Hi,
Finally; yesterday afternoon I had a window of opportunity but only for a very short time. It took a while setting the compressor and blaster up and I also added the second in-line air/water separator but this meant I had to use the coiled plastic hose from my SIP compressor in order to couple up and I detest these kinds of hose with a passion.
I finally switched the compressor on and as pressure began to build I found a huge air leak to the top of the second air/water separator; in disgust I disconnected and hooked directly into the compressor using my much better hose; the blaster has an on-board air/water separator but a second separator was recommended.
The day as usual was a black hole with blustery wind but a miracle occurred it wasn't raining. First job was my personal safety and to this end I donned my dust mask; goggles; ear defenders and rigger gloves; I was already wrapped up like Michelin Man against the cold wind.
How wonderful it was to finally see paint being so easily removed by simply pointing the nozzle of the blaster. After a while the blaster stopped removing paint and I thought it's surely not already run out of hard blasting medium after all I had charged the blaster with half a bag? At the base of the blaster is a blow off valve with a short hose attached and this is to clear blockage so I gently opened this valve to see a stream of blasting media shoot across the drive then I closed the valve and continued blasting. Further blockages happened but now I simply tapped the valve with a spanner whilst the nozzle valve remained fully open. I just about completed one side of the main casting and some of the edges when it became too dark to carry on and rain appeared so I quickly abandoned blasting. Even only after around 30 minutes blasting our driveway resembled a dirty beach; I swept the driveway but then had to stop as the rain was gathering strength.
I'm pleased I sold my 2hp compressor and bought this new 3hp compressor because using the much bigger compressor it was running constantly during blasting but delivering enough pressure to allow continued blasting so I believe a 3hp compressor is a must unless lots of waiting is allowed for whilst air pressure builds up if using a smaller compressor.
I couldn't understand what had happened to my personal black cloud in allowing me to blast for 30 minutes over the last two weeks since I bought the blasting kit? I hoped to continue blasting this morning but it's only just getting light but of course everything is now soaking wet outside; this climate is dire.
I'm very impressed by the blasting results though and enjoyed my brief blasting session; the casting is down to bare metal having a lovely etched surface ready to accept new paint once the casting is dusted off. It's brightening up outside so I'll sneak out to try to do a bit more blasting before the snow arrives?
Update; I've just spent an hour and a half on our wet driveway blasting the front of the bandsaw door.this door is aluminium and the hard medium has roughed up the surface a treat just right to accept paint. I've had to knock off because I'm feeling frozen due to the bitter breeze coming up the valley and it started to rain but now the sun is out.
The blaster kept blocking up and this I believe is due to water in the compressed air because as I tapped the bottom valve with the spanner a jet of water and blasting medium discharged from the nozzle; I'm sure this would be much reduced given a nice warm dry day but then I can dream on? The extra pictures show the door and what a tremendous difference. The last picture shows what a mess is made during blasting and this onto a wet concrete drive; I just love cleaning up.
Kind regards, Col.
Finally; yesterday afternoon I had a window of opportunity but only for a very short time. It took a while setting the compressor and blaster up and I also added the second in-line air/water separator but this meant I had to use the coiled plastic hose from my SIP compressor in order to couple up and I detest these kinds of hose with a passion.
I finally switched the compressor on and as pressure began to build I found a huge air leak to the top of the second air/water separator; in disgust I disconnected and hooked directly into the compressor using my much better hose; the blaster has an on-board air/water separator but a second separator was recommended.
The day as usual was a black hole with blustery wind but a miracle occurred it wasn't raining. First job was my personal safety and to this end I donned my dust mask; goggles; ear defenders and rigger gloves; I was already wrapped up like Michelin Man against the cold wind.
How wonderful it was to finally see paint being so easily removed by simply pointing the nozzle of the blaster. After a while the blaster stopped removing paint and I thought it's surely not already run out of hard blasting medium after all I had charged the blaster with half a bag? At the base of the blaster is a blow off valve with a short hose attached and this is to clear blockage so I gently opened this valve to see a stream of blasting media shoot across the drive then I closed the valve and continued blasting. Further blockages happened but now I simply tapped the valve with a spanner whilst the nozzle valve remained fully open. I just about completed one side of the main casting and some of the edges when it became too dark to carry on and rain appeared so I quickly abandoned blasting. Even only after around 30 minutes blasting our driveway resembled a dirty beach; I swept the driveway but then had to stop as the rain was gathering strength.
I'm pleased I sold my 2hp compressor and bought this new 3hp compressor because using the much bigger compressor it was running constantly during blasting but delivering enough pressure to allow continued blasting so I believe a 3hp compressor is a must unless lots of waiting is allowed for whilst air pressure builds up if using a smaller compressor.
I couldn't understand what had happened to my personal black cloud in allowing me to blast for 30 minutes over the last two weeks since I bought the blasting kit? I hoped to continue blasting this morning but it's only just getting light but of course everything is now soaking wet outside; this climate is dire.
I'm very impressed by the blasting results though and enjoyed my brief blasting session; the casting is down to bare metal having a lovely etched surface ready to accept new paint once the casting is dusted off. It's brightening up outside so I'll sneak out to try to do a bit more blasting before the snow arrives?
Update; I've just spent an hour and a half on our wet driveway blasting the front of the bandsaw door.this door is aluminium and the hard medium has roughed up the surface a treat just right to accept paint. I've had to knock off because I'm feeling frozen due to the bitter breeze coming up the valley and it started to rain but now the sun is out.
The blaster kept blocking up and this I believe is due to water in the compressed air because as I tapped the bottom valve with the spanner a jet of water and blasting medium discharged from the nozzle; I'm sure this would be much reduced given a nice warm dry day but then I can dream on? The extra pictures show the door and what a tremendous difference. The last picture shows what a mess is made during blasting and this onto a wet concrete drive; I just love cleaning up.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
