A buddy of mine let me have his sandblaster, it's a syphon style, where it's basically a bucket with a tapered bottom. The air line runs to the handle in the gun and the abrasion hose runs to the tip.

My question is this, has anyone ever used this type before? I'm thinking that since it's not a pressurized setup that it will work like crap. I'd also like to set up a deadman valve for it but it seems like it will just make a mess if i attempt this.

Anyway let me know what you guys think, i figure what the heck it's free, i'll try it.

 

I've used something like this years ago to blast some tire rims, it took awhile but it got the job done. Basically this is just a cheap siphon blaster, which is the same concept my Eastwood media blast cabinet uses. The efficiency is still limited my the compressor being used and the siphon design. My pressure blaster is set up with a dead-man valve because the system is at high pressure up to the valve (gun), but this type of valve is not necessary for a syphon blaster setup. If the setup you have now does not have an air trigger on the siphon gun, then that would be a good upgrade. TP Tool has some good siphon blasting accessories.

 

Neighbor uses a cheap siphon setup, hose running to a bucket type, with compressor that puts out about 6.5 cfm, has its limitations but seems to work okay. I Purchased a cheap pressure blaster and happended to come by a blasting cabinet, added an extra hole for the pressure blaster hose and it works great, if it were not for having a small shop compressor. With regards to the cabinet, and or, siphon blaster, as Cujo noted, you can upgrade thru TP tools. There are couple different size siphon guns depending upon compressor output. With regards to my pressure blaster, I found Harbor Freight carries the same 'dead man' valve that came with my pressure blaster so when ever they have a sale I pick up couple extra. Suggest checking around for local media supply, it can get expensive for shipping cost.

dave

 

I will be upgrading the gun for sure. It's quite corroded and wore out. After a good cleaning i might run 50lbs. through it to see how it goes. How far would 50lbs. go do you think? I'm sure my compressor setup is around 10cfm @100 psi. I'll be blasting the undside of the bed of my truck and what media is best for cleaning up some rust and old paint? I was thinking walnut shells but what i'm readingis that it's not very good on rust removal. Aluminum oxide maybe? What do you guys use and since i don't have a cabinet is there any way to re-use the media? I know you have blasted your frame in your driveway Cujo, do you just throw it away or re-use it?

 

When I blast in my driveway I use dry "Play Sand" and I will sweep it back up and screen out the debry into a large bucket to be reused. I may recycle the sand 3 to 4 times before I toss the stuff. I did my truck cab with 3 or 4 80lb bags of sand and recycled as necessary using my pressure blaster setup.

 

the blasting itself should clean out the gun


Ray

 

Suggest setup some type of recovery system, perhaps tarps, or something simular. Would think 50-100 #'s should be enough, depends on how much able to recover, perhaps more knowledgeable member can advise. If siphon gun has replaceable nozzle, found replacing worn nozzle will slow the use of media. I used glass bead, and alum oxide, found manufacturers use different codes for grading media. I used a fine grit which appears as a fine power. Found the coarser media tended to clog at nozzle. Blasted inside of cab on 65 F100 and miserable for couple of days. Can't over emphasis need for wearing protective gear, media gets into every oriface imaginalble to the human body. Suggest wearing a hood, gloves, eye protection, and type resporation used for painting.

dave

 

I wear a tyvek suit, heavy rubber gloves, blast hood, and 3M respirator while I blast. People who've seen me blasting in my driveway, have said I look like a member of a Haz-Mat team. It gets pretty hot in that get-up on a hot summers day, but you don't want to mess around breathing that dust into your lungs. Dust from sandblasting has been shown to cause silicosis, which is nothing to take lightly.

 

As long as you are not blasting an entire vehicle, I think you will find it quite handy. I have one that I am using for spot blasting and it is working out quite well. I have about 16 CFM worth of compressor though.

Many of them have different size ceramic nozzles available so that you can size the nozzle to your compressor volume.

Good luck,

 

I did an entire boat with one, worked pretty good just make sure you sift the play sand first.


Ray

 

Dude you really get that much CFM? I have the same setup i never thought 16cfm though...How do you calculate CFM with 2 compressor? Just add it up? I figured it would be more of a ratio.

Anyway, from what i've been reading i guess they clog fairly easily so i hope to find a local place that has media, and hopefully get the correct size media as well.

For the underside of the bed i'm looking at surface rust and old paint...What would you guys suggest with this setup?

 

This is what I use to keep my blaster from getting clogged up:

http://www.tptools.com/p/9,47_Abrasi...er-Screen.html

Another thing that causes clogging is moisture in your air system.

 

I hear ya on the moisture, i have a descicant filter and water trap just before the hose output. I'm still in the process of running the black pipe, just like TPTools. Here at work we get "Thank You" gift certificates for going above and beyond. I just cashed 6 of those puppies in for Home Depot to finish up my air system...

I'm going to try the play sand, and pick up a sifter...thanks for the input so far. I'm learning a ton. I still would really like to get a PA Blaster system so i guess in my mind i almost hope this doesn't work that great... Everything I've read suggests that the PA Blasters are much more efficient and take a lot less time. We shall see... I have my eye on a badboy blaster system with regulator and mix capabilities...

 

Pressure media blasters are indeed more efficient at removing rust and paint as compared to siphon style blasters. I tend to blast in my media cabinet unless the item is too large for the cabinet. The reason being is there is a lot of set up and clean up time associated with my pressure blaster. As you know I do my pressure blasting in my driveway, so the weather is a consideration. To setup for pressure blating I use a pallet to hold the smaller parts, so I don't blast away my driveway sealer. I need to drag out the hose, sand, Pressure blaster, sifting screen and I need to place a rolled up tarp under the garage door to keep the sand out of the garage and not pinch the air line that is coming out of the door. Now I need to get into my "Haz-Mat" suit and I have to take off my glasses, since they fog up inside of the blast hood. Speaking of the blast hood, I also need to prepare a bunch of plexiglass replacement windows, so they can be replaced when I can no longer see through them. When I'm done I then need to clean up all the sand and drag all the equipment back into the garage. I do this by first sweeping up all the sand into big piles and then scoop up the sand and sift it through my screen stup, so I can reuse the sand in the future. After the sweeping, I then shop-vac the entire driveway, so the sand does not get dragged into the house. You also have to keep in mind where the dust goes when you blast, hopefully not in your or your neighbors open windows and don't forget to move all the cars away from the blast area. I move our cars ~ 50ft away and they still get dust covered. Things would be much easier if I had an isolated indoor area dedicated to pressure blasting, but no such luck.
This is why I like to use my media cabinent when possible. No setup, cleanup, or suit required. Just place the item in the cabinet, close the door, turn on the vacuum/light and blast away.

 

I'm looking at all of this mess anyway, I don't have a blast cabinet nor the room to have one unless i kick my wifes car out of the garage...there's a thought.

The siphon blaster is the same setup as a PA blaster only it's siphon.