Its probably trailer mounted. That sounds like a nice little unit if you can find a sandpot to match it. Its a bit much for automotive and I dont remove all the paint anyway, just rust and sand the rest. I used one a while back, a 185 and it was a little small for the size nozzle we were using. Fine when it was revved on top but a little light when it was on the bottom. If I was doing much work it would be 225 cfm min but sounds like the price was right. I can make about 60 cfm with my stuff but could dig that 125 too.

 

Maybe it's 12.5 cfm, not 125? Even 12.5 is a lot of air... How can one increase the cfm without buying a new compressor? I think mine is 5.5 cfm@90... Twin cylinder, belt driven by a 5hp motor.
Mark

 

Mark,
You can change your pulley ratio and increase the motor HP.
This will probably work. Just don't go too far. Changing from a 2Hp to a 5HP motor is not going to increase your flow by 2.5 times. Get it? It sounds like you have a two stage compressor. Does one cylinder pump to the second cylinder and then into the tank?
KingFisher

 

dfisher, changing the pully wont give a motor more hp, it will give it more torque at lower speeds. Your motor on yours isnt 5 hp if it is making 9 cfm, its actually just a bump over 2. These are just rules of thumb and not exact calculations. 4 cfm per hp (electric) and depending on motors 5 or 6 amps at 230V per hp. I have one industrial Baldor 3hp pulls 18 right on the money. Newer lighter ones are just a touch more efficient and use about 15. have a 10hp comp, driven by a 20 hp gas engine also. You need 2 gas hp for 1 comp hp. It is a Curtiss as I remember and has a range of 650 rpm to 850 and without looking I assume they rate the cfm at max. Slower is going to mean longer life and by changing pullys it would probably run with a 16 hp at 650.

 

Most compressors have a minimum speed also that is related to the oil slinger type lubrication system. If you run them too slow they will burn up.

 

My compressor can be wired to run 220V, if that means anything...
I will have to look at the ratings on the label again, but I never said anything about 9 cfm...
Mark

 

Chicken Truck,

You might want to be careful with 125cfm and 100psi. It would probably blow a hole through sheetmetal real quick. Be good for quarter inch plate though. Also you might want to tie yourself down.

 

I'm glad people are still posting here...
This blasted sandblaster just wont carry a steady stream of sand out the nozzle! (yes, even with the compressor at a full 100 psi).
I was careful not to put too much sand over the siphon tube, and there is very little humidity in winterland Canada. Is there a modification I can do to the tube, say, drill a hole, or balogna-cut the end?
I can't get this thing to work... When it works, it works in spurts, and does great, but the stream just stops dead...
I am using coarse sand.
Mark

 

Mark,
Siphon blasters are not very consistent. They surge and pulse and eventually clog. They are cheap and you get what you paid for. Your patients is the price you truely paid. I recently bought a pressure blaster after dealing with siphon blasters for years. It is like night and day. It cost me $129 for a 40lb. blaster and it was worth every penny. Consider switching, it will save you time and sanity.
Secondly, Are you seeing any moisture related problems? Any water? Do you have traps setup? If so where? How many?
KingFisher

 

Not putting enough sand may be your problem. I have a syphon type and fill it slam full. Mine takes two bags 100lbs to fill it. When it clogs place your gun tip against your leather gloves and pull the trigger for a half second. The idea is to blow back through the syphon hose and unblock it. Are you straining your sand if not you need to be. That is the biggest pain but it has to be done especially if you recycle. I pour mine through the screen in front of a high velocity fan and let it fall about 1 1/2 feet to the screen. The air blows away all the worthless light particles and the screen catches all the heavy stuff.

I have found mine to be consistent BUT I have a true 22.7 SCFM @ 90 psi and you damn near need it all to sandblast effectively. My compressor is a 7.5 hp and pulls 30 amps when running. I had to run a 50 amp circuit just for the compressor.

I would like to try a pressure pot and see what the difference is. I'm sure it may be better as everyoone says it is.

I have a very good water trap and even on dry days I get water in it. Remember when you compress the air it heats up. If you stand near your compressor that has been running you can feel the heat radiating off it. When that hot humid air decompresses it will condense water guaranteed. I also have my air lines made up of black steel with a the proper run and drop with up risers to take air and long drops to collect water. All this is ahead of the water separator.

 

Dang, I never even thought about the moisture trap...
That will be the next step! Thanks for that info. As for buying another machine, I don't think so; I would rather make this one work as good as possible. It looks identical to Eastwood's unit, without the multiple spray holes at the top. The gun goes right in the cabinets...
Mark

 

I see a 40 lb capacity Central Pneumatic pressurized blaster on Harbor Freight for $129.99. They don't have detailed specs on this, though. It says: "Compressor requirement: 6-25 CFM @ 60-125 PSI".

What would be a minimum compressor output that works for this rig, at around 90psi?

My compressor is not that beefy. I mainly used it for nail guns when I built an addition on my house. It's a 2.5 HP Porter-Cable... I suppose I'll need to purchase another compressor if I want to get into sand blasting and painting, eh?

The wife won't like that.

Daniel

 

Man that is one heck of a pump. Anyway I'd go with a 150 to 200 lb pressure pot, that is more than what most back yarders need. With that size pot and a good sized project you will need to buy sand by the pallet. Check out www.mscdirect.com they have a couple of nice pressure pots at decent prices. I have one of theirs its a 150 lb cyclone. Works real nice. I have a 100 gal 25 cfm 175 psi pump and it just keeps up.

Later Larry

 

Yes Daniel, you will need a minimum of 5 or 6 times the machine as that PC to blast with. I see a 40# pot at TSC the other day for about 90$ or so, would work for small jobs.

 

dgp,
I own that 40# blaster. I am having huge success sandblasting fenders and hoods with it. I have a 5HP - 80 gal compressor and it keeps up just fine. The trick is, to keep a servicable nozzle on it at all times.
Good luck,
KingFisher