Sand blasting setup advise!

[Hudson.]

Hi guys,

First post here, came across the forum a while ago and seems like a huge place of good knowledge! Im finally in a unit/workshop now where I can maintain my track car and build motorbikes, im setting up all the stuff I always wanted, just need some help starting out.


- From a quick search i have seen plenty of posts about sand blasting setups and peoples issues, but to avoid me getting completely confused by everything, i thought id start my own thread with my own specifics.

I've just bought a used 220l blasting cabinet, it came with sand, aluminium oxide and glass bead media. I hooked it up to the compressor briefly yesterday but got absolutely nothing but air coming through the nozzle. Thinking something must be blocked I removed the media and inspected the pick-up at the bottom of the hopper. Theres no blockages up to the gun, so i assume the issue lies with the air feed?

The compressor setup:

Clarke SE16C150
14 CFM
150l reciever
Up to 10bar/150psi working pressure
3Hp 400v 3ph motor
60ft long air line
1/4 BSP barbs and quick release fittings


Any ideas? Is the air line too long? I thought maybe the flow rate might be falling way off over such a long hose?

I havnt got a filter/regulator fitted yet, but plan to very soon, is there a minimum distance hose length wise that I need to fit the filter? I plant to use it for painting in the future.

If someone could share some knowledge on the best way to set these cabinets/compressors up thatd be greatly appreciated, to save me the trial and error! Im very new to this so if people could describe as they would to a 12 year old I promise i'll take it on board haha.

Thanks in advance,


Rich

 

[Hudson.]

Also, by the media pickup on the blast cabinet, theres a ball-type valve with a hole in the centre that can be adjusted to open/close, what does it do exactly?

Thanks

 

[rcx132]

When you say 220l cabinet I'm guessing it the popular SBC220 Chinese cabinet that is all over ebay these days. It doesn't have a ball valve in it so whatever it is someone added it.

This is my setup, also the SBC220 cabinet: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/my-sandblasting-setup-update.76333/#post-1059040

Usually the quoted hose limit is min 10mm internal diameter and max 10 m.

I would ditch the gravity gun, they are way too slow, and buy a pressure pot. Ten times faster.

Regulator is a must, the most cost efficient one I know that works well is the Metalworks one. It's sold by Transairpipe on eBay, they have the best price. The cheaper regulators restrict air flow and tools don't work properly with them.