dalspaugh wrote:Hmmm... I didn't even realize this was a job that could be outsourced. I'll keep that in mind...
If I go media cabinet, that means getting cabinet, compressor, lines, gun, and connections... starting to sound a bit expensive...
I guess I'll give it a go with power hand tools for now and keep in mind I could look for a local shop...
Yeah, a media blasting setup is a slippery slope.
I blasted for a few years with a 4-5cfm compressor, but you had to take a lot of breaks or else you'd see a noticeable decrease in cleaning potential as the pressure dropped. You'll want a 10cfm at a minimum for any kind of prolonged cleaning. My setup is an 80gal 2-stage 175psi compressor that flows 15+ at 100psi. It works amazing, and cycles even during continuous blasting with a siphon feed and pressure pot blaster. Watch craigslist, mine was only $200 and I put probably another $200 into it for upgraded wiring, plumbing, and paint. If you want to do any painting or powdercoating, you definitely need an air dryer (desiccantor refrigerated). For blasting, you can get by with cheaper filters and moisture traps, but you might get some clogging in humid climates or if your compressor is running constantly. There's also ways to design piping to help remove water, like a long downhill run on a wall with a drain tap on the end.
In addition to a cabinet, you'll need some kind of dust collection so you can see while you're blasting. I'm still experimenting with this one, but it's another source of $$$. You'll need a shop vac with a HEPA filter at a minimum.
Bare minimum cost for a budget setup would probably be:
$2-300 compressor
$200 blast cabinet
$50 shop vac
That'll take care of rust and thin paint. For thick paint and some powdercoat, I still chemically strip parts as it'll take way too long to blast off or I'll have to use too agressive of a media for my liking.
As far as media, I pretty much just use aluminum oxide nowadays. I've experimented with walnut shells, glass bead, and coal slag (black beauty), but aluminum oxide gives me the best balance of cleaning strength and finish for my needs (generally powdercoat prep). Black beauty is too agressive (works great for thick paint removal and heavy rust), but for a smooth PC finish it would have to be re-blasted with a less abrasive media. Walnut shells leave a great finish, but not agressive enough for a lot of stuff. Glass bead is also a nice finish, but isn't good for cast aluminum parts that are going to be powdercoated. The beads will embed themselves in the aluminum and then cause outgas problems with the finish. I've also done sodablasting, which gives the best finish, but is expensive.
My setup:
4'x2'x2' cabinet
