Just a Sparky
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- May 2, 2020
- Location
- Minnesota
Got a couple things on my mind here pertaining to sand blasting. Apologies if this is a bit of a ramble.
I recently upgraded my blast cabinet with a Skat S-35 siphon gun. I finally get consistent siphoning of media now. But I find myself burning through steel nozzles at an astounding rate. I get 30-45 minutes of blast time with 80 grit aluminum oxide before they wear completely through and disintegrate. And I get nowhere near the 38 seconds claimed to clean a 6x6" area. More like 5-7 minutes.
So there are three things I see that I can change to remedy this and I'm curious for your guys' input on them;
-Upgrading from 5/16" steel nozzles and jets to a Hi-Pro power head with carbide nozzle (TP Tools: 6300-92)
-Changing from aluminum oxide media to silicon carbide.
-Upgrading from 3/8" hose & 1/4" fittings to 1/2" hose & 1/2" fittings.
Is there anyone here who has used the Hi-Pro head to comment on it? I'll have a 10 horse pump running soon enough so the CFMs won't be an issue.
Is silicon carbide a good choice for rapid, aggressive cleaning of tenacious filth on cast iron? I find that flat, machined surfaces are easy for almost any media... but things cling to the rough, porous surface of cast iron very persistently. Are there better options for this work or am I on the right track? I've heard mention of steel grit and steel shot being used too. Would either of these be suitable?
I plan to upgrade to larger hoses and fittings because I feel like I am getting excessive pressure drop between the tank and gun nozzle. The difference between 5/16 and 1/4" orifices is not that great. I imagine there is a great deal of expansion going on every time the flow is directed through a 1/4" type 'M' connector.
Thoughts on these ideas?
I recently upgraded my blast cabinet with a Skat S-35 siphon gun. I finally get consistent siphoning of media now. But I find myself burning through steel nozzles at an astounding rate. I get 30-45 minutes of blast time with 80 grit aluminum oxide before they wear completely through and disintegrate. And I get nowhere near the 38 seconds claimed to clean a 6x6" area. More like 5-7 minutes.
So there are three things I see that I can change to remedy this and I'm curious for your guys' input on them;
-Upgrading from 5/16" steel nozzles and jets to a Hi-Pro power head with carbide nozzle (TP Tools: 6300-92)
-Changing from aluminum oxide media to silicon carbide.
-Upgrading from 3/8" hose & 1/4" fittings to 1/2" hose & 1/2" fittings.
Is there anyone here who has used the Hi-Pro head to comment on it? I'll have a 10 horse pump running soon enough so the CFMs won't be an issue.
Is silicon carbide a good choice for rapid, aggressive cleaning of tenacious filth on cast iron? I find that flat, machined surfaces are easy for almost any media... but things cling to the rough, porous surface of cast iron very persistently. Are there better options for this work or am I on the right track? I've heard mention of steel grit and steel shot being used too. Would either of these be suitable?
I plan to upgrade to larger hoses and fittings because I feel like I am getting excessive pressure drop between the tank and gun nozzle. The difference between 5/16 and 1/4" orifices is not that great. I imagine there is a great deal of expansion going on every time the flow is directed through a 1/4" type 'M' connector.
Thoughts on these ideas?