Fact-check me on sandblasting, would you?

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Bill Crowell

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For sandblasting I use an old TIP pressure blaster fed by a 12-hp, 25 SCFM compressor. I have always been pretty happy with this setup because it will blast parts about as fast as you would want to blast them. I use regular sand for my abrasive media; I blast outdoors; and I do not re-use the sand. (Of course I am careful to use breathing protection.)

Here's my question: First, I know you can't use a cabinet blaster to clean parts with layers of dirt and grease because you are re-using your abrasive media and the grease will contaminate it. But when you are not re-using your media, is there any reason not to blast dirty & greasy parts? Thanks for your opinion.

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I always degrease parts before blasting.

It would be very labor-intensive to degrease some of the parts I've got, Toolman.

I guess what I am really asking is, when you sandblast greasy stuff, do you drive a lot of the grease into the metal so you get lots of fish eyes when you try to paint it?
 
All the gunge gets mixed with the media and gets blasted onto the part.
 
I think I will just soak the parts in naptha until I get the worst of the grease off, and then sandblast them. I just can't see any way of getting some of that baked-on dirt/grease off without blasting it.
 
Before degreasing, after degreasing, after blasting.

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For degreasing, try Easy-Off oven cleaner. I like the pump bottle stuff, as it's easier to direct the flow where I want it. The aerosol version tends to be real powerful and splashes all over, including on me. I leave it on for about 10 minutes then rinse and repeat as needed. It works very well and seldom needs more than one extra application.

I agree with the others, for stuff going in the blaster it needs to be degreased before getting blasted. Outdoors with no recovery, it wouldn't make any difference.
 
I scrape as much off as I can with a putty knife.

Then if I can, a wire brush.

After that it goes in the cabinet.

I've not had an issue reusing/recycling play sand and I even scavenge what I can when I blast outside, over a blue tarp.

Even at $3 a 50 pound bag, it goes quickly and adds up. I can usually reclaim between 25 and 40%.

I do sift it before reuse (actually before the first use as well). It's tedious and time consuming, but necessary or you get blockages.
 
I reuse/soft mine as well. I strapped an old rubber bottomed elec sander onto side of 5 gallon pail. Holes in bottom of pail and media goes thru pail and into a strainer/sifter. Annoying listening to the sander tho lol.
I scrape as much off as I can with a putty knife.

Then if I can, a wire brush.

After that it goes in the cabinet.

I've not had an issue reusing/recycling play sand and I even scavenge what I can when I blast outside, over a blue tarp.

Even at $3 a 50 pound bag, it goes quickly and adds up. I can usually reclaim between 25 and 40%.

I do sift it before reuse (actually before the first use as well). It's tedious and time consuming, but necessary or you get blockages.
 
I think I will just soak the parts in naptha until I get the worst of the grease off, and then sandblast them. I just can't see any way of getting some of that baked-on dirt/grease off without blasting it.

Try some engine degreaser , I bought some by accident , (wasnt looking at what I picked up) , I did finally use it a couple of weeks ago on a 68 form S front end thats been laying untouched in an old trailer box , worked fantastic , just hosed it of --------------
 
I soak my old greasy parts in cheap paint thinner from the hardware store, recycle it when done.
A cheap rubbermaid container from the dollar store, is my soak tank.
Let is soak for a few days and hit it with brake cleaner.

Sandblasting grease, is like hitting a spring, it just bounces off, or shoves it around.
 
What I've found and read is media needs a firm surface to be effective. Any soft stuff like has been mentioned is ineffective.
 
for greasy stuff,,, I take it to the local quarter car wash to blast off the heavy loose stuff, then use a solvent to work on the remaining greasy film, then blast.
 
They will run you out if they catch you, and you'll be asked not to return, usually under threat of the law.
 
They will run you out if they catch you, and you'll be asked not to return, usually under threat of the law.
the quarter car wash that I use is attached to a full service car wash,, by law the water run off is collected and cleaned to what ever the law requires prior to discharge into the sewers. At most car washes at least a portion of the water used is recycled.

How Car Washes Work

If there was a mess on the walls / floor I take a little bit of time to rinse down the bay when finished,, never had a problem.

Perhaps the car wash bay that you used is discharging directly into a sewer or near by stream, in that case there would be a problem.
 
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Pressure washer does a good job, if you can run hot water it works even better.
 
I have the same pressure blaster as you OP. She is a bad mother trucker lol... And I have 2 blasting cabinets. No, i'm not entitled, it just worked out this way lol...

The cabinet can do what the pressure blaster does. No way, no how. And yes I always remove most grease and grime. I also reclaim and sift from time to time. One cabinet has oxide. The other has Black Beauty.

As for paint surface compromise, I have never seen that problem. As said easy off, a trip to a car wash, whatever you do to remove the crap so it won't muck up your cabinet is an evil reality to having a Cabinet lol...

JW
 
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