Sandblasting Questions

Ernie Swanson

Ernie Swanson

SASSY PINK LUUNCHBOX KNIFE MAKER
I want to start sandblasting my of knives and other stuff.
I was wonering if anyone could tell me if this equipment would work for doing knives?
I know its all a little small but I can afford this stuff now and with the sale going on !!! even better.

Would this gun work good enough?
http://www.harborfreight.com/21-oz-hopper-gravity-feed-spot-blaster-gun-95793.html

And would this air compressor work?
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-3-hp-3-gallon-100-psi-oilless-air-compressor-97080.html
I know its not the best but if it would work I will get it for now, Heck i can pick it up for about $32.00


Also what kind of blasting media would I need for knives?
Do they have it at harbor freight?

Thanks for any help!
 
Ernie,
I think that you would be better off using a blasting cabinet, that way all your media does not just get blasted away. That being said the compressor you listed will not work for a cabinet. The smallest cabinet HF has needs 10 CFM @ 100 PSI.

A compressor that small might not be able to keep up and it would keep cycling and eventually burn itself out.
 
I use a 4.8 cfm compressor with my blast cabinet and I have to wait 2-3 minutes for the compressor to catch up for every minute spent blasting. Otherwise my compressor will never shut off and will overheat.
A 1 cfm unit will keep you waiting all day...
I would look around for a mechanic's shop or something nearby that has a cabinet, and bribe them with 6-packs to get your blades done until you can get a decent setup. I tried sandblasting with the bare minimum of equipment, the experience had me building my own cabinet before long.
 
Ernie,
There isn't really a cheap fix for what you want. The small cabinets leak like crazy and you really need a good size compressor. A decent set up is close to a grand. I have a Barrel Blaster. It doesn't leak at all and the gun works great. You also need a little shop vac to run while you blast or else the dust is so bad you can not see. I bought an Ingersol Rand compressor, but you can get cheaper ones than that. Your local Tractor Supply Company has some good ones.
-John
 
thanks for all the replys.
I am only going to be sandblasting 1 knife here and there. I cannot get a good cabinet right now or a bigger compressor.
I also dont have anywhere close that has a blasting cabinet. I was planning on just blasting over a barrel to kind of contain it. Thats why i tnought of this gun cause i can just do one knife now and then.
I dont mind waiting a bit for the compressor.
Whats the best media to use?
 
If you read the specs


Gun
Needs 7 cubic Feet per minute at 90psi
http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/95000-95999/95793.pdf

Compressor
Delivery: 0.6 SCFM at 90 PSI
cuts out at 100psi



That compressor gives only 10% of what that gun needs.

The gun will take 90 psi and The compressor cuts out at 100 psi.
With only 10 psi difference, you will never "Store" any extra air and wait for the compressor to catch up.

It's just not going to work for you.
Maybe if you ganged 10 or 15 of those compressors together, but then that's not practical or cheap any more is it?
If you buy that setup, you're going to spend $ that you will have to spend again on a better setup and that will cost you more not less.



A cheap one off option is to get a bottle of compressed gas like nitrogen (sold for mig shielding gas) and hook up a blaster to that with a regulator.
You can avoid buying the compressor if you already have access to the bottle, but on a per blade basis it's expensive in the long run.
 
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Thanks for the detailed info!!

I see what you are all meaning now.

I will wait for now until I can get a good compressor.
I am going to start building a cabinet out of a steel drum i have.

So......... With that said.
Is there anywhere or anyone that I can send 1 knife to?
I have one finished and need to get it resandblasted.

Thanks again all.
 
I'd be happy to help but it will be at least a month before I could do it and it dosen't sound like you can wait that long.
 
I will blast it for you if you handle the shipping. I am using "Black Beauty" brand abrasive, it gives a somewhat finer finish than the sand which is most commonly availible, but a little rougher than glass beads.
If the edge is sharpened it will need to be touched up again afterwards since there is no way I know of to keep the edge from getting blasted in the process. I put a rough edge on mine before blasting to minimize how much I have to do afterwards, but I leave the final sharpening until after and then sharpen carefully so I don't scratch the finish again.
 
Don't quote me on this, but if I remember right, Peter's Heat-Treating also does blasting and some coating services. If you need outside HT, that would be the most efficient way.

Looking at those links Ernie, I gotta say WAIT. Looks to me like that set-up is just going to make you kick yourself and end up sitting in the corner gathering dust.
 
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james terrio said:
Don't quote me on this, but if I remember right, Peter's Heat-Treating also does blasting and some coating services. If you need outside HT, that would be the most efficient way.

Looking at those links Ernie, I gotta say WAIT. Looks to me like that set-up is just going to make you kick yourself and end up sitting in the corner gathering dust.
Click to expand...

Yeah I am building a big cabinet,

I did origianally get the knife sandblasted at Peter's but I need to get it touched up and the scales sandblasted.
 
Calvin Robinson said:
I'd be happy to help but it will be at least a month before I could do it and it dosen't sound like you can wait that long.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer Calvin, I am trying to get it done sooner but let me know when you have some extra time, If its not done yet I will send it your way!!
 
big ern! just my 2 cents! I have a blast cabinet I payed $99.99 at tractor supply.
It works fine! I did take it all apart and silicone it good.It did leak,but it dosnt now!
You will need a nice size compressor or you will spend time waiting for it to build up pressure.Mine is 4.5hp-14 gallon and it kicks on after about a minute or so,but it gets it done! If your like me, POOR!! You make do with what you got!Tractor Supply also sale,glass beads,garnet,etc.If you have one near by Just check it out!
D.B
 
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