Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[jddevel]

Thinking of investing in a sand blaster to help with my car renovation, not bodywork, but chassis, axle etc. Would one of those 10 gallon. items advertised do the job or do I need to go bigger? Also any recommendations for degreasers?
Regards JD

[Old Wrench]

Effective sandblasting of larger components is all about grunt!

As with most things connected with engineering.

Personally, I would always go with the pressure feed type and you need a pretty hefty compressor which can honestly deliver sufficient air capacity at higher pressure.

For example:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cpsb100-pressurised-sandblaster

It is critical to thoroughly degrease the component beforehand: OK, grit will- eventually - remove the gludge; but why make life difficult?

A decent pressure washer is essential: as is an area for washing down, where suitable drainage can deal with scummy water and sludge.

Look out for the large LAVOR: mine came from Lidl, of all places (Now lives in France) and cost the princely sum of £69.00!

Or, go for the entry end petrol-powered washer; they do not overheat after ten minutes of continuous use and switch off to avoid burning out the motor.

For degreasing: I cannot really see the point of these twee degreasing tanks with a small pump.

Smaller components can be easily immersed in an old large kitchen bowl or a redundant baby bath (That's what our is used for and still OK now he's 45! - the ex baby!).

If you do really need to immerse larger components (gearbox casings, heads etc) then look for an old galvanised tank.

On de-greasing fluids: since Jizer, Gunk etc are now so outrageously expensive, I recently tried this, to de-grease the engine compartment of Mrs Wrench's trusty Volvo Wagon. Cheap as chips and was very effective.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-heavy-duty-degreaser-5ltr/88668

The best degreaser fluids of all are/were rather nasty: usually came in a ten gallon drum, with a fluid seal floating on the top to keep the noxious and highly toxic vapours from evaporating into the air.

We simply cut off the top, added a rim, which acted as a cover and bent bits of 1/8" welding rod into two hooks; fastened the component and immersed it in the degreaser.

I once left a Mini 850 carb, encrusted in cag, never ever been cleaned, in the bath overnight. Pulled it out the next morning to discover not only was it sparkling clean and looking like new, but the fluid had totally dissolved the plastic float, petrol pipe feed to the jet and jet housing too!

It wasn't a customer's by the way: one I had bought from the scrappy to modify for a racing engine.

However, various government led initiatives since the late 1990s, have gradually exerted heavy controls on CFCs and Hydrocarbon based degreasant; and the move now is to biodegradable environmentally-friendly aqueous-based solution: as is with vehicle re-finishing processes.
_________________
Well, apart from that, did you enjoy the play, Mrs Lincoln?

[billykan]

I,ve have one of these classic blaster's of ACE Engineering, Bought about 10 year ago, and still going strong. Great bit of kit.

http://www.blastitclean.co.uk/

[jddevel]

Thanks Billykan. Which model did you get ?

[ukdave2002]

I'd echo Old Wrench's comment about needing air grunt, one other thing to consider is where you plan to use it, as bast cleaning creates one hell of a mess.
Firms who blast stuff to large to fit in a cabinet usually have a dedicated contained space with nothing else in it so the debris can be swept up.
Finally every thing needs to be free of moisture as any of it will clog up nozels ; bone dry media and multiple moisture traps are the order of the day.

Dave

[Old Wrench]

[billykan]

[trampintransit]

I just made a sandblasting cabinet for nothing, loads of wood and an old door found lying around where my garage is. It works ok by by god is it air hungry. My 3hp / 50L compressor kicks in after only about 30seconds of blasting. Any sustained use would kill it I think..BUT...it's great for doing small things, calipers etc.

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