfromthemanifoldbeingatahigherpressurewilltrytogotowherethereislowerpressure,whichisupthroughthe
blasteroutletandintothetank.Theadvantageisthattheoutletwouldalwayshaveair43
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flowingthroughitkeepingtheportopenincasethatonehasputdampsandintotheblaster.Dampsandtendstocakeupandrestrictsandflow.Thetankpressureneedstobeadjusteddependingonthemediatypethatyouareusing.Ifyougetthepressuresetforamediatype,youmaywanttowriteitdownsothatyoucansetthepressureatthatsettingthenexttimeyouuseit.Inormallyrunthisregulatorabout5PSIbelowthepressurefromthecompressorandadjustitfromthere.Toolowofpressureinthemediatankwillresultinasurgingeffectofsandexitingthenozzle.Thisduetotheairinthemanifoldrushingintothemediatanktoequalizethepressuredifferential,insteadofthepressureinthetankpushingmediaintothemanifold.
Next,openthenozzlevalvetoallowairthroughthehose.Thisshouldeitherbefullyopen,orfullyclosed(inaquickmovement)...neverpartiallyopen/close,asthatwillacceleratewearoftheballvalve.Afteropeningthenozzlevalveandairisrushingout,opentheballvalveattheblasteroutlet(bottomofmediatank)toallowsandintothehose(pressurizedairstream).Dontopenitalltheway,astoomuchsandwillalsocausethesystemtosurge.UsuallyIopenitabouthalfwayorless.Abouthalfwayshoulddothetrick(nosetinstonerule...whateverworks,thatisthesettingtostickw/orreadjustnear).Nowsandshouldbecomingoutthenozzleitmaytakealittletimeforthehosetofill.Ifnosandcomesout,givetheoutletaslighttaptogetthesandmoving.Adjusttheballvalveuntilyougetagoodsteadystreamofairandsandcomingout.Togetagoodblasttoremoveheavyrust,youwantalotofairpressureatthenozzleandtherightamountofsand.Youshouldjustbarelybeabletoseethesandcomingoutofthenozzle(similarinappearancetosteamcomingoutofateakettle).Thebestsettingisrightbeforethesandstartstosurgecomingoutofthenozzle.Ifyouopenthesandoutletvalveuntilitstartstosurgeandthenbackoffalittle,youwillattainthebestblast.Ifyouarejustremovingpaintorlightrust,thenyoucanadjusttheairpressuredownalittle.Itwilltakealittletimetogetusedtoadjustingthepressureandvalves,butonceyoufindthatsweetspotyoucansetitthesameeverytimeyouusetheblasterandattaingreatresults.
Fromhereitisprettysimple,justpointatwhatyouwantcleanedandblastawayremembertouseproperprotectivegearasthesandcandosomeseriousdamagetoexposedflesh!Theuseofarespiratorisalsorecommended.
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Pressure Fed Siphon sandblaster
Myveryfirstsandblasterwasasimplesiphonfeedunit.Itworkedokay,butalwayshadthatsurgingeffectasittriedtoPULLsandthroughthehose.Tocurethat,Imadeapressuretankoutofanoldmilkingvacuumtank.Withthisdesign,sandisPUSHEDuptotheblastnozzle.Thattankhadaremovablelid,whichhadagasketandaclamptoholdthelidandgasketon.Ihavesincerobbedpartsoffmyoriginalsystem,asithasbeen20yearssinceIhaveuseditandmovedtothelargeunitdescribedabove.Withthissystem,Ihad2regulatorstoadjustthepressureasseenintheaccompyaningdiagrambelow(oneoftheseregulatorscouldbeattachedtothecompressorlikemineis).Thefirstregulatorissetat50-60PSIandthesecondregulatorissetto5-10PSI.In
betweentheregulatorsisat-fittingandahosethatrunstothesiphonfeedsandblastheadatwhatusedtobethefeedtube.Theoriginalfeedtubehasbeenreplacedwithahosenipple(brass)whichallowedthesandtogothroughbetter.Afterthesecondregulator,thereisanotherT-fitting.Fromthisfitting,thereisahosethatrunsdowntothebottomoftheblasttankandconnectstothecrossfitting.Thisallows5-10PSIairtoflowthroughthecrossandPUSHsandthroughthehoseanduptothesiphonsandblastheadwhereitcanbeblastedoutthenozzlewiththe50-60PSIairsupply.
Thistypeofsystemhasseveraladvantagesandwouldworkgreatforasandblastcabinet.Thissystemneverreallycanclogduetolargedebrisinthemedia,unlessthemediaislargeenoughtopluganyofthefittings.Withthissystem,thesandmovesthroughsandfeedlineallthetime,sowhenyouare
notblasting,andsetthegundown,sandcontinuestofeedoutthenozzle.Notabigproblem
inside
of
ablast
cabinet,
but
will
cause
the
loss
of
sand
ifyou
are
blastingoutsideofacabinet.Youcancurethisbyaddinganadditionalvalveinthesandfeedline
neartheblastgun.Youwouldneedtoshutitoffwheneveryouarenotblasting.Youcanuseprettymuchthesamestepsdescribedearliertobuildapressurefeedunitforyoursiphonblaster,justsetituplikethediagrambelowandblastaway.Youdonthavetousethefirstregulator(setto50-60PSI)ifyoudontwant,butitwillallowmorecontrolofblastingpatterns.Ifyouhaveablastcabinet,thathasasiphonunit,justbuildthepressuretank,hookituptothesiphonunitandgiveitatry.itdoesworkgreat!
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Originalsandblasterremnants,thisunitisabout22yearsold.alotofpartshavebeenrobbedfromit,butthebasicsarestillthere.Putafewregulatorsbackonit,someairinthetiresanditwouldbereadytoblastagain.
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Thisisthesiphonblastingunitfrommyoriginalpressurefedblaster
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Acloserview52
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Originalfittingreplacedwithhosenipple.Thehoseisaclearhosealthoughyoucanttellanymore.ThiswassothatIcouldseethesandmovingthroughthehose.Itoriginallycamewitharubberhose,but
wasntbutayearortwoandthatbasicallycrackedtopieces.Thisiswhereyoucanusethatoldairhosethatgotaholeinitifyouwouldlike.
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Swivelonthecrossatthebottomofmediatank.Thisallowsforeasyswitchingbetweenthesiphonfeedsystemandthefullpressureblastsystem.
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