Sandblasting tips?

[9 Lives]

I have a jeep I am getting towed to the house to put a cummins in. Lastnight I picked up a sandblaster so we can clean up the frame.



The compressor is a 33 gallon 6HP 6. 7CFM & 90 PSI



The sandblaster is a 10 gallon 80 lb. that needs 5. 5 CFM & 80 PSI



so my compressor seems to be stout enough but once I filled it up 3/4 of the way with black beauty material and connected the compressor to it I get nothing comming out. I checked the compressor and set it at 110PSI max as the manual says. And checked the tip to make sure it was clean & clear.



All valves were turned on and still nothing comming out once I squeeze the deadmans clamp.



Ive checked to make sure air is actually getting into the tank also. All fittings are sealed well no leaks. So far I havent been able to even get a drop out of the tip?

 

[mcsinfl]

maybe the sand is wet and/or plugging the lines?

 

[9 Lives]

I will check the lines. I made sure it was a fresh unopened 50lb. bag.

 

[ScottLewis]

This time of year, with high humidity, enough moisture condenses in the compressor and hose to wet the sand/medium and plug the nozzle even if it's dry in the tank. A moisture separator may help.



Dan

 

[9 Lives]

It was a plugged tip. I do have a moisture seperator on it allready.



The problem I have now that I have gotten it to flow is that it clogs and dosent want to flow when I have that rubber spacer between the nozzle & the handle. When I take it out it works like a dream but will only go maybe 1 minute before completly killing the tip and blowing it off. :--)

 

[sdstriper]

You sure you have the right size media for the tips? Pretty small tip would be required for that CFM. A very small one, if not the smallest. 3. 0 or 2. 5 would work on those small tips, not sure you can get the black in that grain though. And the recommendation I would have is hazardous to ones health now...

 

[sdstriper]

I read your post again. Here's a couple more things. I am assuming it is a pull up style lid on the sand pot, correct me if I am wrong. Turn your psi down to 80 psi again, if it will pressurize the tank without the lid falling open you will be ahead of the game. That is against what the manual read as you stated but here is the thing. You have a limited volume of air your working with, you will have to use a small tip because of this. All your doing when you turn the psi up is running your tank out faster. I would go with the least amount of psi I could get away with and crack that sand valve just a hair to trickle the sand into the air. May want to get some help and have them give the pot a rap with a rubber mallet now and then on your signal to get the media to fall into the air. As the others suggested moisture will be a PITA. You will not be able to just open the media valve wide open, I could be wrong but I doubt it. Your compressor is going to get hot, keep an eye on it...

 

[9 Lives]

I have noticed the cloggin is an issue. The problem I just came across was I went through one tank of media just fine. (happy at this point) bled the pressure and filled it up again. When I got ready to go I turned the bottom valve just a hair like you guys said just to get a little bit of media to flow and it was just dumping it out like the valve was wide open. Even with the valve in the off switch it was flowing wide open. So I may have a valve to replace or atleast take it off to clean it.



This project is gonna wear me out!

 

[sdstriper]

Wear

I have a smaller sand pot like that and used many others over the years. The nature of the equipment will wear everything, I got some pretty good tips from a guy on cheap or economical wear part usage. Use the large contractor sized ceramic tips, rental outfit or industrial supplier, properly sized for the avail. cfm (3/32 for your compressor). Instead of a spendy tip holder I use black pipe fittings/ adapters, works great is cheap and readily available at any farm/home/hardware stores. Cut a sliver of the abrasive hose off for the gasket in front of the tips. Guru recommended a 3/8 ball valve for the media valve on the bottom of the tank, no larger and he stressed NO LARGER. Bigger air hose to the sand pot the better, 3/4 whip I use and the shortest distance possible from the compressor to the pot on these small set-ups. I got tired of the cheapo brass valves and bought a Stainless Steal one last time at McMaster-Carr, around $15 bucks I think, haven't got to try it out yet though.

 

[OL RATLR]

I have noticed the cloggin is an issue. The problem I just came across was I went through one tank of media just fine. (happy at this point) bled the pressure and filled it up again. When I got ready to go I turned the bottom valve just a hair like you guys said just to get a little bit of media to flow and it was just dumping it out like the valve was wide open. Even with the valve in the off switch it was flowing wide open. So I may have a valve to replace or atleast take it off to clean it.



This project is gonna wear me out!

If you got one tank without stoping up you done better than me.

I have found that opening and closeing the feeder valve 2-3 times

will sometimes unstop it still a pita good luck.