Media Consumption

R

rossta86

I am currently blasting with crushed glass 40/70 medium grit. I blast at about 50 psi using a pot blaster that holds a little more than 50 pounds of media and an Ingersol Rand compressor more than capable of keeping up with the blaster. My nozzle size is 3/16".

Over the past two days i have blasted 2 fenders, a dashboard and and about half of a door (all from a late 70s ford truck). The fenders had already been stripped for the most part with a DA so i just used the blaster to get the tight areas and some problem spots with surface rust.

I have used about 500 pounds (10 50# bags) to get to this point. Yes there was a bit of a learning curve and i did waste at least a bag or two just getting the valve positions worked out right. Is this "normal" amount of material? How much material are others using for say a fender or even a whole car (without reclamation)?

- Ross
 
I honestly didn't think i would consume that much without reclaiming it. My next attempt i will surely have a tarp layed down with a shop vac and a screen. I guess a helper would be nice too.......
 
your using far too much media and pressure. turn down to 35 lbs and shut the media down to just a trickle .
 
Thanks for the tips!

Does anyone have an estimate (I know there are alot of factors here) on what it would take to do a full vehicle (your choice as to which one) with reclaiming the media?

Thanks - Ross
 
I was able to reuse a 5 gal bucket of the green diamond I use about 5 times before it was so dusty I said screw this... It still worked I just didn't want to mess with it. I'd still go 3x for sure, but this was sand. You media may very.
I couldn't get mine to flow at Shines pressure but did get it down to a trickle of media @ about 50 lbs and that lasted a lot longer per sift. I just vac'ed it up and dumped it on a 4x4 window screen on 5 gal buckets on a tarp to reload...
 
when setting up a blaster the first thing is pressure . set it first keeping in mind the pressure in the hose must equal the pressure in the pot. then you slowly open the media valve. it takes approx 2 min for it to start to work or respond to a change . my big rig runs at 35 , 1 1/4 hose 3/8 tip . i keep the media to a minimum and it actually works better . good luck.
 
shine;23541 said:
when setting up a blaster the first thing is pressure ... it takes approx 2 min for it to start to work or respond to a change .
Click to expand...

Shine that right there is the nugget that makes the difference between experience and impatient inexperience such a cool place to cross on this forum. I can think back to just that moment and remember after about 30 or 40 sec's going "Eh' it doesn't work give it some more..."
I lived in Vegas for a stint back in 70 and learned all about 'luck' from the son of Cesar's Palace Pit Boss...
My luck was find this forum in the first place.
 
Thanks Shine and NoobDude for the advice. I'm guilty of "this isn't working, must need more pressure........" Patience is a virtue that i certainly have not mastered yet! I'll keep these tips in mind the next time i blast.
 
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