Sandblasting gun

[DogwoodTales]

Just fishing for recommendations on sandblasting kits.
I have an air compressor, so do I really need a full kit with a tank?
I don’t have a lot to do so don’t want to break the bank on this, but also don’t want to go too cheap on this and sacrifice too much performance and time either.
First job on the list is to sandblast years and layers of paint off the rod iron on my front porch. That might require some basic paint stripper first.
Anyway, thanks for the recommendations.

[fredhargis]

Years ago I had a Craftsman sanding blasting setup. Bought in the early 80s when I bought my compressor. This one had  a steel nozzle and I used it several times. The steel nozzles wear quickly with the sand going through them. There was a ceramic one available that I never bought, but the last much longer. The biggest problem i ad was with the air compressor. The compressor was also a Craftsman, rated 5HP (240V) with a 24 gallon tank.  While this is quite good for most home use (I still have it and it works great)  the sand blasting made it run a lot. The blaster uses a lot of air, and I was waiting for the compressor to catch up a fair amount of time. So my advice is to check the CFM demands of whatever blasting equipment you're considering and if this is an extensive job, rent a compressor to power it. At least that will keep you from burning up your own unit. BTW, the blasting setup I had had a plastic media container with a neck strap that was labeled as "portable". The hose was maybe 5-6' long and the idea was to wear the tank and go along doing your work. Such a thing might be just the ticket for what you want to do.

[CARYinWA]

I the one where you stick the hose in your media and it siphons it out.  Cheap and easy to store.  I haven't used it in years and seem like an idea solution for a seldom used tool.  I will add that you do not want to use sand.  Silica dust is bad for your lungs.  I will also add that baking soda will kill grass.

[Allen]

You need to match the CFM of your compressor to what sandblasting unit you want. You need to have enough capacity to run your blaster efficiently. It should be listed in the specs of the blaster as to what is required. You can use other mediums than sand depending on what you are cleaning.

Al

[kencombs]

Just fishing for recommendations on sandblasting kits.
I have an air compressor, so do I really need a full kit with a tank?
I don’t have a lot to do so don’t want to break the bank on this, but also don’t want to go too cheap on this and sacrifice too much performance and time either.
First job on the list is to sandblast years and layers of paint off the rod iron on my front porch. That might require some basic paint stripper first.
Anyway, thanks for the recommendations.

Sand (or other media) blasting takes lots of air.   My 15CFM just keeps up.   If the iron parts can be removed, I'd opt for stripper.   Make a 'vat' using 2xs and plastic sheet to hold them and strip with a cheap stripper, like lye and water or oven cleaner.   If you have a pressure washer, it works well with that type of stripper.

Once that's done a quick blast with the air/sand or something will provide a paint-ready surface.  BTW,  I've settled on Black Beauty from Tractor Supply as my media.

[MstrCarpenter]

Check out YouTube videos for modifications on that siphon type sandblaster. Dry media and dry air are also required.

[DogwoodTales]

Thanks for the information to all! Okay, so I'll look into the CFM that my compressor can provide consistently and go from there and see what I can get for the best match. Maybe I'll just end up renting or buying a dedicated unit after all.

As for that iron I have on my front porch, it is not removeable. It's holding up the porch roof! There is an excellent paint stripper that I've used from the Cincinnati Color Company, I think it's just called Product 17, that is a nice, viscous paint stripper that holds well to vertical surfaces. I've used it before and it works really well. I just used some of it the other day to strip some old paint and it worked very well - even being 15 years old! If I can't find that or something like that closer to me, then I'll make the drive to down town and get some of that.

[Hank Knight]

Ditto what everybody else said. I bought the cheap one that has a tube you simply stick down into a bucket of media and pull the trigger. The air demand is huge, but it works. One tip: wear a respirator and a pair of goggles that completely seal to your face. The first time I used mine, I wore a plastic eye shield that had air vents in the sides. I spent a hellish night and several hours the next morning with my ophthalmologist while he picked sand grains out of my eyes, one by one. The sand flies everywhere in every direction. Who knew?

[DogwoodTales]

Looks like my portable compressor won't keep up with the guns I'm finding. The guns are 7 scfm at 90 psi and my 6 gallon compressor is 4 at 90 psi.
However, I do have a 25 gallon compressor that I'm refurbishing. The old tank had a hole, but the air pump is still good so I got another 25 gallon tank used. If that all comes together okay, then I should have the scfm I need from that unit.

When I do anything that will have the air quality effect that a sand blaster will have around my face, I put on my full face respirator that I have. It completely seals off my face and eyes, even with a beard. Sometimes I'll put some lotion or Vaseline on my beard to get a better seal if needed. Works well.

thanks guys!

[Z28Doug]

Picking a sandblast compressor,

 Go to Depot,Menard's or Harbor Freight. Find the largest air compressor they sell, your going to need 2. Yes 2, it takes way more air than you think.

Have eaten a lot of sand over the years and it's not fun. Now-days we send our metal  patio furniture, car parts, rear axles, frames, or the whole car shell out
to be acid dipped. A place near me also offers the option to have the parts or car dipped in epoxy primer ( E-coated) after dipping it.