Sand blaster not working!

[bkelly]

Ok this sounds really stupid because it's only suction. When I pull the trigger, nothing is coming out of my sand blaster! It's a craftman. (3 gal?) Pressure is at 60psi and the hopper is half filled with sand. I know I should be using media but it's just the undercarriage so I don't care about it. Anybody know what's going on?

[ezzzzzzz]

Clogs will stop the flow of media. I will place my gloved hand tightly against the nozzle and pull the trigger. This forces backpressure to clear the phos and pickup tube. Maybe that will help.

[MikeW]

Did it ever work for you?

[geezer]

I agree, it must be clogged with something. It could be debris in the sand that was not caught when the sand was screened or a combination of dust and moisture that can clog the gun. All you can do is tear it down, clean it, rescreen the sand and try again. Also make sure you are removing the water out of the airline before reaching the sandblaster. I use 3 water separators when I sandblast. Also when the humitity is high I coil a 25' length of hose in a bucket of cold water to bring the air temperature down, to allow the water to condensate in the hose before reaching the moisture bottles. Works well. I use a rather large pressure feed, not a siphon sandblaster though.

[Exdamyankee]

What kind of sand are you using? When I firt got my blaster I got a bag of sand from Home Depot. Big Mistake. There's rocks in that stuff, or at least they might as well be. The grains are very non-uniform and the big ones (close enough to pebbles) clog a blaster like crazy. Anyway, the cure was getting a bag of proper fine blasting sand. Do the same and clogs ought not to be an issue. IF that is the issue, of course.

What kind of blaster is it, siphon or tank type?

[Nissanman]

I have the pressure to the MAX, 100psi:eek:

Waste of time trying to clean anything at a lesser pressure.

Syphon gun in a cabinet.

As mentioned, I now and then put my gloved finger over the gun outlet and pull the trigger to blow the sand back out of the pickup tube.

It does clog up during use.

Make sure the media you are using is as DRY as possible.

You may be able to get by with "sand" but I would suggest some Garnet 40/80 mix, meant for the task:)

[Exdamyankee]

Good point Nissanman, I missed the PSI thing completely. I try to run 100-125 when I use mine. I have a 40# Gravity type Tank blaster, Harborfreight special ;-)

[bkelly]

Here's what I've got- http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916706000P?sbf=Brand&sbv=Craftsman&vName=Tools&cName=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&sName=Blasting+%26+Cleaning

I'm using pool sand. I live in the middle of nowhere so the closest place that might have media is about 40 miles away. I can't believe Sears or Home Depot, which are both local, don't stock this stuff even though they sell blasters.

[DeesZ]

Hi, bkelly.... go to that page you referenced us to from Sears.... then click on "Read Reviews". There is a pile of information there referencing how to get that sucker to work. Most users are somewhat pleased, but they also have tips on how to get it to work properly... some have cautions about the assembly of the unit, others about the media, etc.... very informative, and directly related to exactly the unit that you own. (Only one reviewer condemned it, and his issues could likely be solved if he read the other reviews!) Please let us know how it works out. I'm looking to get some sort of a blaster myself, but don't know which one.... I've got all the air I'll ever need, now I need something to cast about some media.

Please be certain to use some protection for your lungs... sand / silica can be deadly if inhaled (as can many other things).

[Zs-ondabrain]

I actually have 2 sandblasters. I have a 3 Cubic foot plastic bench top cabinet. And the second is a 6 Cubic foot metal cabinet on a 30" roll around base for getting it out of the way when I'm done with it.

The plastic has glass bead media and the metal one has Aluminum Oxide for ripping rust out of everything. I set the pressure at no less than 100 PSI and max of 125 PSI.

The high pressure kicks arse but turns my media into dust alot faster than low pressure would. Aluminum gets the glass media and steel gets the Oxide.

Nice thing is that I can use the glass media on the tail light housings when I'm doing an LED conversion (not the lenses) to remove the exhaust stains, rust from the housing nuts, and overspray from untaped paint jobs. They usually look alot better than without the use of media.

Dave.

[barby27]

I use a filter and moisture trap right to the gun itself. This is just the Husky brand that Home Depot sells and works fine for me when removing any moisture in the line. I also would recommend using a blasting media even if you cannot get it at the local hardware stores you can purchase it online from Harbor Freight or Eastwood. In the picture this is Aluminum Oxide that I get from HF. Craftsman states to run the nozzle at 90 PSI but I have found that running it at higher PSI levels to do a better job and I have yet to see any failures.

77 280Z

http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e106/babry27/77%20Datsun%20Restoration/

[Zs-ondabrain]

I guess I should have mentioned the moisture trap that I use on the tank as well as the inline Plastic moisture and particle filter just outside of the cabinet. I too get my media from Harbor Freight.

Hey Barby27, Next time you're gonna be up north around Marysville, shoot me an email and feel free to stop by.

Dave.