Back yard grit blasting set up

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:09 am

Just thought I would share my backyard grit blasting set up.
Blast gun is a $30 jobie form Gasweld, The std black suction hose is not worth knobs of goats poo. With much experementing I came up with an overhead style hopper whick works extremly well. When the soft drink bottle is empy just screw on another that has been pre filled with grit. In the photo you can see two bottle lids, one on the hose so you can get into tight spots with the gun, the other lid is on the barb so hose can be taken off and a bottle screwed on overhead for not so tight spots and one hand operation.

For Grit I have been using used Garnet from my work.
Depending on the grit size and aiflow delivery you have to experement with nozzle sizes.

Airflow. Well as the saying goes "There is no replacement for Displacement" This is SOOOO true. I have learnt the hard way starting of about 6 years ago on a very tight budget with a $99 GMC compressor from Bunnings. Well one $99 compressor is painfully slow and I realy cant recomend this method but if you have time and budget it tight then you will make do. As I did and blasted the rust out of my old L series wagon.

One decent compressor would be better but are VERY expensive, For blasting I now use 3 of the cheaper compressors in Parrallel, one of which is still the original. This set up is not real economical but 3 don't get used together that much and I only need to turn 1 on when pumping up tyres n stuff.
I have 1 x 2hp 24L, 1 x 2hp 30L and 1 x 2.5hp 40L. I realy want the original to blow up so I can buy a better 2.5hp 40L.

I will be blasting some spots in my Brumby today so will post up some stuff to share.

I will list PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) soon

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:33 am

thanks for sharing this info. I have a small job in mind and doubted home handy set ups woul do. More likely will after seeing your mods. Any pics of the work it is doing ? please

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:31 am

I have a before and after of the battery tray I just finised painting this morning.
Next lot I will try to post a before , during and after shots with explanation.
Sorry about the overspray but the rust is gone.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:52 am

overspray done lke a pro !

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:59 pm

Not Bad!
Ive been learning how to spray cars for a while now, do you spray and leave? or do you have a process afterwards?

Cheers Cam

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:35 pm

BK not sure what you mean.
I blast, if there is a seam where I think I may not have goo any rust then I will apply some rust converter, leave it to dry them spray primer then colour. Using pressure packs for repair jobs like this.

OH BTW nice one owing your first car at 15. And a soobie to boot.

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:40 pm

PPE.
Earmuffs.
Safety glasses ( goggles are better)
Leather gloves.
Dust mask
and an old welding helmet so my face dont get blasted off.
OH and fully covered clothing
I usualy have a cotton Balacava as well but couldn't find it.

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:41 pm

Before blasting silver paint done by previous owner.

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:43 pm

Blasted.
Took 3 x 600mm bottles and about 10 minuets

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:46 pm

A little rust converter along the seam. Just incase I missed some.
Leave the rust converter to dry.

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:47 pm

primer/undercoat painted.
Let that dry then spray colour.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:07 pm

Thanks! Well it's in dads name but it's mine

Well after all the preperation and paint i use 4 things.
Water rubbing compound, fine cut cleaner, show car glaze, and wax. There are more steps and tricks of how to use these. I learnt from a guy who used to work in a hot rod shop. I can make a sticky on this if people want me to (and show me how to make a sticky). Or if your in S.A. i could do it real cheap for you! Showcar finish!!!

Revmax, what type of gun do you have for the grit blasting?

Cheers Cam

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:16 pm

Might be a silly question but, what happens with the grit after you've blasted it?

Doesn't it coat everything within a 5 meter radius?

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:17 pm

showpost.php?p=177288&postcount=1

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:19 pm

SB yer it goes everywhere.
Had to use the vacume to suck up the excess in the well back, then blw off the rest with air. when I am finished I will hose the car down to wash of the dust.

stenno · Post by **stenno** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:00 pm

awesome work. Might pay to mention not to use silica sand as silicosis is some nasty sounding stuff.

Also why were you doing this today? there were some pretty fast cars blasting around the bush up your way today, some even subaru's. Pity it was $35 entry to the Super Special Stage at the jetty last night and another 35 to sit in a paddock today

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:06 pm

stenno yer I had thought about it but had not mentioned it so here goes.

DO NOT USE SAND as a blasing medium. It is likely to kill you.

Yer the world rally is on right close to me. I can hear them every night at the Jetty, but I don't care to much, we are going for a fly tomorrow moring in me mates TL2000 Sting so we may have a sticky from the air, a NOTAM as been issued so we might just avoid it, just have to see what happens tomorrow.

stenno · Post by **stenno** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:09 pm

Despite some of the oxygen bandits on this forum, i found this showed how good it works on a whole car
http://www.boostcruising.com.au/forums/ ... wforum=174

revmax · Post by **revmax** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:15 pm

can you narrow it down please.

Brumby Kid · Post by **Brumby Kid** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:45 pm

Never sand blasted before, havn't got anything for it yet but might one day. sounds pretty dangerous.
What do i need to watch out for revmax?

Cheers Cam