Sand Blasting question

[mach2andy]

Looking at the increasing pile of bits from my car that are going to need sandblasting, I think I'm going to have to acquire my own cabinet. But what sort of capacity of compressor am I going to need to power this thing? One instruction manual I've found online quotes 15 CFM, but this seems very substantial. Anyway, I'd appreciate some personal experiences of what has worked for you?
ATB
Andy

[christopher storey]

I have a 8.5cfm compressor with a 25?? litre tank which proved quite capable of propelling the medium in a medium sized Machine Mart cabinet . It would not be enough if one was doing it for long periods, but it is perfectly ok for, say, 1 minute of blasting at a time followed by a 1 minute recovery period, and I found this was ample for doing ancillaries such as heater boxes etc or, using glass bead, for cleaning alloy parts such as carburetters ( BTW be careful on alloys not to overdo it by getting the gun too close to the object)

[Mich7920]

Hi Andy,

For a sandblasting cabin, the minimum is what the instruction said.
When you use the cabin, it's sometimes for one piece but more of the case is for a group of parts that you'r going to paint after. It take time so it take CFM.
For a compressor, sandblast is a full leak of air so you'll need a lot of.
It really really important to have a compressor that can compensate for this leak.
If you can't buy a big one, rent it. Don't buy a small one you'll always regret it !

When it's hard parts with a lot of rust or nut's etc... I sandblast at 5 / 6 bars with this :
https://www.matthys.net/en/Shop/24/abra ... arnet-fine
( I was exceptionally at 8 bar for the exaust pipe )

When it's delicate parts I "sandblast" at 4 bars with this abrasive:
https://www.matthys.net/en/Shop/24/abra ... glassbeads
That's what I prefer, the surface is smoother than with the garnet. 4 bars is the max for the glassbeads, If you use more you brake them and you get glass dust.

For all the aluminium parts as engine head or SUs I bought them this :
https://www.matthys.net/en/Shop/20/hobb ... rs-sb-10-c
With the soda blaster kit and I use this abrasive:
https://www.matthys.net/en/Shop/24/abrasive/1207/soda

The soda blaster for aluminium is absolutly fantastic and non-destructive.
Very important also there is no residue. You wash with water and it disolves !
I use this one outside of course and hope you have a great garden, the soda goes everywhere...

The sandblasting is magic, you'll have fun !

Mich

[Series1 Stu]

My compressor is supposed to deliver 14 CFM at 110psi and it struggles to keep up with the demands of the blast cabinet.

If your compressor is in the same room as the cabinet then wear ear defenders. And a nuisance dust mask too.

The blaster will not remove resilient materials like underseal, it just bounces off it.

Don't use aluminium oxide media on aluminium parts.

Regards