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03-23-2010, 09:54 PM | #1 |
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Location: Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada
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My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
Just a warning, this project involves welding on a pressure vessel, something dangerous at the best of times, it is possible that the tank may fail and seriously injure or kill someone. Be careful and be warned.
Hi all, another member asked for more details on my homemade pressure pot sandblaster. Here's a few pics and a shopping list for parts. Here's an overall pic of the unit, the basic operation is that the tank is pressurized on the top of the tank with a line bringing straight air around to the bottom to help carry the sand from the bottom opening in the tank thru to the nozzle.
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-23-2010, 09:56 PM | #2 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
This is a detail pic of the top showing the 3/4" loading valve, a shutoff for the air inlet and a third valve to the bottom to control airflow. I will admit that the airflow valve is almost always wide open. Just a warning, some of the valves may seem to be unnecessary, but they are really needed to
prevent backflow of the sand when you depressurize the tank. I put a gauge in the top in an existing fitting, but it's really not necessary, for safety reasons it might be a better idea to replace it with a relief valve.
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-23-2010, 09:59 PM | #3 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
This picture shows the bottom of the tank with the sand control valve, it's a bit touchy and I wish there was a better way to control sand flow, but this is the best I've come up with so far. I tried to keep the welding to a minimum, but I needed to drill a hole in the bottom of the tank, over that hole I welded a 3/8" pipe coupler. My welding doesn't look so good in the picture, as well the bottom looks a little rusty, not the sort of thing you want to play with, I may retire this tank and redo it just to be safe, I can reuse almost everything and a new tank is only $20.
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-23-2010, 10:01 PM | #4 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
The only other part I welded on was the carrying handle. As well here's a shot of the bottom wheel structure that was all made with 1/2" conduit bolted together.
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-23-2010, 10:04 PM | #5 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
Shopping List:
Most everything came from Home Depot, but nothing except the Sandblast valve is special. 1 - 20lb Propane Tank 3 - 3/8" ball valves 1 - 3/4" Ball Valve (sand filler) 1 - Sandblast Valve/Nozzle, the inlet was 3/8" yours may be different, mine unit came from Princess Auto, but Harbour Freight has them as well - A length of 1/2" Reinforced water line, from the tank bottom to the sandblast nozzle, originally I used 3/8" but it kept plugging and rather dramatically burst. After that I changed to 1/2" line and it all worked fine. Keep an eye on the line, the sand erodes it and eventually it will burst. - Length of 3/8" Reinforced water line, just a short length is needed, if you switch to 1/2" on this line it would be fine and you would only need one diameter of line. 1 - 3/4" pipe tee, for the top, check the diameter of the large hole in your tank, it may be larger, if so all of the 3/4" fittings should be changed to the appropriate size. 2 - 3/4" close pipe nipples, for the top 1 - 3/4" to 3/8" pipe reducer, for the 3/4 tee to 3/8" tee 2 - 3/8" pipe tees 3 - 3/8" Close pipe nipples 1 - 3/8" pipe nipple 3" or 4", basically that long for clearance for the valve handle. 1 - 3/8" Pipe Coupler, welded into a hole in the bottom of the tank. 2 - 3/8" Pipe to 3/8" hose barb 1 - 3/8" to 1/4" reducer (for air inlet) 1 - 1/4" Air line inlet (male) 1 - Air pressure gauge or relief valve - whole bunch of 1/2" conduit (for me around 109") 2 - lawn mower wheels 2 - 3/8" to 1/2" hose barbs (one sized for the Sandblast Valve/Nozzle) 1 - 3/4" hose barb for the top fill valve as well as a large funnel (not mandatory) - Threaded rod for an axle for the wheels. Hopefully this gives somebody some ideas. Ron
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-24-2010, 12:48 AM | #6 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
Thanks Ron, extremely helpful! What kind of material do you use to blast with?
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03-24-2010, 08:33 AM | #7 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
I've been using the "black sand" from TSC, I've always assumed that it's coal slag but it might just be sand. I wouldn't use it to blast any body panels, you'll risk warping. It's really only suitable for heavy gauge metal like the frame.
I'll also say that I found it to be alot quicker and easier to clean up the frame with wirewheels and flap disks, just wear a leather apron and a face mask since those little wires fly everywhere. Just use the blaster to get into the spots that are a little inaccessable, it goes way quicker. Ron
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-24-2010, 09:17 AM | #8 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
welding a used propane tank will get you killed.....propane penitrates the tank steel and the residgual gas will be nearly impossable to get out...they seel a special poweder to put in the tank but I recomend getting a new tank..this is no place to be cheap!!
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03-24-2010, 11:18 AM | #9 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
so use a freon tank instead ...
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03-24-2010, 11:50 AM | #10 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
At the time I made it, I filled the tank with water before welding on it, realistically a new tank isn't alot of money.
Ron
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-25-2010, 03:36 PM | #11 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
I found a local guy on craigslist who gets all the returns and displays from harbor frieght and bought a new 40 lb one for $50 .The first one I bought was only $100, so I'm not sure making one is worth the time and risk involved. jmho
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1969 CHEVELLE SS 1972 C10 ALMOST DAILY DRIVER 1968 C10 RUSTBUCKET (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE) 1972 PONTIAC LEMANS CONVERTIBLE (WIFE'S CAR) "My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met." - Rodney Dangerfield "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Einstein |
03-25-2010, 08:53 PM | #12 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
I made a pressure sandblaster from a hundred pound propane tank. It works way better than my old siphon blaster.
Because it was used, I filled it with water and let it sit for a couple days and then emptied/refilled before welding.
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03-26-2010, 04:38 PM | #13 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
Could you use a air tank instead of a propane tank? Sounds safer!
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03-26-2010, 05:59 PM | #14 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
I've been told that the air tanks are made of a lighter gauge of metal than propane tanks, no idea how you could confirm that. The nice thing about the propane tanks is the relatively large opening on the top, even so it takes a while to fill it.
Ron
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-29-2010, 02:44 PM | #15 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
How high do you take the pressure to?
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I didn't say you were stupid, but I was thinking it... I need a check up from the neck up! Project "Rigginstine's Monster" 1971 C-10 longbed 355/4spd Future mods: 67 front clip Webby's Rigginations - where everything has potential! |
03-29-2010, 09:04 PM | #16 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
I had a regulator that limited it to 80psi.
Ron
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72 Chevy C10 (rust repaired, starting body work) 72 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 72 Chevy C20 Suburban 38 Ford Tudor Humpback Sedan (from the darkside) 67 Pontiac Parisienne 55 Studebaker Commander 2dr Hardtop (Starliner) My Youtube channel with Video Updates! |
03-30-2010, 10:40 AM | #17 |
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Re: My Homemade Sandblasting Pressure Pot
Cool. I take my blasting cabinet up to 95 lbs. I was thinking you could get away with less since it pressurises behind the sand too. Thanks
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I didn't say you were stupid, but I was thinking it... I need a check up from the neck up! Project "Rigginstine's Monster" 1971 C-10 longbed 355/4spd Future mods: 67 front clip Webby's Rigginations - where everything has potential! |
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