sand blasting questions

I got a large blasting cabinet at a yard sale for $35 last weekend, appears to be the same as the big harbor freight one. I just need to replace the glass & plexiglass (it's broken) and I'm good to go. What media would you recommend for suspension parts? Upper arms have undercoating I'd like to get off, other than that it's mostly just surface rust to remove before I paint. I'm not going to be using it on any sheetmetal, at least none that I'm fond of. Anybody know a easy reference on the web for what media works well for different applications? I did some google searches, but didn't come up with much to help me out. Thanks!
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On 2004-01-28 15:44, casadepunklife wrote:
I got a large blasting cabinet at a yard sale for $35 last weekend, appears to be the same as the big harbor freight one. I just need to replace the glass &amp; plexiglass (it's broken) and I'm good to go. What media would you recommend for suspension parts? Upper arms have undercoating I'd like to get off, other than that it's mostly just surface rust to remove before I paint. I'm not going to be using it on any sheetmetal, at least none that I'm fond of. Anybody know a easy reference on the web for what media works well for different applications? I did some google searches, but didn't come up with much to help me out. Thanks!

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Once you replace the glass or plexiglass use clear plastic sheets to protect the glass or plexiglass that you are replacing so it will last longer. If you doing aluminum like intakes use glass beads.Glass beads also work good for blasting valves where sand is too harsh. Silica sand works great on most other stuff but as for undercaoting it is best to scrape the big stuff off first as you will be there for ever trying to remove the thick stuff.

ground glass works well for susp parts.

On the suspension parts or anything that has a heavy coating like that I will either use a bench grinder with a wire wheel or a wire wheel on a 4" hand grinder then hit it with the glass bead seems to work decent for me


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I use heavy grit sand and My Sand blast cabinet takes undercoating off no Problem. I paid 1500.00 for it though big industrial unit. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bow.gif[/img]
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Hey thanks guys, that helps me out - I'll just scrape &amp; grind the undercoating off first. Clear plastic sheets sound like just the ticket for that window, I was wondering how long the glass would stay clear before I'd want to replace it again. Do you use like clear rubber static cling sheets like the window stickers that come on &amp; off real easy? Where can I get those?

Get a sheet of clear acrylic at ace, they come with the plastic on it.. And its pretty cheap, maybe could use it as the 'glass shield'???

I blast with silica sand from Home Depot ... on the side yard of my house ...

It's a Nasty A$$ job, but the blaster is cheap to begin with and it was free to me ... even my air compressor was free to me.


I am absolutely, completely, totaly, 100% ...

complaint free [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_tup.gif[/img]

Ohh ... and did I mention .. with the assistance of a broom, a dust pan and piece of screen (from a screen door) I use the same sand over and over and over until is just sort of scatters out into nothing [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
_________________
Larry Madsen
Las Vegas Nevada

55 Ford F100 project (Queenie's Truck)
67 Camaro SS350 (also Queenie's)
01 Ford F150 Lariet 4X4 (mostly Queenie's)
73 Mach1 351C, 4 speed, 4.11:1 (This one's mine, Queenie is scared of it [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: monstermach on 1/29/04 9:43am ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: monstermach on 1/29/04 9:44am ]</font>

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On 2004-01-28 21:41, MonsterMach wrote:
I blast with silica sand from Home Depot ... on the side yard of my house ...

It's a Nasty A$$ job, but the blaster is cheap to begin with and it was free to me ... even my air compressor was free to me.

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Something you all might consider when blasting, especially outside. Be aware that sand contains silicon...and the dust can REALLY do a number on your lungs. Trust me, I've been there. Had to go to the hospital because every breath took all the effort I could muster, Dr said I had some sort of illness associated with silicon....and asked if I had been in contact with a lot of sand. It takes a lot of that dust to cause it, but trust me....you don't ever want it!

Somehow I knew that would come up ...

It does every time I post on this subject [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Disclaimer: I may die young ... well realatively speaking of course.

_________________
Larry Madsen
Las Vegas Nevada

55 Ford F100 project (Queenie's Truck)
67 Camaro SS350 (also Queenie's)
01 Ford F150 Lariet 4X4 (mostly Queenie's)
73 Mach1 351C, 4 speed, 4.11:1 (This one's mine, Queenie is scared of it [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: monstermach on 1/29/04 10:15am ]</font>