DIY Sandblast Media Advice

[keithiesbig1]

Alright folks,

I have acquired a fair sized compressor and a gravity fed sandblast pot which was previously used to blast a sub-frame of a car.

Has anyone got any experience with sand blasting alloy wheels and what psi and media to use?

I have been advised to use 90-100psi, which the compressor can easily do, got a hood and sorting out some mask or breathing apparatus to protect the lungs its just the range of sands and glass media is confusing and dont want to "pit" or damage the wheels.....

Any advice would be awesome

 

[Puggie]

We use a fine garnet at about 90psi for most stuff, it gives a very good finish but can be a tad laborious, someting more aggressive would be good at times. you need a decent size compressor, 100psi is easy but blasting needs a lot of volume of air (flow) as well as decent pressure.

I wouldnt use dry sand, google silicosis(sp) if you want scaring.

 

[Frodo]

I'm actually gonna start looking into this for when my garage is built. Wanna make a wee box to do wheels but mainly suspension arms when doing bushes. Would be a great wee tool to have

 

[Vti-s chris]

You will need a good size compressor for it I have a 3hp 300lt and I have to
Start and stop with it because it can't keep up. And make sure you cover up well the grit gets everywhere lol

 

[keithiesbig1]

We use a fine garnet at about 90psi for most stuff, it gives a very good finish but can be a tad laborious, someting more aggressive would be good at times. you need a decent size compressor, 100psi is easy but blasting needs a lot of volume of air (flow) as well as decent pressure.

I wouldnt use dry sand, google silicosis(sp) if you want scaring.

Yeah know all about it, hence why im getting breathing apparatus! Got a few mates who used to blast but it was more industrial! So the setup they would have had would rip the wheels apart

I'm actually gonna start looking into this for when my garage is built. Wanna make a wee box to do wheels but mainly suspension arms when doing bushes. Would be a great wee tool to have

If you have the space it will get addictive! great way to clean! I have the benifit i can do it outside a roller shutter so dont need to worry about the mess

You will need a good size compressor for it I have a 3hp 300lt and I have to
Start and stop with it because it can't keep up. And make sure you cover up well the grit gets everywhere lol

Yeah its a fair capacity, off top of my head im sure its not bigger than 300L, but i got the compressor free and the sandblasting pot free so beggers cant be choosers

 

[Frodo]

Yeah I'd end up doing all my suspension arms and wheels and stuff. Had a look and a big compressor ain't cheap. Gonna cost a wee bit for me to get one done

 

[keithiesbig1]

Yeah I'd end up doing all my suspension arms and wheels and stuff. Had a look and a big compressor ain't cheap. Gonna cost a wee bit for me to get one done

I would never have had this setup if we never got the compressor for free..... once i got that i looked at sandblasting and we now have spray guns too

Might be setting up a DIY spray booth to paint my mates drift cars and spray the odd part on mine too Can see this getting expensive

 

[Puggie]

if your looking at doing suspension arms and the like, have a look at the cheaper powder coating guns, they will give a more robust finish than paint and baking can be done in a cheap domestic oven!

 

[keithiesbig1]

if your looking at doing suspension arms and the like, have a look at the cheaper powder coating guns, they will give a more robust finish than paint and baking can be done in a cheap domestic oven!

hmmmmmmm never thought about that...... might have a wee look into that in the future

Think the other guys want to paint there cars too thats why we have the guns