sandblaster nozzle clog

[Rob Wadsworth]

Experimenting with my new sandblaster today. I bought a pressure pot from Northern. I had trouble with the nozzle clogging constantly using Black Diamond 20/40 grit from Tractor Supply. I had about 80 lbs of pressure, a good compressor and no moisture. Seemed like the granules were too big for the 1/8" orifice. I switched to Black Beauty fine and it worked ok except that I went through 50lbs sandblasting only the transmission/transfer case support. I looked up getting a 3/16 nozzle but the air consumption jumps way up to 40cfm. Anyone had this problem?

 

[Explorer]

Only open up the valve for media as much as required, don't open all the way.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

ok I'll try that. Is 80lbs of pressure ok?

 

[bax]

I find you need to filter the sand thru a screen to stop the clogging. All it takes is one oversize piece to ruin the fun. Black diamond is full of oversized sand.

 

[broncoitis]

X2 on the screening of the media prior to putting it in the chamber! You could use a large kitchen screen that people use to separate fats and other things to make gravy. Hope that makes sense. %)

 

[dube]

yes that should be fine. slowly open the feed for the sand to start feeding threw it. when you stop blasting shut the valve on the sand or it will clog on you. its a pain in the a$$ but they work good. i have the same one and use it all the time.

 

[croft75]

I found I had problem with the quality of sand and the larger chuncks, I went to a sandblast only supplier and they had lots of sand to choose from. Haven't had any problems since.

 

[hyghlndr]

Do you have a water filter? The water caused the gravity one I had to clog all of the time. I ended up buying a large blast cabinet. I think it paid for itself with the media savings. Connected up the black Friday sale vacuum cleaner and the internal light is great. Check craigslist it you decide on getting one.

 

[69BroncoDad]

That Black Diamond sand from Tractor Supply is absolute Crap!!
I bought several bags once...every bag had over sized chunks that clogged my blaster...I get it from the local concrete company now..cheaper and never clog

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Figures the cheap media doesn't work. I was happy to find it at Tractor Supply for $7.99/50lbs. So what brand is good and what do you pay for it? Any particular grit for blasting the frame and misc parts? How about blasting some of the hard to reach areas of the body?

 

[Edger6]

I have a blast cabinet also and cant use it, I need a bigger compressor, my requires 12 cfm at at least 70 psi. But I would think I could use my compressor a little bit but to do ver small jobs it would just take some time, any way I know what compressor im gettimg, just nedd 1400 dollars any one want to donate to the cause?

 

[turbotim2]

I get my sand at the local auto parts store, a 50lb. bag is something like $12-$14 for clean medium grit sand for my pressure blaster. I also have bought the glass bead from HF for use in the blast cabinet which works pretty good but is not very agressive.

 

[stout22]

I have used "play sand" - the kind used to put in kids sand box. Must be screened but not too bad. Best thing is its cheap!

 

[bmc69]

Only open up the valve for media as much as required, don't open all the way.

That. My pressure blaster is very picky about where that bottom feed valve is set.. I'll start out with it almost closed and very slowly sneak it open in small increments while observing the 'blast pattern'...and I'll stop and 'just barely enough media coming out' to avoid stoppages.

 

[fordguy]

we always have to sift the sand. we use fine mesh hardware cloth, and it works much better.