back yard media blaster recommendation?

[pvienneau]

all, I got a gift cert in the form of a visa card from work and am looking to buy a pressure media blaster. My budget is $250. What do you all recommend?

Pat

[KMC3420]

I have an Eastwood, 100 lb. media blaster, works very well for me. I run Black Diamond blast media through it, 80 grit that I buy from Tractor Supply for $7/50 lb bag. I also have an 80 gallon 5 horse compressor. Most blasters work great, the only limitation is how big your air compressor is.

[BR3W CITY]

x2. I bought a harbor freight one, and it sorta worked but it was horridly inneficcient on air...making a weak compressor WAY worse.

If you think you'll use it alot, then go ahead...but I've run into a handful of problems with blasting, and just choose to use a DIY blaster that rents by the minute near me.

Consider
A) the flow rate of the gun, and how much air it requires to use on a reasonable duty cycle.
B)will you be using/building a cabinet for it? this affects the type of material used, and your ability to recycle blasting media.
C)Blasting Media. As mentioned above, wether or not you'll use a cabinet makes a difference. As does what you plan on blasting. Walnut vs Soda vs Iron vs Alum oxide etc.