Sorting out Blasting Pot !

[Coo]

I've been slowly sorting out one of those 20 gallon blast pots.

Great advice from Brightspark's about metering valve, I bought one from centurywise.
The pots themselves are a pain to work with, so made new legs and stand for it, so I don't break my back trying to use it:

So now I can operate the valve at the bottom without falling over!

Next issue is the useless lever ball valves.
When I attached the air, they leak.
The 3/8ths ones for the air.
(...or 15mm I think)

So recommendations (and links) for replacements please?

Thanks

 

[rtbcomp]

Never had trouble with leaky valves, however some cheap Chinese ones failed when the link between the lever and the ball wore and they wouldn't close properly, where do they leak from? They are 3/8 BSP.

I like your stand, especially the front leg, with the pot fully loaded there's a lot of strain on the leg and mine bent slightly. Mine is a permanent installation in a blast room so I used trailer prop-stands to raise it so i could get to the bottom valve.

 

[Coo]

Considering the cost of the unit, I could guarantee they are the cheapest ball valves...
There is a water trap, then valve, then the guage then a valve to the bottom.
Under pressure, closing them I can hear the leakage - just assuming the valves..

Do you think better quality ball valves will do...such as:

RS Online - Sferaco
Cromwell Tools - Camozzi

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd get some soapy water and a brush and see where the air's coming from, if it's coming from the threaded joints then some PTFE tape will probably fix it.

I wouldn't know about those particular valves, I'd look on Ebay, but avoid Jushui http://yhjushui.en.ec21.com

 

[Wallace]

I've never used a blast pot but always fancied knocking one up, what pressure do they run at?

 

[rtbcomp]

Have a search in this section - loads of info.

The generic Ebay pots work at about 80-90 psi and with a 2.5mm nozzle you'll get away with a 3hp compressor. Bead blasting bare metal you can go down to 50 psi.