Bead Blasting Help
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 41
From: Toronto
Bead Blasting Help
Crazy problem I can't figure out.
I have a sandblasting cabinet and am using it for bead blasting.
Only problem is it doesn't suck up the glass beads. It is basically shooting air out only.
I checked the hose, and it has beads in it, it is not blocked. Thought it was the spray gun so I bought another one-same thing. There is a small vacuum at the opening for the hose on the gun, but it doesn't seem to be enough to pull it all the way through.
I moved the pickup rod around to different spots-no change.
Seems like there should be a simple explanation for it, but I can't seem to figure it out.
Anybody else ever have this problem?
Thanks!
I have a sandblasting cabinet and am using it for bead blasting.
Only problem is it doesn't suck up the glass beads. It is basically shooting air out only.
I checked the hose, and it has beads in it, it is not blocked. Thought it was the spray gun so I bought another one-same thing. There is a small vacuum at the opening for the hose on the gun, but it doesn't seem to be enough to pull it all the way through.
I moved the pickup rod around to different spots-no change.
Seems like there should be a simple explanation for it, but I can't seem to figure it out.
Anybody else ever have this problem?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,332
Likes: 63
From: PARADISE
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12-'13-'14
Do you have enough volume and pressure for the cabinet? Many blast cabinets require a minimum of 10 CFM @ 90 PSI
I had a problem similar to yours, and it turned out my compressor was too small. Went to an 18 CFM and problems solved.
I had a problem similar to yours, and it turned out my compressor was too small. Went to an 18 CFM and problems solved.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,937
Likes: 163
From: OP Kansas
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The only time that has ever happened to me is when the air was too hot and it became damp and clogged the system up.
If the media is dry and you have the air turned up high enough I can't think of any other reason it wouldn't work.
If the media is dry and you have the air turned up high enough I can't think of any other reason it wouldn't work.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 631
Likes: 1
From: WEST MILFORD NEW JERSEY
Bead Blasting Help
You can try using a smaller tip on your gun if you don't have enough air pressure. The company TIP sells them.Also air volume is very important and CFM"S, that your compressor puts out. Try putting your finger over the nozzle and let the air pressure blow back into the suction tube, sometimes mine will act up and that is what I do.But it sounds like an air problem. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,913
Likes: 283
I use a scat blast cabinet at the hangar and it sometimes does this. I plug the end of the nozzle with my thumb (rubber gloves) and step on the trigger. This forces air down the siphon feed and cleans out the lines.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 8
From: Miami FL
Sounds like your compressor isn’t putting out enough CFM… I had the same problem when I first got my cabinet. To fix it, I got one of the small portable media blaster units from Harbor Freight. It was a hopper unit that only needed .5 CFM @ 50 PSI . Took the spray gun off it and put it into my cabinet... problem solved. Nothing beats having a monster compressor but this did work.
/joe
/joe
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 41
From: Toronto
Chrislyn and ghostrider20....thanks!
I put my finger over the nozzle and sent the air back through the siphon tube and it worked.
Now that it is working i find that I have to repeat it every now and again when the glass beads stop coming out, but it is working!
Thanks for your help
I put my finger over the nozzle and sent the air back through the siphon tube and it worked.
Now that it is working i find that I have to repeat it every now and again when the glass beads stop coming out, but it is working!
Thanks for your help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,913
Likes: 283
Chrislyn and ghostrider20....thanks!
I put my finger over the nozzle and sent the air back through the siphon tube and it worked.
Now that it is working i find that I have to repeat it every now and again when the glass beads stop coming out, but it is working!
Thanks for your help
I put my finger over the nozzle and sent the air back through the siphon tube and it worked.
Now that it is working i find that I have to repeat it every now and again when the glass beads stop coming out, but it is working!
Thanks for your help
Mark
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 168
From: Wi
Maybe it's your gun and pickup tube. I replaced mine with a Skatblast gun and pickup tube, www.tptools.com, and it never worked better.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 541
Likes: 2
From: Sparks Nevada
Try this! My cabinet does it sometimes too, this works. The thumb on the nozzle is a pain sometimes, but does work.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 41
From: Toronto
Maybe it's your gun and pickup tube. I replaced mine with a Skatblast gun and pickup tube, www.tptools.com, and it never worked better.
Almost made blasting fun.
A great tool that I highly recommend
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 168
From: Wi
Way to go. I felt pretty excited myself after I got mine hooked up. And no more siphon skipping!
