Pressure Sandblasting Question

[mikeperez22]

I'm getting ready to blast my frame to prepare it for paint. I'm looking into buying a pressure blaster, but I'm wondering if it will be worth it. The local shop charges about $50/hr to blast and I can buy a pressure blaster for just over $100. Does anyone know about how long it takes to blast an entire frame for a Blazer? I need to decide to either do it myself or pay someone. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[i8yrsuv]

If it was me ..pay someone... I have a large 400 lbs blaster ...and I have to rent a towable commpresser every time ..it sucks !!! You reall need atleast 20 cfm .... 30 cfm will work good !!!

 

[mikeperez22]

I have a huge air compressor. So that won't be a problem. I just want to know how long it will take. Are we talking 2 hours, 3, 4, etc...

 

[seabass44]

My Uncle has had his own commerical blasting buissness for 25+ years.
here is the deal. You will end up using 10-20X the amount of sand with a small home unit.
He can blasdt a frame with 1-2 100# bags in short time. His 1st frame with a little rink dink blaster back in the 70s took 20 + bags of sand!
and trust me, your home compressor is not putting out enough to be efchint /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif(bad spelling I know) enough. Best just pay to get it blasted. /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

 

[84gmcjimmy]

I'm doing mine with a sandblaster I got for 20 bucks /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif I just need sand, gloves, and a respirtor and im set /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

 

[JK5]

I have a pressure blaster and a 7 HP compressor...

I just use it on stuff...that is hard to send out...

My buddy Marvin has a 200 Hp compressor..
and a pressure blaster that holds 1 cubic ton of sand..
with a 1/2" orfice....

With my blaster...it takes 3 times longer to blast.

Most of the time...I find it cheaper..to just send it out!!!

 

[rubbinz raczn]

mine took 6-8 hours it sucked! if you gotta pay someone 100 or 200 bucks and it is done. pay the man1 /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif

 

[gravdigr]

My setup (125cfm @ 100psi compressor and pressure blaster using crushed silica and 1/4" nozzle) Can do a bare frame in 1-2 hours depending on the preparation. If the frame comes to me with a thick coating of grease and funk it will take much longer so here's a tip. Before sending a part out to your sandblaster make sure it is clean. Wash any caked mud and grease off. I can cut blasting time and in so diong your cost down a lot. Now if your sandblaster is using industrial grade aluminum oxide and a 220psi blaster he will cut through anything on the frame and have it done in 45 mins give or take.