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9/19/2008 4:31:44 PM EDT
So I'm getting into refinishing my guns and have been reading this section for ideas on media to use, etc. I don't know crap about air compressors and now I'm completely confused as to how much CFM is necessary.

I blindly bought a blasting gun from home depot because it was cheap and I was there and it has the following specs:

4.4 CFM @ 40 PSI
9.6 CFM @ 90 PSI
12.4 CFM @ 125 PSI

From what I've read, 90 PSI is the magic number for blasting, but the compressors I've seen with 9-10 CFM are huge and expensive, which I was trying to avoid. The gun has a 3/16" nozzle, so my thinking is if I can get ahold of a smaller tip, wouldn't that reduce the CFM necessary @ 90 PSI?

Would I do better getting a different gun meant for a smaller compressor? Any help is greatly appreciated!
9/20/2008 5:15:55 AM EDT
[#1]
If you can trust that CFM chart, a 5hp compressor should do you. The rule of thumb is 4CFM per horsepower. It would appear you'd need a 2.5hp compressor, but it'd burn itself up trying to keep up with that nozzle. So go to 5hp & your compressor will live. A smaller nozzle will reduce your horsepower demand.
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