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SANDBLASTERPLANS

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Theinformationcontainedinthismaterialisforreferenceonly.Theauthordoesnotassumeany

responsibilityin

regards

to

the

use

of

this

manualscontent.Inotherwordsyouthereaderareresponsibleforanyinjuryordestructionofpropertyfromtheuse

ormis-useofinformationcontainedinthismanual.

PleasenotethattheuseofsilicabasedsandcancauseaconditioncalledSilicosis.Idonotrecommendtheuseofsilicabasedabrasivesduetothisreason.Ifyouare

notfamiliarwithSilicosis,Iencourageyoutoresearchit.

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Itemsrequired:

Alotoftheseitemswilldependonwhatyouhaveavailableoronhand.Ire-usescrapmaterialswheneverpossible,sosomevariationmayberequired.Feelfreetosubstitute. TankorLPgascylinder(100poundsizeshowninpictures) I.D.Hosesuitableforpressure(usedhydraulichoseworksgreat) Miscellaneouspipe&pipefittings Qty2 Ballvalves Qty2 Ballvalve Ceramicsandblastnozzle(AvailablefromMcMasterCarr www.mcmaster.com) Wheels(HarborFreight) Axleforwheels1shaft Di-Electricunionconnector(usedforwaterheaters) WaterTrap(HarborFreight)

ThefollowingstepscontaininformationonhowIassembledapressureassistedsandblaster.Mostoftheitemsthatwereusedfortheconstructionwereacquiredfromscrapmaterials.Thesandblasterwasbuiltataverylowcost.AllsteelthatwasusediswhatIliketocallrecycledsteel.InotherwordsitcomesfrommachinerythatIhavescrappedoutorhaveboughtasrecycledsteelfromalocalscrapyard.Youwillnoticethroughouttheconstructionstepsthatsomeoftheitemsarerustyordifferentcolors.This

is

where

the

sandblaster

comes

in

handy----to

clean

all

that

stuff

up

down

to

the

baremetal,thenitwillalllooklikenewafteragoodcoatofpaint.

Thesandblasterfabricationrequirestheuseofawelder.IpersonallyrecommendusingaMIG(wirewelder)butanarcweldercouldalsobeusedifawirewelderisunavailable.Anotherusefultoolisaplasmacutter.Ihavehadaplasmacutterforseveralyearsandhaveneverregrettedbuyingone.Itmakesafastcleancutthatdoesnotgetveryhotsothatyoucanhandlethepartsrightafteryougetdonewiththecut(reallyhelpstospeedupfabricationtime).Acuttingtorchcouldalsobeifaplasmacutterisunavailable.Acuttingtorchalsodoesagoodjob,justcreatesabitmoreheatwhichtakesmoretimetocooldown.Ifatorchisnotavailable,theuseofasawzallanddrillwillbesufficient.

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Anotherusefultoolisarightanglegrindertocleanupcutedgesandareastobewelded.Ittookmearoundadayandahalftofabricatethesandblaster.AlotofthistimewasspentrummagingthroughmypipefittingpailstofindtheonesthatwouldworkbestforwhatIwastryingtoaccomplish.Asofthiswriting,Ihaverunatleast2000lbs.ofsandthroughtheblasterwithoutany

problemsatall.Istillhavenotyetpaintedtheblaster,butintendtowhenIgetdonewiththeotherprojectsthatIneededthesandblasterforinthefirstplace.

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ConcerningtheuseofanLPgascylinder.Thecylindermustbepurgedbeforecuttingintoit,regardlessofthemethodused

to

cut

itopen.

Ipurged

the

cylinder

by

filling

them

with

waterallthewayuntilitoverflows.Dumpthewateroutandrefillthetankonceagainandletitsitidleforacoupleofhourswiththewaterstillinit.

