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Posted: 6/21/2009 11:29:52 AM EDT
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I'm planning on refinishing a few guns but I need to blast them first. What's the cheapest setup capable of doing what I need. Would one of the cheap blasting guns from harbor freight work? My compressor is just a small 2 gallon CH with a 100 p.s.i. maximum, I have a 10 gallon tank in line with the compressor for added capacity. I know I may have to stop very frequently to let pressure build back up but I don't mind. I won't be using it for anything but these few guns and then it will probably ride the shelf. Also, where should I look for blasting media if harbor freight doesn't have what I need?
Thanks, DOC |
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I routinely use a $15.95 hobby blasting gun from Harbor Freight for refinishing my guns. (the kind with a built in hopper––holds about a pound or 2 of abrasive) I actually prefer using this cheap gun over my bigger units because it's easier to control.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95793 |
I used this $9 spot sand blaster I got off ebay
and 5 lbs of "WHITE" aluminum Oxide also off ebay for <$10. The places selling duracoat have started selling the Orange Aluminum Oxide in the typical Jobber quantities for a reasonable price, probably the best place to get it. I think they sell the same blast gun for roughly the same price. The orange aluminum oxide is more common, the white stuff is less abrasive, I just turned up the air pressure some more and it seemed to produce the same results. My air compressor is 5HP with a 20 gallon tank, even then I had to stop often and wait for the compressor to build back up pressure. Adding a bigger tank to your 2 gallon will help, but you didn't mention HP and thats what tells you how long you can go until pressure drops too low and you have to sit and wait and let the pressure build back up. Also, remember to give you compressor a rest, especially cheap ones with oil-less compressors, its NOT hard to fry the compressor or motor running it constantly trying to do something that exceeds its capacity. For small parts for a single rifle, its inconvenient but works, its worth the extra trouble to avoid paying lots of money for quality equipment. You'll get a few seconds of blasting and then you have to shake the tank in the gun to shift the material around and get it feeding again, you get 3 or 4 5sec long blasts and then you have to wait for you compressor to build back up pressure. Maybe takes 30 minutes to do a 5 min job with quality blast tools, but that's worth it to save hundreds on blast tools you don't need that often. I got a big plastic tub, cleaned it and made sure it was dry, and did my blasting in it, NOT only was it cleaner for the surrounding area, it was able to recover at least half the media used out of the bottom of the tub and re-use it. Only do this out doors and at least 10 ft away from anything you want to avoid getting the blast media on, it will go everywhere. I did it in the lawn and just let the rain wash the sand into the soil. You could see lots of media all over the grass for a couple of days. |
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Quoted:
Thanks guys. Great information. I'll probably give the cheaper route a try. If my compressor makes it too big of a chore for my time I'll just suck it up and invest in MORE POWER. Ill have to sneak it past the wife. Yea, that's the mistake I made––my compressor is too wimpy. Normally, I would have used it as an excuse to buy a bigger compressor, but I do a lot of projects with my brother in law (a fellow AR owner), so I just keep my gun and abrasive at his shop. He's got a kick ass compressor with more than enough flow. |
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Yeah I completely forgot that my father in law has a huge industrial compressor so that problem is solved. I got a gun from harbor freight but I only get a couple seconds with my small compressor before I have to let it recharge. Does anyone know where I can get 120 grit aluminum oxide? HF only has 220 grit and 80 grit. I can't even find the stuff online for a reasonable price. Where do you guys get yours?
Thanks, DOC |
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Brownells part number for a 6 lb can of 120 grit al ox: ($26 + shipping)
084-206-120 Personally, if you can get 220 grit at HF, that's the way I'd do it––much cleaner appearance and it'll still be a grippy surface for paint to bond to. Look around your local area....any machine shops, mom-n-pop hardware stores, etc? It's not too hard to find once you know what to look for and you won't get raped on s/h fees. |
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http://www.lauerweaponry.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=HMB&storeid=1&image=blaster.gif&CFID=36251318&CFTOKEN=26297385
Lauer Custom Weaponry has the cheapo blast guns for $15 and 5lbs of 120grit Aluminum Oxide Media for $10. This is the company that makes duracoat and sells it. |
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Northern Tools has Aluminum Oxide but doesn't say what the grit is on the website. They also have glass bead. Why won't 220 work for you? I don't know will it? I know they recommend 120. I was thinking 220 might not give a rough enough surface for the paint to grip onto. |
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I was also scratching my head looking for 120grit alox until I asked the akforum community.
Substitute for 120 grit Alox |
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Quoted:
I was also scratching my head looking for 120grit alox until I asked the akforum community. Substitute for 120 grit Alox Can you copy paste the info? i dont want to make an account. 
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