Built a sandblaster!
 

Hey I thought some of you might be interested to see my sandblaster I built last month.

It started life as an 11 gallon portable air tank from Princess Auto, and the rest is just steel pipe fittings, square tubing, and some rubber hose. Here's some pics:

http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/...ps56d9608b.jpg

http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/...psc604da66.jpg

As you can see, I used 3/8 inch copper tubing to provide air pressure to the top of the vessel. It looks small, but once the tank is pressurized there isn't too much airflow to the top of the tank...just enough to replace the sand that is used, and whatever air leaches through the sand out the bottom.

http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/...ps02bd9624.jpg

http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/...psd583eb00.jpg

I have seen sandblasters that use a ball valve or gate valve to throttle the sand flow, but was concerned that the flowing sand might erode the partially opened valve over time. So I used a throttling method I've seen on large industrial blasters, where a rubber hose is compressed by an adjustable clamp to vary the passage size in the hose. The rubber is virtually unaffected by the sand.

http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/...psbedcb65b.jpg

My welding is far from perfect guys, so take it easy... :lol: All I can do is practice... Here this one's a little better. And yes...I put it outside and did a pressure test to 120 psi while I hid in the shop. It seems solid.

http://i1332.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0adc86cc.jpg

The ceramic nozzle is the only part specifically designed for a sandblaster...I modified a 1 inch brass union to make a quick-disconnect to hold the nozzle.

And the bottom line is...it works just great! Total cost was just over $100.

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

nice job ! have you used in "in action" yet?

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Thanks, yes I tried it out on a brake backing plate and it worked great. My only complaint is my air compressor can't quite keep up as well as I'd like...might try a smaller nozzle size to slow down the flow and help keep the pressure up.

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Wow! That is very, very cool! :metal:


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Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Nice Job. I found a plan for one on the internet and built one for myself. It does a great job but yes the compressor has a hard time keeping up.

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Very cool:metal:

I built my own, also, but it is a cabinet type.

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

neat setup!

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

I like your setup.I have a 30 something gallon craftsman vertical air compressor that's not any good and was about to throw it away to get it out of my shop...Looks like its time to buy some fittings and turn it into a sandblaster.Think it would work really well as one.

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

I plumb two 5hp compressors together to get pretty good volume; sometimes smaller compressors can be had on the cheap.

50ft of sloped metal pipe separates the moisture.

I use rubber fuel hose instead of expensive ceramic nozzles. Cheap and very easy to change out. Just pick OD my compressors can handle.

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Very cool.....I like your idea of the rubber hose gate valve to regulate sand flow.....so what if your welding is not perfect....that is a nice project !

Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Nice job
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Re: Built a sandblaster!
 

Neat idea! I'm gonna have to scrounge around for a tank!
And a bigger compressor!