The Sandblasting / Air Eraser / Etching thread

[keeper]

Regarding compressed air, here is some recommended reading:

https://www.boge.com/en/compressed-air-glossary

www.drucklufttechnik.de/english

Thomas

[Lemosteam]

The 220 grit media also works well on FUD/FXD, as well as resin printed parts.

[u18b]

It's been a while..... but I needed to do some more sandblasting.
So it was time to build my own little booth.

Several people have posted on making these- Here is one a came across recently.

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Here is a clear tub I had.  It does not have a seal like the guy in that video.    So I consider this one my trial run.  I'll perfect it with the next one.


I used the toilet flange, drew a circle using the flange and started drilling holes.  The plastic shattered on the first attempt!   The same thing happened to the guy in the video.  lol.    I'm going to be looking for a Stearalite tub like his in the future.


I decided to press on and drew a new circle in a good spot.


Rather than break the plastic again with a drill, I used my soldering iron with an old bit.


Both holes are now cut.  I decided to work from a corner instead of two hands side by side.








I put rubber gloves on the toilet flanges and used a large hose clamp to hold them on.



Cut a hole for the air brush line.


Air needs to get out- so I used a common lawnmower filter.  It can easily be replaced.


You also have to have light to see.  I bought this bright LED light.  Since it does not get overly hot, I just place it on top of the box.




I did have a little leakage- but not much.  This is because my box did not have a seal like the one the guy used in the video.
I'll by buying a better box in the future.    This one was just a first try.

[peteski]

Very nice!  One of these days I'll have to make one of these.

[woodone]

I had some brass loco’s that needed painting. These had never seen paint so I wanted to blast them so the paint would stay attached.
I bought a blast cabinet . Has a door on top with a clear plastic see through window. I live in the Southwest so it is very dry and hot too.
I have a large air compressor so I have lots of air. The blast cabinet has a filter to witch you can attach a vacuum to, which, which I did.
The air goes through a air regulator with a moisture trap and drain. I also use a disposable air filter/drier right after the regulator, then I use a second filter/drier just before the fitting used for the air brush/or blaster also has a light. I started with an Pashce air eraser but found that I was filling it way too often, and it was taking a lot of time to remove the tarnish and clear laquar from the model. I got a had held blaster from H/F which had a larger hopper and a larger nozzle. This really got me going. With the vacuum on it keeps the blaster cabinet nice and clear so you are able to see what you are doing. The blast cabinet cost me just over $100, but well worth it. I did have to change out the gloves that came with the cabinet- they were way too stiff- I picked up some replacements at H/D and they worked a bunch better. I have very little sand grit in the shop where I do the blasting/painting.

[u18b]

Woodone,

Post a picture of your setup.  I'd love to see it.

[Lemosteam]

Here;s mine, made in January of 2020, never shared it here, great minds?

I started with a foam seal box from Ziploc.




I heat-formed some 1/8 plexiglas around a pipe and pop-riveted it to the box after I cut an opening.


I also used a toilet flange at first but found my arms were too large to comfortably work through them, so I went to these four (maybe five) inch stainless flat flange rings.  I tapped the outside ring and drilled clearance holes in the inside ring and used self-thread forming screws to trap the arm sleeve cutoff to the box. I just work in my bare hands.




I still had some sand leaks, so I used aluminum duct tape to seal around the plexiglas edges, and added a second layer of foam in the lid for a tighter seal.  The lid allows me to capture the used abrasive for filtering and re-use.

[u18b]

Lemosteam,
I don't see a hole for hose or an exit hole for air.

Do you just run the air eraser through the shirt sleeves?

If you don't have a filter for air to escape, then since you are adding air.... the cloudy sandy air has to escape.... taking sand with it.

By the way.... I like the blue seal on that.

[woodone]

Ron, will shot some photos for you. I know that I got my cabinet off e-bay, was on sale & free shipping . Just looked and do not see one like the one I got. HF does have a similar one for about $120.
What I like about the one I have is the lack of a mess. When I turn on the vacuum you can not raise the top, it seals that well, and I do let fresh air into the cabinet vis a small inlet which was standard with the cabinet.

[Lemosteam]

@u18b I do not have any holes or a filter.  there are enough leaks to let the air out already.

I push the eraser and its hose through the left sleeve (I am left handed) and I bring in the parts on the right.  I just use my bare hands. I also keep the AOx in the box so I can refill the air eraser anytime.

Yes the air gets a little cloudy and some collects on the plexi, but not enough to prevent me from finishing the job.  I do not get a cloud of dirty air outside the box either, as the sleeves to a great job of allowing air out and collecting the san in them too.  I just dump them out into the box.

Again, I am trying to collect all of the used abrasive so I can reclaim and filter the AOx for re-use.  It just collects in the bottom of the box.  I have only opened the box once since I made it.

The inside of the plexi can be treated with Rain X to help keep the powder off.

The seal on the box is OK but not thick enough which is why I had to add more foam for the six clamps to really seal the lid on.  I also do this with the box on its side.  I added no slip pads to keep the box from sliding all over with both arms inside.

[u18b]

John,
Thanks for the explanation.
So it looks like your stretchy shirtsleeves are acting like the filter.

I had kind of thought of doing this.... but didn't have the right kind of shirt to use (and my wife doesn't want me to cut up a good sweater).
Maybe something cheap from a thrift shop would be a good source.

Thanks for showing us.

[woodone]

Ron~ sent you a PM

[woodone]

Blasting cabinet and gun I told Ron I would post

[woodone]

Well that's nice , posted 90 degrees from right?

[peteski]

Better than no photos at all. 

Wrong orientation is fairly typical for photos posted directly from a smart phone/tablet.