Pressure washer powered sand blaster question?

Lager

Lager

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Do these things work as well as the videos show or advertise? I've got to remove the paint from a motorcycle exhaust system. I've tried paint remover, didn't work so I need to get a bit more aggressive. I used to have an air compressor powered sand blaster that had a wand you shoved into a pail of sand and it worked well, Painful and really messy with sand all over the stinkin place but it worked. Tried the sandblaster with the abrasive reservoir on the top of the gun. Wasn't worth a darn and I threw into the trash can. See these sand blaster kits you can hook up to your pressure washer for cheap and the vids look good, but do they actually work?
 
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Wondered this myself. Tagged for interest.
 
They work ok and decent depending what you need. I wouldnt want to do a big project with one but for smaller areas not terrible. Like most sand blasters they need dry uniform sand to feed well. I will say they are pretty messy as you have wet sand everywhere when done.
 
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Get Off My Lawn said:
Sand blasting would leave a rough surface that, without sanding smooth, will have points that will be at the surface of paint and start rusting quickly.
I’d look into another option. Starting with baking soda or bead blasting.
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You have a good point there. Here is a pic that I posted up way back ago when I was talking about header paint and how much I liked the VHT High temp header paint? I just sold this old truck a few months ago and those headers in the pic were sandblasted and then prepped with VHT primer and then their paint. It's been about 3 years, and they looked the same after years of use and neglect of just sitting on damp ground. Maybe I used a very fine grade of playground sand that I bought of Lowes.. Donno, but it worked and brought up a really good suggestion and I thank you for that.
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Are the pieces small enough to fit in a blast cabinet, or is it all one big assembly that doesn’t come apart small enough?
If it will fit in a blast cabinet, check to see if you can find someone who has one. I’d be happy to do it for you, but my blast cabinet is in Kernersville, so nowhere close to you.
I have found that you can adjust the air pressure in the blast cabinet lower if needed so that you don’t tear up the surface underneath the paint.
I am using some kind of sand–like black-colored blasting media, and I am able to blast aluminum with it without tearing up the surface (this is for aluminum parts that I leave bare after blasting). I haven’t had to go to anything gentler like walnut or corn cob.
Here is an example of what I mean by blast cabinet.

SOLD - Benchtop Blast Cabinet & Stand, will split

Get one or both Blast cabinet $99.00 Blast cabinet with stand ~ table $124.00 Cabinet Height 28" Length 18" Width 26" Stand ~ table Height 31" Length 18" Width 26" The Dolly is not included No Trades Cross Posted FTF South Thomasvile ~ South High Point
www.carolinafirearmsforum.com www.carolinafirearmsforum.com
 
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We had a guy show up to blast a 55 ton lowboy. He pulled out a 4k psi 5 gpm belt driven pressure washer and some sand contraption.
It worked fantastic and the steel felt like a satin paint. 2 coats of equipment paint and has held up well for the last 2 years. With considerable abuse.
 
I have one, not super impressed with how it functioned in the manor I was trying to use it (iron porch railings and pullers. Directions say you need to keep the nozzle aimed down, admittedly I was having to spray “up” so it clogged up pretty good, worked ok and gave a nice finish when it was flowing though. This was with a 2.8gpm 3500 washer IIRC.

Be warned, it makes a blame mess. Slightly less so than a dry blast pot, but still a wet mess.
 
Jp8819 said:
They work ok and decent depending what you need. I wouldnt want to do a big project with one but for smaller areas not terrible. Like most sand blasters they need dry uniform sand to feed well. I will say they are pretty messy as you have wet sand everywhere when done.
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From what I have read, for the best results have your sand bucket over or above the pressure washer for better flow of the sand. I'm not really worried about wet sand, I live in the Eastern part of NC, Wet sand is all we have round here.
 
Lager said:
From what I have read, for the best results have your sand bucket over or above the pressure washer for better flow of the sand. I'm not really worried about wet sand, I live in the Eastern part of NC, Wet sand is all we have round here.
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We had best success with a bag of the play sand feeding the best, it just has to be dry to keep from clumping since clumps don't feed well. It also seemed to work best when someone was running the pressure washer and someone else could tend to your bucket to keep you going smoothly. Again worked decent for our small project. The wet sand once done and dry will blow off with air hose or leaf blower so not terrible and like you said you have plenty around you already so the getting it on the ground shouldn't be a issue 😀
 
Jp8819 said:
We had best success with a bag of the play sand feeding the best, it just has to be dry to keep from clumping since clumps don't feed well. It also seemed to work best when someone was running the pressure washer and someone else could tend to your bucket to keep you going smoothly. Again worked decent for our small project. The wet sand once done and dry will blow off with air hose or leaf blower so not terrible and like you said you have plenty around you already so the getting it on the ground shouldn't be a issue 😀
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I have one. What JP said above. Sand needs to be perfectly dry in order to feed w/o clumping. It can be frustrating if it isn’t.
 
