Re: Media blaster troubleshooting

[Donald Gallimore <dongallimore@xxxxxxx>]

We'll, you have my thanks for your wordieness. That's a keeper for the archives

 
Akron Don Gallimore



----- Original Message ----
> From: David Bailey <bb64d440@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Mon, July 19, 2010 11:07:21 AM
> Subject: RE: Media blaster troubleshooting
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I’ve used several different types of media / sand blasters over the  years 
>ranging from the (monster) industrial pressurized pot, gravity feed pot  and the 
>hopper cabinet gravity feed types. All have a similar learning curve for  usage. 
>And despite how simple they are operationally, you’re sure to experience  a fit 
>or two until you grasp what’s happening and how to “minimize” common  problems. 
>I can offer these suggestions for better (constant) operation. 
>
> An  air compressor - capable of delivering a “minimum” of 14 CFPM. More is 
>always  better.
> Dry air – All I use is a standard regulator w/ moister trap at the  unit. This 
>works well for me but I make sure to bleed off acuminated water every  day or 
>before each use, especially so, around periods of warm humid weather. But  this 
>should be done regardless.
> Air pressure at the unit - Depending on the  media in use (coarse to fine) and 
>the material of the item being blasted, I  found between 60 psi to 90 psi. Works 
>best (for me). 
>
> Amount of media – Start  by adding media to a few inches (3 to 4) above the 
>pick-up point. Too little OR  too much media and it will start off OK then soon 
>begin pulsing sporadically or  turn to just air. Add or remove media for good 
>operation. The same symptoms will  also start occurring as foreign debris 
>accumulates (and it will) in the  media.
> Hint, I’ve found with my unit from new, that I had to adjust or lower  the 
>pick-up tube level in the hopper. It seems to pick-up better and I use less  (of 
>that expensive) media to cover it. 
>
> In my cabinet - I put a random sized  (small) ¼” thick aluminum plate on the 
>expanded metal work surface. This gives  me a small solid surface to work on and 
>provides an area for me to occasionally  hold the nozzle squarely against to 
>quickly “back flush” or clear debris from  the pick-up tube with short bursts 
>(only) when it starts displaying those pesty  symptoms. That way I don’t have to 
>be kicking the hopper. Additionally, I put a  round rod down through the mesh 
>surface long enough to reach the bottom and  protrude as a handle at the top. I 
>use this most of the time as a kind of “back  rest” to help support larger flat 
>pieces while blasting but also to occasionally  stir the media, closing the 
>little “crater” that forms at the mouth of pick-up  tube. That little “crater” 
>happens as the media is being used meaning the media  itself is actually 
>reducing in size to the point that you no longer have the  same level you 
>started with. Which tells me I’m starting with the right amount.  I then will 
>either add a little more fresh media OR empty and refill depending  dirt 
>accumulation or what I’m doing at the time. 
>
> Also, don’t be too quick to  throw away that “used” media. If it began as a 
>coarse grade it may well serve as  good fine grade after being screened. I might 
>even blend it with another grade.  This can go a long way toward stretching out 
>new material and it’s not quite as  aggressive. 
>
> Accessories – Interior lighting is a huge plus.
> As is a good  filtering system. My cabinet as with most others comes with a 
>(sometimes free?)  dust collector, which in my opinion is just plain useless! I 
>spent more time  cleaning it than using it, only to quit working again after 
>another five  minutes! I’ve seen standard shop vacs work better and last longer. 
>Myself, I  bought a separate filter system for this purpose. It works really 
>well and it  lasts a lot longer between necessary cleanings. 
>
> Breathing air quality!!! – I  was using the cabinet for several hours one day 
>soon after I got it, you know,  anxious and all, with glass bead in it and later 
>that evening I didn’t feel  quite right. Suspecting, maybe the silica dust (?), 
>and the next morning I found  a lot of dust everywhere around the cabinet, on 
>the floor etc. (Very slippery on  a painted floor I might add). From then on I 
>wear a painters respirator at the  cabinet and have not experienced that since. 
>A word to the wise!  
>
> I  hope this helps someone replace frustration (or worse) with actual enjoyment 
>of  their blast cabinet!
> I can hear y’all now, Why is it this guy can never  explain anything in a 
>simple single paragraph? I don’t know, wish I could. I’m  not this talk-ative in 
>person!
> 
> Dave B
> 
>