DIY Sand Blasting

[mk1matt]

ok ive had a look on the net at the clarke and sealey hand held sand blasters for about £20 does any one have any of these and if so which is the better one to get or are the worth it at all. im going to use it for cleaning the underside in all the areas i cant get to with a wire wheel on a angle grinder.

[escort21]

One thing i know is they make a fooking mess....as the're not enclosed

[Long Tall Sally]

O YES... Jay did the Mexico 3 years ago and I am still finding the dust....

[Chris!]

we've got an enclosed one, and a erm non enclosed one

The enclosed one is crap because you cant see what your doing, and the others crap because its not that powerful, we have the biggest compressor you can get but its still not brilliant!

The glass beads or sand etc is quite expesnsive and doesnt last long

[GT_Jim]

we had an enclosed one at college it makes working on things so much easier. that and a parts washer

[V8ian]

I am fairly certain that sand has been banned as a dry blasting Medium, due to its toxicity when airbourne, I think it causes Silicosis, a Lung disease,

It is still used I beleive if mixed with water, which dampens the dust. but is a pain when blasting the underside of a car or any corrodable item for that matter,

If you can get an other type of Medium, use it, otherwise, if you insist on using sand, do it outside with full filtered mask

[flyingbanana]

it goes every where when its not in a box ...and you end up using alot

[Twinkle]

i am using a £28 clarke one that is not enclosed and its pretty good, all i use is kiln dried sand from jewson, cheaper than beads etc

[GT_Jim]

is it true that if you filter the sand once it has been used you can use it again?

[Twinkle]

as long as it is dry shouln be a problem

[flyingbanana]

you could but more times you use it the finer it gets......i cant belive the amount that the boxes are so i made my own one

 

[Chris!]

you could but more times you use it the finer it gets......i cant belive the amount that the boxes are so i made my own one

 

we bought a box, couldnt see a thing so after bout a year off it sitting at the back off the garage i have finally thrown it out

[flyingbanana]

well got a glass top so hopefully should last a while

[GT_Jim]

im liking the home built solution

[petrolhead01]

i have a hand held blaster .. works well ... but you do get threw a lot of sand ... the best stuff for this is wickes block paving sand cheap, nice and fine and aslong as its not wet can be re-used as much as you like >> just sieve the rubbish out!! but dont forget a descent mask as this really makes breathing hard if you inhale the dust

i recomend a cool stella whilst addmiring your freshly stripped bits!!!

[allsteel]

I am fairly certain that sand has been banned as a dry blasting Medium, due to its toxicity when airbourne, I think it causes Silicosis, a Lung disease,

 

Your dead right there. I was recently told this by a abrasive medium supplier and he also explained the Sillicosis disease.Its something to do with broken sand particles which have sharp edges getting lodged in the lungs and can make breathing difficult in later life.Nasty!!

 

The point is NOT to use building sand for sand blasting especially outside in the open air.

Use a manmade abrasive medium.

 

Blasting cabinets should have an extractor system fitted.It helps you see what your doing while your blasting.

 

cheers.

[crapichris]

a couple of cans of chilli beans and a bag of sharp sand works for me

[mk1matt]

thanks everyone for the advice ive got a very good mask that i use for spraying and good goggles and stuff so health and safety wise im sorted think i might get the clarke one and see what happens and loving the cold beer after idea got a good stock of that allready

 

also i got my engine ordered today st170 lump on its way.

[Nettles]

Once you’ve brought your blaster mate try loading it up with crushed walnut shell as a blasting medium. It’s a lot more forgiving on bodywork than using sand or glass beads and it doesn’t generate as much heat.