Upgrading my budget blasting pot

[conor1n]

Hello,

Now that I have received my substantial (enough for me) screw compressor I am getting ready to upgrade my pressure blasting pot, and wouldn't mind some input from the pro's on here, if you don't mind

I think these upgrades should get me going as I don't have the budget to upgrade to a proper professional pot just yet. I know these upgrades especially the airflow etc will significantly reduce the blasting time I have.. but I'm just going to have to go with it for now.

Main reasons to upgrade are:

* Prevent clogging of media (New compressor has a proper drier too, which should help)
* Enable use of industry standard tips (50mm thread)
* Better air flow in general.

Questions are:

* It's currently 3/8" fittings all around.
* Considering the blast hose will be 3/4" ID do you think I need to go to 3/4" for the air supply and mixed media pipes - or would 1/2" suffice? I feel like 1/2 should be sufficient for the 75 CFM mark I will running at with { #4, 1/4", 6.5mm } tip.
* For the mixed media coming from the media outlet at bottom - will the 3/8" be a bottle neck, I wonder should I drill and tap to 1/2"

These upgrades are very popular for this pot, and I have found a good video outlining such on YouTube, here if you are curious (screen grabs below).

The guy in the video has a { #3, 3/16", 4.8mm } tip, so he won't need as much air flow - I just can't figure out if I need to breach 1/2" plumbing is needed. I am aware that I need to address the plumbing between pot and tank also, and that quick fit fittings are a no-no for airflow.

Interested in peoples thoughts on this one..

Many thanks in advance.

P.S. One other mod I was thinking about was attaching some kind of pushrod to the metering valve and run it up the side of the tank .. so that I can adjust the media mixture without having to bend down, which get's old quick...

 

[Erie Fred]

Again, don't "think so".... do.
consult the various charts online.
Clemco's "Blast off 2" booklet addresses sand hose sizes based on nozzle sizes as well.

It's all there for you, simply take the time to read them.

 

[conor1n]

Thank you, I must read that - I have found it quite difficult to find any official reading. Maybe I'm just bad at googling. Information seems sparse.. I have read some good sites but I seem to have mislaid them over time and can't find again.

I will check out that booklet, thank you.

 

[conor1n]

@Erie Fred You don't happen to have a copy of that manual do you? It seems quite difficult to get hold of online.

 

[Dcal]

The biggest mod you can do to the cheap blast pots is put a proper media valve on them.
@brightspark thread on them is worth reading.

grit valves for cheap pots

using ball valves to meter the grit is a bit hit and miss and prone to regular blockages :(namely because of its design and iregular grit size it only takes one larger particle to end up in the orifice and everything stops . even the slightest of moisture kills it off . making a flat sand valve...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

My version of the valve has worked flawless since I made and installed it.

Other than that dump the joke dead man and use a tungsten tip on it.
I use a mixture of 1/2 inch and 3/4 hoses. The claw type fittings are cheap and work well for disconnecting.

If you are blasting delicate panels like a roof or bonnet, I'd go for a smaller nossle to prevent damage.
Bigger is not always better, unless it's for something like a lorry chassis.

 

[dobbslc]

quick fit fittings are a no-no for airflow

@conor1n what's the reason for this?

 

[brightspark]

if your using a 6.0mm blast jet the fittings on the pot want to be half inch the blast hose wants to be half inch bore as well you can use half inch bore to the pot from comp but i use 3/4 using claw fittings to stop cfm loss . my pot was prety much copied of a clemco minipot using there grit valve design and the hose and jet sizes so see no need to re invent the wheel or deviate from it . ive been using my gear for over 50 years faultlessly and wouldnt change anything

 

[dobbslc]

Ok so it's just to help reduce restrictions. I've got one on the compressor regulator, one on the main hose and one on the flexy hose to the cabinet as that's the only way to get air out there at the moment.

 

[knighty]

what pressure do your compressors run at?

you don't (/shouldn't) need a pressure regulator, they'll just reduce flow

 

[brightspark]

run my pots at 90 to 120 psi . never bother regulating them just strait of the tank

 

[conor1n]

Again, don't "think so".... do.
consult the various charts online.
Clemco's "Blast off 2" booklet addresses sand hose sizes based on nozzle sizes as well.

It's all there for you, simply take the time to read them.

I couldn't find this online anywhere... so I got on the phone to Clemco themselves. A very friendly guy named Pat answered on their support line and has agreed to send me over one of those leaflets all the way to Ireland from Missouri.

There are still some great people in the world despite everything.

