THSCC Forums

Early visit from santa, but I now have a basic 33gal Sears compressor with the hose and some basic tools.

Now a few questions.

Sand blasting. Found a basic setup at Northern Tool with a hopper and gun. Where's a good place to buy blast media and what kind? I want to strip 3 sets of wheels and paint.

Painting. I was at harbor freight the other day and looking at paint guns. There are different styles and feeds. What is the best choice for a starter spray gun to cover the majority of tasks? What features do I need to look for?

Once I get this all under way, I'd like to spray my trunk lid, so I'll be looking for a teacher in the next few months. I'm not a hurry, but I want someone to show me how to prep and spray the car with a base and clear. Also need to know how to order paint and who is a good supplier.

Last but not least, what other "stuff" will I need to shoot my own paint? Sanding blocks, sand paper, filters, etc...

Thanks!!

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

Be patient if you want to sandblast. I have a Sears oilless, 33g(or maybE A 50) and it has trouble keeping up with high volume equipment. You can get several types of media, for different metals(and maybe some for plastic), from Northern Tool. Look at their online catalog. The catalog also lists what the media is best suited for.

Be sure to get a water seperator for your paint spraying. I have an inline reservoir with a drain, at the compressor and a second one on the sprayer hose.

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RedLanternRacing, builders of the fastest cars in last place.
Success is not an option.
1981 Scirocco, "Vera"

Rodney,

Are you planning on getting a blast cabinet? If not, realize that it will be dirty and messy. I hear you will have blast media in every crack in your body. I would recomment you get a cabinet. Problem is finding one large enough for whatever you are blasting. I have just started doing some media blasting and I have a cabinet from HF. I have been using medium glass media from Northern Tools. So far it has been pretty fun and amazing so to what it can do.

Richard

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

I was thinking about building my own cabinet, trying to keep costs down. I figure a 2x4 frame, some heavy tarp material and some plexiglass and I'm good. As for media, I bought the diamond black non silica 50# bags from Northern as well. Cheap to buy. Was wondering how much it would take off in respect to actual metal on the wheel. Do you reuse your media? Guess I need to go look at a blast cabinet to get some ideas.

Thanks Richard

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

For something durable like wheels (and steel parts) I use playground sand for my sand blasting. I do "filter" the sand through some window screen to get out the big chunks. Just put a piece of plywood or a tarp under your work, the sand blaster WILL kill the grass.

I use a 5 (10?) gallon pressurized blaster from H-F. Get pressurized, not gravity feed!

I also have a small table top blast cabinet (H-F) that I use for small, sensitive parts. I use glass bead in that cabinet.

The little H-F cabinet pretty much sucks. You can't see your work on account of the dust, and it still leaks enough glass bead dust out that it makes breathing a risky proposition.

I have a decent Craftsman HVLP gun that worked fine for painting the old Celica's engine bay. It lets you put the paint in a baggie inside the cup, that allows for a few things:

1) easier cleanup.
2) upsidedown painting if you seal the baggie properly.

I'd buy the same gun again. Now I just need to learn to spray house paint with it (never tried).

Scott

Rodney,
If you are going to be in your blasting area do wear at least a dust mask. Silica can be rather hard on your lungs.

I probably have the sam compressor. I bought mine during the national tool days sale they had a couple of months ago. Mine is the upright tank model with a 2 HP compressor.

_________________
George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

I made a cabinet out of an old fiberglass dog crate, it had a wire front that 's been removed and all that was required was to cut a plywood door and put a plexiglass window in it. I have a dozen more if anyone wants to save some time. It still dusts up pretty bad, not sure how to stop that. Maybe an evac fan??? PM me if you want a fiberglass box.

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

Hey Bernie, yes I'm interested in a box. I would also like to see how you set it up. Would it be big enough to put a 17" wheel into it? Let me know what your asking price is.

Thanks!

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

seriously, do teh wheels in the yard. A 50 lb bag of sand will do 4 wheels, and cost about $4. It will also add 50 lb of real estate to your yard

I do have some holes in the yard where the dog has been digging for moles. I wished he'd get the damn things, wrecking my freak'n yard!

If you're blasting in the open, what do you wear for protection? I can see that media going everywhere. What pressure do run the gun at to effectively blast out the sand?

Thanks Scott.

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

You can get a hood that will go down to about mid chest and cover your shoulders from Northern. I would still use at least a dust mask under that.

_________________
RedLanternRacing, builders of the fastest cars in last place.
Success is not an option.
1981 Scirocco, "Vera"

The asking price is the cost of fuel to get here and back. I don't deliver, or do windows. I believe that a wheel will fit. I'll try it in mine today and let you know.
I use a gravity fed system and run the pressure at 90psi for rough work and lower accordingly for finer work. with gravity feed its important to keep the media as dry as possible or the system will clog. Its also easier if can mount the container high so that the feed is down rather than up.

As for the holes in your yard. fill them in and put black pepper on the site, he won't dig there again, but it wont stop him from digging.

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

My blaster came with a cheap hood. that keeps the sand out of my face (the rest of me is fair game). I run about 100 psi line pressure for almost everything (including sand blasting).

I do have a larger compressor, so I don't have to take breaks while working, but the blaster worked with my old small compressor as well.

Rodney, The boxes are two foot square so the wheel will fit no sweat!!!

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2004 C5(415whp,390ft/lbs),
1997C5,1997Trans Am, 1986 C4,
1990 Miata, 1976 MGB,1997 Protege, 1989 MR2

Scott, best ask Sally what silicosis is and how ugly a way to die it is before buying any more playsand for blasting!
The cost of silica free blasting media is far cheaper than the medical and funeral costs.
Bead media will not remove metal, but will destroy sheetmetal. Carborundum media will remove metal pretty quickly and etch glass or carve stone. Use walnut shell and/or plastic media for paint removal on sheetmetal and blast at a shallow angle to the surface like skipping a stone on a pond.
If blasting outdoors wear a filtered respirator rated for silica and/or a pressurized supplied air hood with the air supply intake far from where you're blasting.
A blast cabinet must have a vent (filtered and exausted outdoors) large enough to handle the volume of air you're pumping in otherwise you will pressurize the chamber and blow dust all over nearly as bad as blasting in open air. Seal all seams with silicone caulk from the inside if building your own cabinet.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.