DangerRuss said:
Are the pieces small enough to fit in a blast cabinet, or is it all one big assembly that doesn’t come apart small enough?
If it will fit in a blast cabinet, check to see if you can find someone who has one. I’d be happy to do it for you, but my blast cabinet is in Kernersville, so nowhere close to you.
I have found that you can adjust the air pressure in the blast cabinet lower if needed so that you don’t tear up the surface underneath the paint.
I am using some kind of sand–like black-colored blasting media, and I am able to blast aluminum with it without tearing up the surface (this is for aluminum parts that I leave bare after blasting). I haven’t had to go to anything gentler like walnut or corn cob.
Here is an example of what I mean by blast cabinet.

SOLD - Benchtop Blast Cabinet & Stand, will split

Get one or both Blast cabinet $99.00 Blast cabinet with stand ~ table $124.00 Cabinet Height 28" Length 18" Width 26" Stand ~ table Height 31" Length 18" Width 26" The Dolly is not included No Trades Cross Posted FTF South Thomasvile ~ South High Point
www.carolinafirearmsforum.com www.carolinafirearmsforum.com
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May reach out about some stuff to get blasted, see what you'd charge
How big is your cabinet?
 
Following because I'm interested. I have a utility trailer that needs some cleaning up and a coat of paint. Not looking for something fancy, just want to protect what I've got.
 
Told you all I was going to give you an update on the pressure washer sand blaster attachment I bought from Amazon.
Here it is,
Now my pressure washer is only rated at 1700 PSI so if you have a higher HP model, your results might be better.
This thing sucks, barely took the shine off the old paint that was on the header.
Thought maybe the paint was really baked on there, so I took an old rusty shovel and tried that, it didn't do anything.
It was feeding sand well, sucked my bucket dry and I paid attention to the instructions.
I gave it a try, I'm only out $30.
 
Lager said:
Told you all I was going to give you an update on the pressure washer sand blaster attachment I bought from Amazon.
Here it is,
Now my pressure washer is only rated at 1700 PSI so if you have a higher HP model, your results might be better.
This thing sucks, barely took the shine off the old paint that was on the header.
Thought maybe the paint was really baked on there, so I took an old rusty shovel and tried that, it didn't do anything.
It was feeding sand well, sucked my bucket dry and I paid attention to the instructions.
I gave it a try, I'm only out $30.
Click to expand...

R4AGN2YEIJHPZF76JPMEIA4KJY.jpg
 
Lager said:
Told you all I was going to give you an update on the pressure washer sand blaster attachment I bought from Amazon.
Here it is,
Now my pressure washer is only rated at 1700 PSI so if you have a higher HP model, your results might be better.
This thing sucks, barely took the shine off the old paint that was on the header.
Thought maybe the paint was really baked on there, so I took an old rusty shovel and tried that, it didn't do anything.
It was feeding sand well, sucked my bucket dry and I paid attention to the instructions.
I gave it a try, I'm only out $30.
Click to expand...
I’d bet you could show up at a non-chain auto garage and they’d blast it in their cabinet for you for a few $10’s of dollars.
 
Hey @Lager thanks for the update. I bought some of these today fir my utility trailer project. We'll see

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For some reason the picture didn't show up before.
 
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Wonder if a courser sand would do better or any different?
 
Lager said:
Told you all I was going to give you an update on the pressure washer sand blaster attachment I bought from Amazon.
Here it is,
Now my pressure washer is only rated at 1700 PSI so if you have a higher HP model, your results might be better.
This thing sucks, barely took the shine off the old paint that was on the header.
Thought maybe the paint was really baked on there, so I took an old rusty shovel and tried that, it didn't do anything.
It was feeding sand well, sucked my bucket dry and I paid attention to the instructions.
I gave it a try, I'm only out $30.
Click to expand...

What media are you using?
 
Lager said:
Play ground sand from Lowes. I know this sand works really well in a air powered blaster, maybe the water acts like too much lubricant ?
Click to expand...

I used black beauty in mine. Lack of pressure may likely be your issue, iirc my kit recommended something like 3500 psi and 3 or 4 gpm.
 
Update once again, My air compressor powered cheap Amazon sand blaster showed up and after a few mods done to the gun like drilling out the sand feed hole due bad casting its working great. This time $30 well spent. It messy, I've sand all over my garage deck are but nothing a broom cant clean up. Also sort of painfull from rebounding sand hitting me, had to wear an old motorcycle full face helmet to shield this old ugly face and eyes. Next time I'm going to wear some sort of mask over my breathing hole,, my throat and lungs feel like I spent an hour in a sand storm.
 
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