Regardingcompressorsize,Irecommendatleastatwo-cylindercompressor.MyfirstblasterwasrunbyaSanborn2cylinderthathada3HPmotor.Outputofthatunitwasaround7CFMat60PSIandlessathigherpressures.Itwaspumpingupa25-gallontankatthecompressor.Iwouldn'trecommendanythingbelowa3HPforthefullpressurizedversion,althoughsomepeoplehaveusedthemandreportedthatitworkedokay,theyjusthadtostoponceinawhiletoletthecompressorbuildupairpressure.Analternativetothisistoutilizeanauxiliaryairstoragetanktoincreasethetotalcapacityofairstorage.Thiswillallowyoutoblastathigherpressuresifneededforalongerduration.Ifyouhaveacompressorthatyoudonotknowtheoutput,most110-voltcompressorsproduceapproximately1to2CFMperhorsepower.220-voltunitswillproduce2to3CFMperhorsepower.Inormallyruna3/32"orficesizeonthenozzleforthefullpressurizedblasterversion,

this

allows

asmaller

compressor

to

be

used

(this

type

uses

the

nozzleassemblythatIsellonEbay).OncethenozzlewearsmoreCFMoutputis

required(asseeninlowertablebelow).Thepressurizedmediasystemallowsyoutochangefromfullpressuretoasiphonunitveryeasilyandquickly.Irunasiphonunitintheblastcabinet,andthefullpressureversionforheavyrustoroutsideofcabinetblastingAlthoughitisnotshowninthemanual,youshouldinstallapressurereliefvalvesomewhereeitherontheblastermediatankoronyourcompressorsothattheairpressureinthetankdoesnotexceedasafelevel.Ihaveminesetto125PSI

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anditislocatedonthecompressor.Itisnotshowninthismanualbecauseitisnotactuallypartoftheblaster.Keepinmindthattheweldsmustbeabletowithstandthepressurethatyouwillbeputtingintheblastmediatank.

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Air requirements for pressure fed siphon blaster

8CFMwith1/8"orficeat80PSI 4.5CFMwith5/64"orficeat80PSI 6CFMwith1/8"orficeat60PSI 3CFMwith5/64"orficeat60PSI

Air requirements for Full Pressure Sandblaster (C1seriesnozzles)(Thisisthestyleofnozzlethatissoldwithmynozzle/valveassembliesonebay)

1-6CFMwith3/32"orfice 7-21CFMwith1/8"orfice 22-45CFMwith3/16"orfice 46-80CFMwith1/4"orfice 81-140CFMwith5/16"orfice 141-200CFMwith3/8"orfice

Asyoucansee,airrequirementscanbeverylow,allowinguseofvirtuallyany2-cylindercompressororevensmalleraircompressors.

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STEP 1

Thefirststepistolocateatankofsomesortthatwillbesuitabletoholdaminimumof150psi.Ichosetouseanold100-poundLPgascylinder.Thesearetheoldsilveronesthatareabout15indiameterandabout40tall.Makesurethecylinderisemptyandthenremovethevalvefromthetopofthecylinder.Besurenottomakeanysparkswhenremovingthevalve,asitmaycauseanygastoignite.

Figure1Agoodcandidatetomakeasandblaster

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Step 2

PURGING & CUTTING THE CYLINDERCuttingthecylinderopen.Astrongwordofcautionhere.NeverjustcutintoanLPgascylinderwithatorch.Thecylindermustbepurgedcompletelywithwatertoremoveanyandallleftovergasfromtheinsideofthecylinder.Ifilleditcompletelywithwater2timesandthenletitsitidleforacouplehours.Regardlessofwhetheratorchorasawzallisusedtocutthetankopen,itmustpurgedwithwaterbeforecuttingopen.Thesecylindershavearimweldedtothebottomofthetanktokeepthemupright.Thisrimisnormallyflushwiththeendofthecylinderandmustberemovedaswell.Beforeremovingtherim,Iusedtherimtomeasureabout6downtomarkmycutallthewayaroundthetank.Thefollowingpictureshowsthetankaftertherimhasbeenremovedandthebottomofthetankhasbeencutoff.

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Figure2Rimandbottom6cutoffcylinder

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Figure3Anotherviewofbottomcutfromcylinderandthetopend

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Step 3 -Sandblasteroutletassembly.Thisassemblywillattachtowheretheoriginalgasvalvehasbeenremoved.Inotherwords,whatusedtobethetopofthetankwillbecomethebottomofthesandblaster.Itisconstructedofacross,2closenipples1-1/2longandabrassballvalve.Ididnothaveacrossavailableinmyassortmentoffittings,soIjustmadeonefromaTfittingandacoupler.IburnedaholeonthesideoftheTfittingandweldedinthecoupler.Icut

thecouplerinhalfsothatitwasnotsolongandIwillusetheotherhalfonthesandblasterinalaterstep.

