new toy

[Burchtree]

Just got this air compressor last sunday -- my fiance asked if I wanted to check out an air compressor then she slapped down the cash for me to take it home -- needless to say, I was pretty pleased with her.

This brings up another question though -- where do you guys get your blasting mediums and what grits seem to work well?

 

[John Andrews]

Michael, I'm sorry I can't help you on the info, but congratulations on the blaster! Hey, you better hurry up and marry the gal!

 

[jhiggins]

Grats on the new toy, Mike! I get my blasting media from the local NAPA parts store. Usually any place that sells body and paint supplies will have media. Right now, I'm using ceramic beads - but I rarely use it. IMHO a blasted finish only looks good on tactical stuff, and I only make tactical by request now.

 

[allan lanigan]

I blast all my tangs for better bonding,lots of uses for the blaster,some building supplys companys also carry abrasives,go with the finer grits...........

 

[Crayola]

Michael (and others),

What size of tank/output is the low range for blasting? I occasionally run across deals on tanks but I don't know what blasting requires.

Your fiancee sounds pretty awesome! It is great that she takes that much interest in your knife making. My fiancee got behind my grinder once to work on soem ahndles of some kitchen knvies we gave my sister and bro-in-law as a wedding present. Ain't much hotter than your fiancee grinding! Uh... I mean my faincee grinding! Not to say your fiancee isn't hot...

Hehe, I'll go for now!

Karl

 

[Burchtree]

I'm not that knowledgeable about the subject but I know blasting takes some oomph from your air compressor. Most all the blasters I looked at had a working range of about 80-120 psi. I'm not sure if capacity is as important as the size of the compressor motor. (correct me if I'm wrong here folks.)

 

[Mike Hull]

Unfortunately, in compressors, size is everything. The bigger the motor, and tank, the better they will run tools like blasting cabinets etc.

I have a 3 1/2 HP Quincy compressor with 20 gallon tank that has more CFM than a 5HP rated Campbell Hausfeld, and it's just barely marginal.

I wish I had saved a little while longer and got the 5, or 7 1/2 HP Quincy, with 60-80 gallon tank.

You can make up for some of these things by installing a nozzle on the gun with a smaller orifice(get a ceramic one if possible), and use a courser medium.
I use a mixture of 30% BT-8, 60/100 mesh glass beads, and 70% #150 grit(?)aluminum oxide.
You can vary the mixtures to suit you. I only mix it in 10 pound lots. That is about the amount that will fit in a one gallon milk jug, and is the amount my blasters hopper will hold.

One last thing. You can get more out of your compressor if you use DeVilbiss couplings, and connectors for your air line, and tools.
DeVilbiss flows way more than the other brands. You can get them from automotive paint supply stores, or places that handle their spray guns.

 

[Burchtree]

Thanks for the corrections -- this one seems to do fine (of course I've only done one knife so far ) It is a 5 hp, 27 gallon compressor that runs 7.1 CFM at 40 PSI and 5.7 at 90 PSI -- is this plenty of "oomph?"

 

[Mike Hull]

Thanks for the corrections -- this one seems to do fine (of course I've only done one knife so far ) It is a 5 hp, 27 gallon compressor that runs 7.1 CFM at 40 PSI and 5.7 at 90 PSI -- is this plenty of "oomph?"

If it's doing the job, I would say yes.