AIR COMPRESSOR VS. SANDBLASTER

[DCPULLER]

WILL A PORTER CABLE 6HP 2 STAGE AIR COMPRESSOR WITH AN 80 GALLON TANK, 175 PSI, 15.6 CFM @ 100 PSI RUN A SAND BLASTER. LET ME KNOW WHAT SIZE BLASTER IF ANY IT WILL RUN.

 

[Jeff NWOH]

It will, but I doubt it would keep up continuously. I have a 7.5 HP Cambell Hausfeld 2 stage, 80 gal. Says 18.4 cfm @ 125psi which is where I blast at. It does all right w/ 1/8 nozzle on a pressure pot blaster. Will actually catch up and shut off once in a while when the nozzle is new, but when it starts to open up to 3/16-1/4" range it's a losing battle.

If your planning on doing small parts/ projects or aren't in a huge hurry you should be all right. Just use a small nozzle and if you have to just stop every so often to let the compressor catch up. Can't take much off w/ 50psi. Probably need @ least 90 to make any kind of progress.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

A bead blast cabinet..... yes, sorta, if you are patient. Open sandblaster, suction hopper, or even pressure pot, I seriously doubt it.

Charles

 

[Gun guru]

You need to find out how much air is gulped down by the sandblast nozzle, (it should be rated X cfm at 100psi. And your air compressor is rated in "free air" which means that the compressor will be able to keep up X pressure at Y cfm continuously.........I would think that a 6.5hp compressor 175psi should easily be able to run a sandblaster as long as you dont have 1" diameter pipe running full open in the blaster cabinet.

 

[BradWi]

I recently tried this with our compressor and it was running constantly so i borrowed a diesel compressor from a neighbor. it was worth it.the blaster worked twice as fast and used less sand.for small stuff the shop ac works fine but big stuff is another thing especially if it is rough cast iron.

 

[james rumph]

Most sand blasting cabnets don't require anymore then 60 psi to work perfect. When the presure is to high it causes the compressor to run alot and produce water [heat].

I have a water catcher on the blaster cabnet as well as the compressor to stop any water.

I think you will find it works just fine at 60 psi as opposed to 100 psi.

The media being used will also help you decide what psi to set it at.

Volume is very important also so if it is more then 10 feet from the compressor then a min of 1/2 inch line is needed.

I regulate the air presure at the cabnet ,so i can leave the air compressor at max presure for my other tools.

 

[fixerupper]

Jeff is right about nozzle size. My 17.5 CFM compressor keeps up with an 1/8" nozzle for awhile before I have to let it catch up. A nozzle that small also will plug real easy and can really test your patience. Bigger nozzles do get more done but the air runs low quicker so nothing is gained. Running more sand and less air helps a bit but then you are going through more sand.

About the only thing I blast now is something small like a lawn chair or maybe some small parts. The compressor cost too much to burn up trying to ask too much from it. Jim

 

[Ole Shovel]

It will run it with small nozzles 1/8 being largest you want for that but can go down to 3/32 but those plug bad if sand is not fine and screened well but will have to stop and let compressor catch up and cool down. Remember you can always start with one compressor that size and add on another one or two later hooked together. I got two 80 gallon compressors 5 hp hooked together and still have to let them catch up running a worn 1/8" nozzle and can't hardly run a 3/16 with big grit sand very long. For small projects it's okay but bigger ones you'll be better off renting big portable compressor.