Figure4Homemadecrosswithattachedclosenipplesandballvalve

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Step 4

Afterassemblingtheoutletassembly,itistimetothreaditintothecylinderasshowninFigure5.Itisturnedintightsothattherewillnotbeanyleaks.

Figure5Outletassemblythreadedintooriginalgasport

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Step 5 -Attachingthelegs.Thesearesimply1-3/4X1-3/4X3/16angleiron20inlength.Positiononelegonthetanksothattheendisabout3belowthesandblasteroutletassembly.Thefirstlegistackedinplacesothatitwillnotmove.Nextanangleironisclampedtothetackweldedlegata90-degreeangle.Thisclampedangleservesasabracetopositiontheotherleg.Thiskeepstheangleironsflatwitheachothersothattheaxleforthetirescanbeattached.(SeeFigure6).Thelegsaresetsothebottomoftheblastertankis8totheendofthelegs.Thisgivesalittlemoreroomthanwhatwillberequiredfortheblasteroutletassembly.

Figure6Bothlegstackedandreadyforfinalwelding.Notetheangleusedasabracetokeepthesurfacesflatwitheachother

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Figure7Rearsandblasterlegsafterfinalwelding

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Figure8Anotherviewofthelegsafterwelding12

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Step 6 -Attachingthefrontlegtothecylinder.Thefrontlegispositionedonthefrontofthecylindersothatitisthesameheightastherearlegs.Thisallowsthesandblastertobefree-standingorstationaryifdesired.Iweldedanothershort3pieceofangletothebottomofthefrontlegaswellsothatwhentheblasterisoutonthelawn,thefrontlegdoesnotsinkintotheground.

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Figure9Frontlegweldedinplace.Wheelsnotyetattached,justgettinganideaofhowwideIwantthemplaced.

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Step 7 -AirpressurizingportAportholeiscutfortheairtopressurizethetank.Iplacedmineontheright-handsideofthetank.Itislocatedabout3belowwhatiscurrentlythetopofthesandblaster.ThisiswhereIusedtheremaininghalfofthecouplerthatIusedearliertomaketheoutletassemblycross.Icutaholebigenoughforthecouplertopassthrough.Iweldedontheinsideofthecylinderfirstandthenweldedallthewayaroundthecouplerontheoutsideofthecylinder.Thisshouldensurethatitwillnotleakanyairpressure.

Figure10Airpressureportweldedinplace

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Figure11Anotherviewoftheairpressureportafterwelding

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Step 8 -AirmanifoldsystemIusedpipebecauseitismoredurablethanhoseandwilllastaverylongtime.Hose(ausedhydraulichoseisagoodchoice)couldbeusedanditisalsoeasiertoinstall.ThemanifoldsystemiscomprisedofpipeandfittingsthatIhadonhand.ThisiswhereIalsoinstalledthewatertrap.IusedonefromHarborFreightthatIhadlayingaround(themountingflangehadbrokenoffyearsago).Youcoulduseadifferentstyleoftrap,butthesearethecheapesttrapsIhaveseen.Dontneglecttousethepipeunions,thesereallyhelpwiththeinstallationofthemanifold,andwillalsobeofhelpifthemanifoldneedsto

beremovedforsomeunknownreason.Pleasenotethattheoutletassemblywillneedtobeturnedslightlytoclearthefrontleg.SeethedrawingbelowfordetailsonwhatfittingIusedforthemanifold.KeepinmindthisiswhatIhadonhandandsubstitionscanbemadetoreducepartcount.Irecommendtheuseoftheregulatorinthemanifold,asthiswillallowyoutousethe

pressurizedmediatankforthepressurefedsiphonblasterversion.Ifyoufeelthatyoumayneverusethatoption,youcanleaveitoff.Thevalueofinstallingitrightawayisthatyoucanalwaysadjusttheregulatortoaccommodateforfullpressureifyouwant.Inalaterfigure,youwillnoticethatIhavetworegulatorsattachedtothemediatank.Thisisforthepressurefedsiphonunitversion.Youcansetupyourmanifoldlikethatifyouwant,butIjustusearegulatorattheoutletofthecompressorinadditiontotheoneonthemediatank.Istronglyadvisetheuseoftworegulatorsforthesandblaster.IwillexplainthislaterinthemanualintheBlasterOperationportion.