 

[conor1n]

The biggest mod you can do to the cheap blast pots is put a proper media valve on them.
@brightspark thread on them is worth reading.

grit valves for cheap pots

using ball valves to meter the grit is a bit hit and miss and prone to regular blockages :(namely because of its design and iregular grit size it only takes one larger particle to end up in the orifice and everything stops . even the slightest of moisture kills it off . making a flat sand valve...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

My version of the valve has worked flawless since I made and installed it.

Other than that dump the joke dead man and use a tungsten tip on it.
I use a mixture of 1/2 inch and 3/4 hoses. The claw type fittings are cheap and work well for disconnecting.

If you are blasting delicate panels like a roof or bonnet, I'd go for a smaller nossle to prevent damage.
Bigger is not always better, unless it's for something like a lorry chassis.

That is a fantastic thread and mixing valve from Brightspark. I will work on getting this made tomorrow. I know a machinist who actually wants a few things blasted so, so it will be a nice symbiotic barter

Thank you!

Agreed on the deadman nozzle. I already removed that for a ball valve. Going forward though. The reason I plan on using 3/4" hose is to I can use a nozzle holder with the industry standard 50mm coarse thread. I have a variety of tips on my shopping list to buy which can easily be swapped out with that size holder.

Agreed on panels - I will be very careful with them and probably will play around with a scrap bonnet or roof first. You really do hear horror stories.

if your using a 6.0mm blast jet the fittings on the pot want to be half inch the blast hose wants to be half inch bore as well you can use half inch bore to the pot from comp but i use 3/4 using claw fittings to stop cfm loss . my pot was prety much copied of a clemco minipot using there grit valve design and the hose and jet sizes so see no need to re invent the wheel or deviate from it . ive been using my gear for over 50 years faultlessly and wouldnt change anything

Ok great. I would like to use claw fittings where possible and also a nice beefy "main" line.

Question for you, if you don't mind: The reason I chose 3/4" ID blast hose is so I can fit this type of nozzle holder to it. So that I can easily fit this and this type of nozzle to it.

Do you think 3/4" will pose a problem for my setup with respect to CFM or shall it be ok? Or should I use 1/2" and step up to that 3/4" nozzle.

I don't want to re-invent anything at all.. it's easier to copy others

what pressure do your compressors run at?

you don't (/shouldn't) need a pressure regulator, they'll just reduce flow

Actually yes.. I am planning on removing that regulator from the pot. I need to investigate my compressor but I can think I can program it to run at whatever pressure I want.. that's a whole other story...darn lol.

run my pots at 90 to 120 psi . never bother regulating them just strait of the tank

Sweet .. 120 must be a blast.. LMAO I read 90 is the sweet spot, what kind of improvements do you notice at 120? Better cutting?

 

[brightspark]

clemco use half inch blast hose on a 6.0mm nozzl;e any bigger and you loose velocity in the hose leading to the nozzle, i have the proper nozzle and holder on mine for the job

 

[conor1n]

clemco use half inch blast hose on a 6.0mm nozzl;e any bigger and you loose velocity in the hose leading to the nozzle, i have the proper nozzle and holder on mine for the job

OK fair enough. Do you know how I can use that nozzle holder on 1/2 hose ?

 

[brightspark]

ths is the half inch blast hose . the nozzle slips over the pipe and is held in with 3 small brass screws the pressure holds it in tight the blast jet just screws in

 

[brightspark]

here is other end

 

[conor1n]

ths is the half inch blast hose . the nozzle slips over the pipe and is held in with 3 small brass screws the pressure holds it in tight the blast jet just screws in

View attachment 437103

OK great. Thanks. But what diameter is the threaded portion of the holder?

I need the 50mm opening to get the widest selection of tips ?

Where are you buying your gear ? I see Reemster has the best selection. What other suppliers have I missed ?

Have you used any of the specialist type nozzles I posted earlier.

 

[brightspark]

the biggest nozzle you can go to is 6.0mm on your comp to run at 90 psi so no choice realy . 70 cfm is the minimum ,i got my gear from echo coatings at middlesbro . 50mm holder is far to big for a half inch blast hose

 

[conor1n]

the biggest nozzle you can go to is 6.0mm on your comp to run at 90 psi so no choice realy . 70 cfm is the minimum ,i got my gear from echo coatings at middlesbro . 50mm holder is far to big for a half inch blast hose

Ok fair enough, I understand.

The issue is on the 19mm threaded nozzle holder it seems (on Reemster, at least) that there is a lot less variety in nozzles. I need a 360 fan nozzle and also one at 45 degrees. For 4x4 chassis work.

What would you recommend?

Thank you!

 

[brightspark]

i only ever use a 6.0mm strait nozzle cant help you there