TAD: Love Shopping for Tools! Er....Blasting

[JSPipes]

Now here's something that we can all relate to!

Since about January, I've had 2 savings funds going. Every coin and 1 dollar bill I had got split between them. for every $4 in one, I put $1 in the other. Well, they're both ready now.

The $1 fund has led me to commission a new pipe from Trever Talbert. I love his blasts! And this seems a fitting time to get one as the 2nd fund...

is going toward a sandblasting rig! Based on comments here, I'm going to get a Cyclone blaster with a 5cfm gun. The compressor is the hard part. I'm leaning toward ordering this one: http://www.grizzly.com/products/h7359

Comments anyone? Also, suggestions for blasting media to try out?

I think I better start some new savings funds. Maybe one to take my wife out would be a good idea!

Thanks!
Joel

[KurtHuhn]

The $1 fund has led me to commission a new pipe from Trever Talbert. I love his blasts! And this seems a fitting time to get one as the 2nd fund...

Awsome! I keep checking the Ligne Bretagne catalog for something I have to have. Whenever I find it though, it seems I'm a day late for buying it. Maybe I should just save of the dough and ask him to make me a Talbert Briar. Perhaps a Christmas present to myself....

is going toward a sandblasting rig! Based on comments here, I'm going to get a Cyclone blaster with a 5cfm gun. The compressor is the hard part. I'm leaning toward ordering this one: http://www.grizzly.com/products/h7359

Comments anyone? Also, suggestions for blasting media to try out?

I've heard both good and bad things about the CH compressors. I think it boils down to how well you maintain the thing, and how much you abuse it.

I have a 5HP Kobalt (or is it CH? I think Lowes just rebrands CH compressors anyway) from Lowes and love it. The output is lower than that CH above, but it's more than enough to keep up with the 5CFM guns. It's also slightly less - you may want to give them a look if you have a Lowes in your area.

[KurtHuhn]

Oh yeah, regarding media:

Give them all a try. You can get small amounts of media this place:
http://www.abrasivedepot.com

I like aluminum oxide in a 2 stage blast using two grit sizes and two different pressures. I am not, however, an expert in blasting briar, and I'm still experimenting with pressures, grits, and media.

[JSPipes]

Thanks Kurt. I appreciate the suggestions (and especially the link). I've also heard that Lowe's rebrands the CH compressors. But I don't know if it's accurate or not.

[TreverT]

FWIW, if you're going to use alum oxide, get the best breathe mask you can, something with very good filtration,because you definitely do not want to be breathing in clouds of tiny shards of flat microscopic aluminim slivers.

But you can breathe in all the walnut shell dust you want. And even eat your media, if business gets bad....

[JSPipes]

Great suggestion Trever. I'll make sure to get one. Thanks!

[KurtHuhn]

But you can breathe in all the walnut shell dust you want. And even eat your media, if business gets bad....

That looks enough like a hint to make note of, Trever.