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Figure12Lowerportionofmanifoldsystem

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Figure13Anotherviewofthemanifoldsystem,watertrap&regulatorSeefollowingfiguresforalternativemanifoldoptions

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Figure14Manifoldsystemarrangement

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Figure14aManifoldsystemarrangementwithregulator

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Step 9 -Constructingthesandtubandfillerport.TheportionofthecylinderthatwascutofffromStep2willbecomethesandtub.Aholeiscutinthetubsothatapieceof5diameter3/16wallpipeabout2longcanbeinsertedandweldedinplaceasshowninfigure15.Iuseda5diameterpipesothatifIeverneededtoreachmyhandintothesandblaster,theholewouldbelargeenoughtodoso.Asmallerdiameterpipecouldbeusedifalargeoneisnotavailable.Thepipeisweldedinthetubonbothsidesallthewayaround.Itisbesttodoacontinuousweldwhenweldingthisifpossible.

Figure15Bottomsideoftubwithsandfillerportweldedinplace

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Figure16Anotherviewofthetubwithsandfillerportweldedinplace

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Step 10 -MakingaplugforthesandfillportTomakeaplugforthesandfillerport,IusedanolddiskbladethatIhadlayinginthescrappile.Icutthebladesothatisabout2indiameterlargerthanthepipeusedforthesandfillerportthatwasweldedinplaceinStep8.Apieceofplatecouldalsobeusedifadiskbladeisnotavailable.Iwouldbesuretouseatleastathickplatesothatitdoesnotwarpwhenweldingandsothatyoucangetagoodweldwhenweldingonthesteminalaterstep.Thediskbladealreadyhadasquareholeinthecenter,whichIrecuttomakelargeenoughforthe1diameterstemtopassthrough.Ialsocutoutasmallercircleof3/16plateabout3diameterthatwillbeusedinalaterstep.

Figure17Plug(RHside)forsandfillerport.Smaller3circleshownaswell.

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Step 11 -MakingthestemforthesandportplugThestemismadefromapieceof1outsidediameterpipe3inlength.Theinsidediameterislargeenoughforapieceof5/8all-threadtopassthrough.ImadesureoneendofthepipeisgoodandsquareasIwillbeweldinganuttotheendandifitisnotsquare,onemayhavetroubleoncetheallthreadisinstalled.Agoodwaytoensurethatyoudonthaveanyissueslateristothreadanutononeendandplacethelongendthroughthepipe.Tackthenutontheendofthepipeinabout3placesaroundthenutandchecktomakesuretheall-threadturnsfreely.Nextremovetheall-threadandweldthenutontothepipeallthewayaround.Figure18showsthestemandall-threadthatIused.Imadetwoofthesestems,asonewillbeusedinalaterstep.

Figure18Stemwithweldednutandall-thread

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Step12-WeldingthestemtotheplugNowthestemwillbeweldedtothesandfillerportplug.Ifusingadiskblade,thestemgetsweldedsothatthestemisonthehumpedsideoftheblade.Weldthesteminplaceonbothsidesofthebladeorflatcircle.

Figure19Topviewofsandportplugwithstemweldedinplace

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Step 13 -CappingoffthestemTheholeinthebottomofthestemwillneedtobecappedoffusingthesmallercirclethatIcutoutinStep9(Figure17).Thiscircleisplacedontheundersideoftheplugandisweldedallthewayaroundtokeeptheairfromescapingthroughthestem

Figure21Bottomviewofsandportplugwithcapweldedinplace

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Step 14 -MakingthetightenerforthesandportplugTomakeatightened,IusedapieceofX2flat,bentasshowninFigure22.Itismadesotheinsidesofthelegsarethesamedistanceapartasthediameterofpipeusedforthesandportand3inheight.An11/16holeisdrilledinthecenterofthestrapafteritisformed.Ialsocutacoupleofgussetsforthecorners(Figure24).Thetightenerwill

beweldedinplaceoverthesandport,beingsuretocentertheholeinthetightenerwiththecenterofthesandport.

