pressure pot blaster

[striker]

Hi, im thinking of making a shot blaster.. plenty of info on here.
How about pot size, how long would a 15kg propane cylinder blast for? Not planning on doing full cars just bits n bobs like steel rims etc...
Is it worth buying the plans for "Robs pressure assist blaster" ($10) or just build as others have on here.. I have a 3hp 150l 14cfm compressor probs about 9cfm fad.
Never in a rush though so can keep stopping while it catches up...
According to the web info on "robs plans" the pot on his only charges to about 10psi and has an air feed to the gun as well as an air/ grit supply.
So will this be an advantage to the std pressure pot design?

Or should I forget the whole messy idea and pay for my blasting, any recommendations locally, Middlesbrough area?

Thanks, Paul.

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd build one described on here. If Rob's needs two pipes going to the gun then it's going to be unwieldy, the 10 psi to the pot will be to push the grit out up to the gun, you're still going to need a decent pressure & flow at the gun to move the grit fast enough to shift paint.

If you were in Sheffield I'd definitely say pay (me) to get the work done!

 

[striker]

Yeah just though with my small compressor then less pressure in pot means more at nozzle?

 

[rtbcomp]

The pot itself doesn't consume any air once it's up pressure, so the running pressure depends on nozzle size and available CFM from the compressor.

 

[striker]

So no advantage of lower pressure pot then.
Thanks for advice...
Would a 13/15 kg propane cylinder blast a couple of steel wheels wiyhout refilling?

 

[rtbcomp]

Depends on the paint and the size of the wheels - I should think so with factory paint on wheels from a Cortina say, but some modern paints are very tough, powder coating tougher still or even impossible.

 

[Mr shiney]

It's easier to burn powder coat off then blast afterwards to clean the metal up.

 

[rtbcomp]

It don't 'arf stink though!

Google "Atlas -T" it's a powder coat remover.

 

[Mr shiney]

It don't 'arf stink though!

Google "Atlas -T" it's a powder coat remover.

Very true! I do it on the drive! Takes me a couple of minutes to clean bike parts this way.

 

[striker]

Right then. After loads more research I think I will build a soda blaster.. due to the problem of blast media containment. I dont want to give up valuable workshop space by building a cabinet...
I assume I can blast safely at the bottom of the garden with soda.
Is there a difference between soda and shotblast pressure pot design? I realise the importance of keeping soda dry but what about bottom metering valve and nozzle?
Thanks Paul.

 

[rtbcomp]

If you look at Ace Engineering (AKA "Blast It Clean") products they do a soda pot which is a modified standard pot. I'm not sure what the differences are, but apparently soda is very fine and needs a special pot.

I think it may be something to do with the way air is fed to the nozzle, perhaps through the pot to keep the media loose rather than via a by-pass pipe?