Make, model, cfm, psi.

Gravity feed vs pressurized.

What's a realistic minimum?

 

How fast...er, I mean, how much do you want to spend, Grump? $500 or less? $1000 or less? :D

My opinion is that you should not go below five horspower for your compressor. Ideally, you are looking for about 13 cubic feet at about 100-120 psi. Compressors with two stages, driven by 220V motors are needed to deliver this kind of capacity. Anything less than five horsepower severely limits the power and/or the time of your blasting. An 80 gallon reservoir is also desirable to reduce the compressor run time.

At five horsepower and above, you get into lubricated pistons and rings, and I think this feature is absolutely necessary for restoration purposes; those non-lubricated portables will not handle much continuous operation for blasting. Many recommend cast iron pumps, but you will soon find out that the cast iron pumps cost big bucks. Realistically, a compressor in your garage will not see industrial conditions; mine has an aluminum pump casing with steel sleeves. A compressor as described above is going to cost you about $800-$1500 depending on the design (cast iron vs. aluminum) and the brand. Ingersoll Rand makes a great compressor, but it will be on the high end of the $ range, and I can't justify the additional cost.

When you speak of "sandblasting", you are probably thinking of "bead blasting". Sandblasting uses a positive pressure pot, and is best for very large jobs, like the frame and birdcage, that can be done outdoors . Most of the small parts in a restoration are ideally handled in a bead blast cabinet. The available options have grown over the years, and you can get a fairly effective cabinet anywhere from $200-$1000. The cabinets on the low end of the $ scale will be smaller, and you need an idea if the largest part you need to bead blast will fit; front and rear cross-members, and wheels are probably the biggest parts you will need to blast on a corvette. Some long parts, like the Sharks' wiper door linkage, will not fit in anything but the high end blast cabinets.

Check out Tip Tools website (http://www.tiptools.com/); they sell compressors, bead-blast cabinets, and all manner of tools and equipment for restorers. Their compressor prices are pretty competitive, but you may be able to find better deals on compressors at Sam's or Home Depot, and save the freight.


[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 8:04 PM 12/26/2001]

 

Grumpy what do you plan to use it for ? I purchased a small cabinet blaster and a 5 hp comp 4.5 cfm at 90 psi (cost around 400.00 from a home center)and for little parts its works great.But most of the other parts its too small and week.If I were to do it again I would purchase a real heavy duty compressor as high cfm as I could afford.I also purchased a $100.00 gravity blaster that works excellent when connected to a heavy cfm compressor.The only thing I can say about a sand blaster is you use it more often then you think you will when you purchase it so dont cheap out like I did

 

Grumpy, I also would buy a 5hp or even better a 7.5hp. That is about the limit for household single phase power. Saw a 2 stage Ingersol Rand 7.5hp at the Home Depot for $1500, and sure am thinking about trading up from my 5hp. I agree about Tip tools, I have a model 960 and have been very pleased with it. I had a tough time talking my self into paying $1000 for a cabinet when I already had a good benchtop unit, but after 3 years, the cabinet has paid for itself many times over. Pressure feed units are very nice, but are almost impossible to find for much under $3500. The production is at least 4 times that of a siphon feed unit, and if I was doing the work for a living then I would probably make the investment. Several years ago I worked 3rd shift at a manufacturing plant that had a pressure feed unit and I would allways sneak my car parts in to clean!

:seeya

 

NORTHERN EQUIPMENT AT northerntool.com has pricing as-good or better than TP Tools WITH FREE SHIPPING (in the lower 48 states) according to their catalog.


[Modified by grumpy55, 8:02 PM 12/27/2001]

 

Grumpy,

I just purchased (actually my wife bought it for me for my Bday) a cabinet from TP not one month ago. Great service, shipping was fine...and I think the cabinet is well constructed. The model I bought is the 780 Top Load. Everything is working great on it. As always...I wish I had a bigger compressor (Sears 25 gallon, 5.5 hp) but don't we all. Included was a 25lb bag of glass bead and it worked great. All of my parts fit...incuding 8" rims..driveshafts...A-arms...everything.

As afr as the compressor...I picked this one up on clearance...got a paint gun, 3/8" air ratchet and several goodies for around $250-300. Not bad. :cheers:


[Modified by topless68, 12:51 PM 12/30/2001]