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Figure22Plugtightenerformedwithgussets

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Figure23Topofplugtightener

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Figure24Plugtightenerwithgussetsweldedinplace

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Figure25Plugtightenerweldedinplace

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Step 15 -GasketforthesandportplugTomakeagasketforthesandfillerplug,Iusedachunkofoldtiretube.Iplacedthe

plugonthetubeandtracedaroundtheplugandcuttheprofileoutwithascissors.Thencutaholeinthecenterofthegasketforthestemtopassthroughandplaceontheplugassembly.

Figure26Tracingprofileofplugontorubber

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Figure27Gasketinstalledontoplug

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Step 16 -T-HandlefortightenerNowisthetimetousetheextrastemweldedinStep10.Cutanother10longpieceofpipethatwasusedforthestem.Thispiecewillbeweldedtothenon-nutendofthestemtocreateaT-handlefortheplugtightener(Figure28).Nextthreadthe5/8allthreadintotheplugstem.Placetheplugstemupthroughsandport(beingsuretohavethegasketplacedontheplug)andtheall-threadthroughthetightenerhole.Nextthreadanextra5/8hexnutontotheallthread.ThenutwillbelockedagainsttheT-handle,whichisinstallednext.AdjustT-handlesothatwhenyouturntheT-handleeverythingistightandthegasketsealsgood.LockthehexnutagainsttheT-handle.

Figure28T-handlearrangement

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Figure29Plug,gasketandT-handleinstalled

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Figure30Bottomviewofthesandtubassembly34

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Step 17 -WeldingthesandtubinplaceTheinsideofthecylindershouldbecleananddrybeforeplacingthesandtubinplace.Placethesandtubinplaceasshown(Figure31).Iplacedminesothatthetightenerinthetubwasorientedin-linewiththefrontlegoftheblaster.Tapitdownwithahammerabittogetagoodtightfit.Asseeninthepicture,itshouldfitprettytight.Measurefrom

thetopofthesandtubtothetopofthecylinderandmakesurethatitisthesamedistanceallthewayaround.Nextbesurethesandplugislooseandtackthetubwellsothatitdoesnotmove.Nextweldthetubinplaceallthewayaround.Trytogetagoodweldwithnopinholes,asthesepinholeswillneedtobefixediftheyleakair.

Figure31Sandtubreadyforwelding

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Figure32Sandtubweldedinplace

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Step18-Wheelsandaxles(optional)Theblasteriswellonitswaytocompletion.Wewillnowinstalltheaxleandthewheels.Igotthewheelsfromwww.harborfreight.com.Theyarequiteinexpensiveandworkquitewellformanyprojects.Theinsidediameterofthebearingsis5/8.Ifyouhavesomeotherwheelslyingaround,youcouldusethemaswell.Asfortheaxle,Ihaveametallatheintheshopanddecidedtoturna1diametershaftdownto5/8ontheends.Thewheelsarespaced17fromeachothermeasuredontheinside.Thisallowedfor

prettygoodstabilityoftheblaster.Beforeweldingtheaxletothelegs,Iplacedapieceofflatundereachlegtospaceitoffthefloorabit.ThenImadesurethetireswerefilledwithrecommendedairpressure.Simplyrolltheaxleassemblyagainstthelegs,centerfromsidetoside,clampandweldinplaceonbothsides(top&bottom)oftheaxle.

Figure33Axleweldedinplace

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Step 19 -ThehoseForthehose,Iusedainsidediameterhydraulichose.Ididnthaveonelyingaround,soIpurchasedanewone.Thispartwasthemostexpensivepartofthewholeblaster.I

boughta16-footlonghosesothatIhadplentyofhose.Ifyouhavesomeshorthoseslyingaround,youcouldcouplethemtogetheraswelltogetthelengththatyouwant.Youwillneedareducerattheblasteroutlettoattachthehose(Figure35).IalsouseahydraulicswiveltoallowquickdisconnectingoftheblasthosesothatIcanswitchovertothesiphonunitveryquicklywithouthavingtokeepturningthehosetoremoveitfromthethreads.

