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So, my buddy has a bench top blaster and did some pieces for me last weekend. Now I’m dying to get my own...any recommendations on brand / model and even associated air tanks?
Got mine about ten years ago from TP Tools & Equipment, full cabinet and I love the crap out of it. Can throw just about anything in it, including wheels. Seems I paid around $760 back then and its painted red. Freshened up the entire engine compartment of my 78, brackets, oil pan, etc. Have gone back since to buy replacement parts...nice to know they are still around and with correct replacement parts including bead blast material and all sorts. Walnut shells, bead blast, etc.
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I bought mine at Harbor freight. it came with the nozzle and gloves and didnt cost more than $150 when I got it. THey may be more now but they always have a 20% off coupon in magazines.
buying a decent used 80 gallon air compressor is going to be pricey. I found one on FB market place for $350 and had to clean the crap out of it, but it was worth it.Then all the plumbing and wiring was another $200.
Most are going to be around $500 or more
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Feb 14, 2019 at 06:47 AM.
I bought mine at Harbor freight. it came with the nozzle and gloves and didnt cost more than $150 when I got it. THey may be more now but they always have a 20% off coupon in magazines.
buying a decent used 80 gallon air compressor is going to be pricey. I found one on FB market place for $350 and had to clean the crap out of it, but it was worth it.Then all the plumbing and wiring was another $200.
Most are going to be around $500 or more
I'll second the comment about 80 gallon or larger compressor. My Harbor Freight blaster is hooked up to a 60 gallon, and it ALMOST keeps up, but not quite. It gets me by for small parts, just have to take breaks to let the compressor cool down.
I have the floor standing model from HF. I replaced the gun it came with, with one from Lowes and it works way better now. I also built a cyclone to catch the media in the air.
Got mine about ten years ago from TP Tools & Equipment, full cabinet and I love the crap out of it. Can throw just about anything in it, including wheels. Seems I paid around $760 back then and its painted red. Freshened up the entire engine compartment of my 78, brackets, oil pan, etc. Have gone back since to buy replacement parts...nice to know they are still around and with correct replacement parts including bead blast material and all sorts. Walnut shells, bead blast, etc.
Definitely appreciate the input...when you blast parts like the brackets etc, do you have them professionally powder coated or painted...or do you just spray paint them the original color? Yes, basic questions but I'm just getting a sense of the process!
Agree with all posts. Consider: Blast media can be harmful to the lungs, so consider an outside vented exhaust system!
That's a good reminder. I have a woodworking shop that I'm thinking of converting over...it has overhead air cleaning unit, but guessing that's not enough. I was also considering the option of getting a smaller cabinet and strictly doing the blasting outdoors (and of course always using a breathing mask).
Definitely a rabbit trail of cost to do correctly...maybe I should just find a good local source to do the parts for me?
Last edited by mkalman4867; Feb 14, 2019 at 03:06 PM.
I'll second the comment about 80 gallon or larger compressor. My Harbor Freight blaster is hooked up to a 60 gallon, and it ALMOST keeps up, but not quite. It gets me by for small parts, just have to take breaks to let the compressor cool down.
Which HF blaster did you get? I have bought several woodworking power tools from HF and the quality is spotty at BEST! Did some reading about the HF desktop model and it appears that if you replace the light, caulk every seam, and light a candle at church, the cabinet will do a good job. What was your experience please?
Which HF blaster did you get? I have bought several woodworking power tools from HF and the quality is spotty at BEST! Did some reading about the HF desktop model and it appears that if you replace the light, caulk every seam, and light a candle at church, the cabinet will do a good job. What was your experience please?
Yep, the light that it comes with sucks, and I did caulk the seams (but opted not to light a candle at church ). Mine is the larger floor model, not the table top one. It has a connection on the side that I connect my shop vac to that helps keep the dust out of the air, and I still usually wear an N95 mask also (I use those for my woodworking dust also), I might investigate the Lowes gun that Slapjack9 mentioned, but the one that comes with it seems to work ok. It lists for $180 on their website, and you're probably aware that you can get 20-25% coupons fairly easily (sign up for their text messages via the website is an easy way to receive them).
