Re: Media blaster troubleshooting

[Jim Altemose <jaltemoose@xxxxxxxxx>]

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I vented mine to the outside with a pass through blower.  Works great.
 Aside from the benefit of keeping the inside of my garage cleaner,
the main benefit is clearing the inside of the cabinet so you can see
what you're working on.  I can't see working on old cars without one.
Flip on a couple of switches and old parts are new again.

- Jim
Jim Altemose, Long Island, NY
'63 Polara 500 (Max Wedge)
'63 Polara 500 (383)
'65 Belvedere I (Street Wedge)
'71 Bronco

On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 8:41 AM, David Bailey <bb64d440@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> I like the idea of venting an exhaust fan to the outside! This should go long way in reducing the amount of dust around the vicinity of the cabinet. Ever open the parts loading door with the exhaust still running? The inside negative pressure (vacuum) instantly increases to the outside atmospheric pressure. This means most all that dust is coming from the exhaust of the external shop vac or whatever (filter?) system is being used.
> Good idea indeed!
> Dave B
>
>
>> To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
>> From: ledman_70@xxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: RE: Media blaster troubleshooting
>> Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:52:47 +0000
>>
>>
>> The previous owner of my caninet installed a very small squirrelcage fan
>> to extract dust from the cabinet, so I routed it out through the rear
>> garage wall via dryer vent hose... works very good.
>> David Bailey wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > 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
>> >
>> >
>> > > To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
>> > > From: waedison@xxxxxxxxxxx
>> > > Subject: Media blaster troubleshooting
>> > > Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:30:26 -0700
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > I bought a Northern Tool Media blast cabinet some months ago. It is way
>> > > smarter than me and it hurts to say you've been outsmarted by sand and
>> > > compressed air!. I have a large snap-on 7 HP 175 PSI 80 gallon
>> > > compressor so
>> > > think I should have enough air. I'm trying to use 70 grit aluminum oxide
>> > > to
>> > > clean some wheels. The thing barely draws for awhile, then it will work
>> > > like
>> > > magic for a couple of minutes, then back to nothing or next to nothing.
>> > > I've
>> > > tried changing guns, running the media pickup tube in and out of the
>> > > media.
>> > > Nothing seems to work for more than a couple of minutes. I have an air
>> > > dryer
>> > > in line with the media cabinet.
>> > >
>> > > If you've had some lessons learned with these things, please tell me
>> > > what
>> > > you've found out through your use. This thing could easily end up in the
>> > > scrap yard, but I think it's probably something I'm just not
>> > > understanding
>> > > about how to use it.
>> > >
>> > > Thanks for any help. /Butch/ Ferndale, WA
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ----
>> > > Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person --
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>> > > recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will
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>> > > content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!
>> > >
>> > > 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
>> > > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and
>> > > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
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>>
>>
>> Jeff Adams
>> 64 Polara
>>
>>
>> ----
>> Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!
>>
>> 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
>> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
>>
>
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> Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!
>
> 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
>
>
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Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!

1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.

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