Figure35Hoseattachment

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Figure36Anotherviewofthehoseandnozzleassembly

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Step 21 -Nozzleholder/BlastEndThereareseveraloptionsthatyoucandoinregardstotheblasternozzleandholder.Afterlookingatthedifferentnozzlesthatareavailable,Idecidedtogowithalargeceramicnozzle.TheseareavailablefromMcMasterCarrorIhavethemavailableaswell.Theirwebsiteiswww.mcmaster.com.Thenozzleisthesameaswhatisusedonthedeadmanstyleofholders.Thedeadmanvalveassemblyisquiteexpensiveandtherubberblocksontheenddonotlastaverylongtime.Thereareothernozzlesandholdersavailablebuttheytooaddafairamountofcosttothesystem.TheassemblythatIhavecomeupwithisacheaperalternative.

Theholderiscomprisedofabrassballvalve.Thecheapestonethatyoucanfindisthebest,asthisisthepartthatwillwearoutintime.Minecostabout$5whichischeaperthanasetofthereplacementrubberblocksforthedeadmanvalveandwilllastmuchlonger.Oneoftheseballvalveswilllastforatleast5000sand-poundsworthofblasting.

NextisamodifiedDi-electricconnector(about$4).Thesecanbefoundatmosthomeimprovementcentersintheplumbingdepartment.Irecommendtheoutletwiththepipethreadsontheotherend.Theycomewiththebasepartaswellasalargenutalongwithabrasssleeveandaplasticbushing.Thebrassandplasticpartswillnotbeusedforthisassembly.TheveryfirstonethatImade,Ijustfiledoutthediameterofthelargenutsothatwhenthenozzlewasinsertedthroughtheholeinthenut,thenutmadesufficientengagementwiththethreadsonthebase.ThisworkedprettywelluntilIboughtanothersupplyofceramicnozzleswhichhadaslightlysmallerdiameteronthelargeend.Inthiscase,thenozzlenowpassedallthewaythroughtheholeinthenut.Irecommendusingametallatheortakingittosomeonethathasoneandhavingthemcuta.375deepdepressioninthenozzlefaceandmodifythenutinsidediametertowhatisshowninFigures37&38.Ihavefoundthistobethebestmethodandhavehadnoissueswithitwhenchangingnozzles.Thenozzleisnotsupposedtopassthroughthenut,

butratherthetaperistobeengagedintheholetowardthelargerendofthenozzle.AttachthenozzleholderassemblyasshowninFigure36usingareducertogofromthethreadsonthehosetothethreadsoftheballvalve.Ihavefoundthissetuptoworkthebestinregardstowearontheballvalve.Aballvalvewillwearmorequicklyduetotheholethroughtheballvalvebeingsmallerthanthevalve.Besuretoassemblethecoupleronthecorrectsideoftheballvalvesothattheleverdoesnotgetinthewayincaseyouneedtoremovethenozzle.

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Figure34Blastnozzleassembly

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Figure37 Di-Electricconnectormodifications

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Figure38Di-Electricconnectornutmodifications42

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Step 22 -FinishedSandblasterNowthesandblasteriscompleteandreadyforuse.Besuretousedrysandormediainyour

sandblaster.

This

is

very

important

so

that

the

blaster

does

not

clog.

Alsomakesurethatyourmediaissiftedtoremovelargechunksofdebristhatmaybepresentifyoureusethemedia.IfIaminabind,Iusuallygotothelocalbuildingsupplystoreandbuysandblastsand,butInormallygotothelocalcreekbottomandloadupsomesandfromthere.Ispreaditoutonacouplesheetsofplywoodonanicesunnydaytomakesureitdriesoutcompletely.ThenIsiftitthroughasiftermadefromanoldwindowscreen.Thewindowscreenworkswellforanozzlesizeof3/32whichiswhatInormallyuse.Istartwiththe3/32nozzleandovertimeitenlargestoabout3/16whichiswhenInormallyreplaceitforsand.Ifyouuseanothertypeofmedia,youmaystillbeabletousethewornnozzleasitdependsonparticlesize.Blaster operation