Which HF blaster did you get? I have bought several woodworking power tools from HF and the quality is spotty at BEST! Did some reading about the HF desktop model and it appears that if you replace the light, caulk every seam, and light a candle at church, the cabinet will do a good job. What was your experience please?
Yep- replaced the light- easy to do and with a LED there is no heat.
I replaced the gun- after the media blew a hole in it- 7 or so years of use
Built a wet dust reclaimer with a 5 gal tub -some PVC fittings - and a cheap shop vacuum
Running a 60gal 220V 7HP Cambell Hausfeld compressor that I got from Lowes- don't remember the price but it was a display model.
With the Harbor Freight Gun- it would just keep up- however the replacement gun (don't remember where it came from) but it doesn't use as much air and the compressor has no problems.
A set of ear muffs from Harbor Freight is also requirement !!!
Originally Posted by mkalman4867
...when you blast parts like the brackets etc, do you have them professionally powder coated or painted...or do you just spray paint them the original color? Yes, basic questions but I'm just getting a sense of the process!
As far as finishing the parts?
I sometimes paint them- and will toss the part in the oven for 30 minutes at 210 degrees-paint cures really nice.
I have the Harbor Freight powdercoater- works great IF you use media from Summit or simular quality. The HF powdercoat media sux-
Got a cheap digital toaster oven for less than $100
Here's my hood hardware- "kromezone" powdercoat
Last edited by Richard454; Feb 14, 2019 at 05:05 PM.
Yep- replaced the light- easy to do and with a LED there is no heat.
I replaced the gun- after the media blew a hole in it- 7 or so years of use
Built a wet dust reclaimer with a 5 gal tub -some PVC fittings - and a cheap shop vacuum
Running a 60gal 220V 7HP Cambell Hausfeld compressor that I got from Lowes- don't remember the price but it was a display model.
With the Harbor Freight Gun- it would just keep up- however the replacement gun (don't remember where it came from) but it doesn't use as much air and the compressor has no problems.
A set of ear muffs from Harbor Freight is also requirement !!!
As far as finishing the parts?
I sometimes paint them- and will toss the part in the oven for 30 minutes at 210 degrees-paint cures really nice.
I have the Harbor Freight powdercoater- works great IF you use media from Summit or simular quality. The HF powdercoat media sux-
Got a cheap digital toaster oven for less than $100
Here's my hood hardware- "kromezone" powdercoat
So are you saying you spray paint then cure the paint in the toaster oven as well as the powder coated pieces?
So are you saying you spray paint then cure the paint in the toaster oven as well as the powder coated pieces?
And thanks...great stuff!!
Yep- if I paint it- I'll cure it in the oven. After the 30 minutes in the oven- and cools for a few minutes - you are able to handle the piece without any issues.
I doesn't smell like cookies though-my wife will come down to the basement as say " Oh, you have been baking!!!"
Use the same oven for powdercoating, a lot hotter at 400- there is no odor at all.
Yep- if I paint it- I'll cure it in the oven. After the 30 minutes in the oven- and cools for a few minutes - you are able to handle the piece without any issues.
I doesn't smell like cookies though-my wife will come down to the basement as say " Oh, you have been baking!!!"
Use the same oven for powdercoating, a lot hotter at 400- there is no odor at all.
Ok so if you have a two sided piece, how do you set it up? Maybe you figured out a way to hang them?
AWESOME. Thanks again! Last question (maybe)...when you have a piece that can’t hang, I see that you put down foil and set the piece on that while curing, but what about the section that’s touching the foil? Do you flip it over and heat again?
Last edited by mkalman4867; Feb 15, 2019 at 08:05 AM.
Blasting cabinet recommendations
). Mine is the larger floor model, not the table top one. It has a connection on the side that I connect my shop vac to that helps keep the dust out of the air, and I still usually wear an N95 mask also (I use those for my woodworking dust also), I might investigate the Lowes gun that Slapjack9 mentioned, but the one that comes with it seems to work ok. It lists for $180 on their website, and you're probably aware that you can get 20-25% coupons fairly easily (sign up for their text messages via the website is an easy way to receive them).