Ihavearegulatorinstalledonmycompressor.Isetthisregulatortowithin10PSIofwhatthekick-inpressureisforthecompressor,otherwiseyouwillnoticethatalargeincreaseinpressureattheblasterwillgreatlyaffectyourblastervalvesettings.Thisissomethingthatalotofpeopledonotrealizeandtheyeitherdontusetheregulatorcomingoffthecompressor,ortheysetitatthemaxpresurethecompressorwillputout.Thebigproblemthattheythenencounteristhesurgingasthepressurevaries,andtheythenbegintogetfrustratedastheychangethefeedsettingsontheblastertoaccommodate

for

the

pressure

changes.

They

then

find

that

as

the

pressure

increasesagain,theyencounterthesameprobemandonceagain,theyarefrustrated.Besureto

usearegulatorcomingoffthecompressorandadjustittowithin10PSIofIfyouhaveneverusedasandblasterbefore,thenhereareafewpointersFirstoff,makesuretheballvalveattheblasteroutlet(atthebottomoftheblaster)isintheoff

positionbeforefillingwithmedia.FilltheblasterwithmediaandturntheT-handletoclosethesandportshaketheT-handlefromsidetosidetoremoveanymediathatmayhavecollectedonthegasket.Ihaveaballvalveinstalledbeforethewatertrap;thisshutsoffallairtotheentiresystem.Hookuptheairsupplyhosetotheblasterandthenturnontheballvalvetoallowairintotheblasterandhose.Adjusttheregulatoronthemanifoldsothatnotfullpressureentersthemediatank.Thisregulatespressuregoingintothetankpressureport(notinthewholemanifold).Withthisconfiguration,youcansettheregulatortocontrolthepressuregoingintothetanktobelessthanwhatthepressureinthemanifoldis.Airfromthemanifoldbeingatahigherpressurewilltrytogotowherethereislowerpressure,whichisupthroughthe

blasteroutletandintothetank.Theadvantageisthattheoutletwouldalwayshaveair43

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flowingthroughitkeepingtheportopenincasethatonehasputdampsandintotheblaster.Dampsandtendstocakeupandrestrictsandflow.Thetankpressureneedstobeadjusteddependingonthemediatypethatyouareusing.Ifyougetthepressuresetforamediatype,youmaywanttowriteitdownsothatyoucansetthepressureatthatsettingthenexttimeyouuseit.Inormallyrunthisregulatorabout5PSIbelowthepressurefromthecompressorandadjustitfromthere.Toolowofpressureinthemediatankwillresultinasurgingeffectofsandexitingthenozzle.Thisduetotheairinthemanifoldrushingintothemediatanktoequalizethepressuredifferential,insteadofthepressureinthetankpushingmediaintothemanifold.

Next,openthenozzlevalvetoallowairthroughthehose.Thisshouldeitherbefullyopen,orfullyclosed(inaquickmovement)...neverpartiallyopen/close,asthatwillacceleratewearoftheballvalve.Afteropeningthenozzlevalveandairisrushingout,opentheballvalveattheblasteroutlet(bottomofmediatank)toallowsandintothehose(pressurizedairstream).Dontopenitalltheway,astoomuchsandwillalsocausethesystemtosurge.UsuallyIopenitabouthalfwayorless.Abouthalfwayshoulddothetrick(nosetinstonerule...whateverworks,thatisthesettingtostickw/orreadjustnear).Nowsandshouldbecomingoutthenozzleitmaytakealittletimeforthehosetofill.Ifnosandcomesout,givetheoutletaslighttaptogetthesandmoving.Adjusttheballvalveuntilyougetagoodsteadystreamofairandsandcomingout.Togetagoodblasttoremoveheavyrust,youwantalotofairpressureatthenozzleandtherightamountofsand.Youshouldjustbarelybeabletoseethesandcomingoutofthenozzle(similarinappearancetosteamcomingoutofateakettle).Thebestsettingisrightbeforethesandstartstosurgecomingoutofthenozzle.Ifyouopenthesandoutletvalveuntilitstartstosurgeandthenbackoffalittle,youwillattainthebestblast.Ifyouarejustremovingpaintorlightrust,thenyoucanadjusttheairpressuredownalittle.Itwilltakealittletimetogetusedtoadjustingthepressureandvalves,butonceyoufindthatsweetspotyoucansetitthesameeverytimeyouusetheblasterandattaingreatresults.

Fromhereitisprettysimple,justpointatwhatyouwantcleanedandblastawayremembertouseproperprotectivegearasthesandcandosomeseriousdamagetoexposedflesh!Theuseofarespiratorisalsorecommended.

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Pressure Fed Siphon sandblaster

Myveryfirstsandblasterwasasimplesiphonfeedunit.Itworkedokay,butalwayshadthatsurgingeffectasittriedtoPULLsandthroughthehose.Tocurethat,Imadeapressuretankoutofanoldmilkingvacuumtank.Withthisdesign,sandisPUSHEDuptotheblastnozzle.Thattankhadaremovablelid,whichhadagasketandaclamptoholdthelidandgasketon.Ihavesincerobbedpartsoffmyoriginalsystem,asithasbeen20yearssinceIhaveuseditandmovedtothelargeunitdescribedabove.Withthissystem,Ihad2regulatorstoadjustthepressureasseenintheaccompyaningdiagrambelow(oneoftheseregulatorscouldbeattachedtothecompressorlikemineis).Thefirstregulatorissetat50-60PSIandthesecondregulatorissetto5-10PSI.In

betweentheregulatorsisat-fittingandahosethatrunstothesiphonfeedsandblastheadatwhatusedtobethefeedtube.Theoriginalfeedtubehasbeenreplacedwithahosenipple(brass)whichallowedthesandtogothroughbetter.Afterthesecondregulator,thereisanotherT-fitting.Fromthisfitting,thereisahosethatrunsdowntothebottomoftheblasttankandconnectstothecrossfitting.Thisallows5-10PSIairtoflowthroughthecrossandPUSHsandthroughthehoseanduptothesiphonsandblastheadwhereitcanbeblastedoutthenozzlewiththe50-60PSIairsupply.

Thistypeofsystemhasseveraladvantagesandwouldworkgreatforasandblastcabinet.Thissystemneverreallycanclogduetolargedebrisinthemedia,unlessthemediaislargeenoughtopluganyofthefittings.Withthissystem,thesandmovesthroughsandfeedlineallthetime,sowhenyouare

notblasting,andsetthegundown,sandcontinuestofeedoutthenozzle.Notabigproblem

inside

of

ablast

cabinet,

but

will

cause

the

loss

of

sand

ifyou

are

blastingoutsideofacabinet.Youcancurethisbyaddinganadditionalvalveinthesandfeedline

neartheblastgun.Youwouldneedtoshutitoffwheneveryouarenotblasting.Youcanuseprettymuchthesamestepsdescribedearliertobuildapressurefeedunitforyoursiphonblaster,justsetituplikethediagrambelowandblastaway.Youdonthavetousethefirstregulator(setto50-60PSI)ifyoudontwant,butitwillallowmorecontrolofblastingpatterns.Ifyouhaveablastcabinet,thathasasiphonunit,justbuildthepressuretank,hookituptothesiphonunitandgiveitatry.itdoesworkgreat!

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Originalsandblasterremnants,thisunitisabout22yearsold.alotofpartshavebeenrobbedfromit,butthebasicsarestillthere.Putafewregulatorsbackonit,someairinthetiresanditwouldbereadytoblastagain.

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Thisisthesiphonblastingunitfrommyoriginalpressurefedblaster

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Acloserview52

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Originalfittingreplacedwithhosenipple.Thehoseisaclearhosealthoughyoucanttellanymore.ThiswassothatIcouldseethesandmovingthroughthehose.Itoriginallycamewitharubberhose,but

wasntbutayearortwoandthatbasicallycrackedtopieces.Thisiswhereyoucanusethatoldairhosethatgotaholeinitifyouwouldlike.

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Swivelonthecrossatthebottomofmediatank.Thisallowsforeasyswitchingbetweenthesiphonfeedsystemandthefullpressureblastsystem.

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