unorthodox media blasting

Am I out of my mind thinking that paying big bucks for a blast cabinet is kinda silly if you're not worried about keeping your workspace free of abrasive media? Is there some reason I'm missing that lining my garden shed with plastic (Dexter kill room style) would be insufficient?

I'm mulling a motorcycle project that would have me blasting large components like the frame and engine, and if I could do it myself, I'd save a bunch of cash on the build.

I realize I'd miss out on efficient recycling of the media (I'd just be using sand for this project anyway), and that I'd obviously have to wear a bunch of protective gear so I don't sandblast my eyeballs or other precious orifices. But, is that all there is to it?

Tell me what I'm missing here.

You can do it in your yard...

No need for an enclosure at all, as far as I'm concerned.

40x40 blue tarp is all you need for home use and a good respirator! Spread the tarp out stack the corners when you done just pick up one side and pull to the middle. Then shovel the grit back in to a bucket. I've used a ice fishing shack in the bast to blast two LARGE (~6ft dia) turbo compressor wheels before we balanced them. That job sucked. Full suit and a v8 engine compressor with suppled air respirator.

Have you ever sandblasted a LOT, like what would be required for a whole frame or engine? The mess is unbelievable...contained in a lined garden shed, I suspect you'd be unable to see in a matter of minutes because of the dust. Which reminds me, make sure you use a respirator too.

I recently bought a soda blaster so I could just blast in my driveway and wash away the soda when it's done. I've heard it's not very aggressive, so I'm curious to try and see for myself, as I don't have enough space for a blast cabinet and washing away the media sounds very nice.

Bryce

How much are you expecting to save? There is no shortage of bike shops in Saint Louis, thats for sure.

my father in law did it in the yard... with buckets of sand he picked up at the beach... lol...

a cabinet seems like a smart investment if you are doing little parts frequently... but for an occasional small part in the yard would work fine me thinks...

I have a blast cabinet and a good pressure sand blaster. I use the cabinet for little stuff and the blaster for big stuff. I usually use glass bead in the cabinet, and it's nice to have for the convenience. I only paid $129 for it on sale. I doubt you could make a tent much cheaper than that.

N Sperlo wrote: How much are you expecting to save? There is no shortage of bike shops in Saint Louis, thats for sure.

That's also a good question/point. A few years back I had the convertible top frame for my Bug sandblasted and powdercoated black at a local chopper shop. This is a pretty big top frame with lots of details, about the same amount of work as doing a motorcycle frame. I also had a pair of custom Fiero headlight brackets thrown in while I was at it. The bill was $100, the work was great, turnaround was only two days, and they even gave me a t-shirt when I picked it up. Heck, even if it's $200 to blast and powdercoat a whole frame, you're still coming out way ahead on the deal as far as I'm concerned! Looking back to the sandblasting I've done in the past, I wish I would have just farmed it out...one of the few jobs I would rather pay to have done than do myself.

Bryce

In reply to alex:

can't comment on the cost/savings questions.

But I have a friend who is a glass artist- his stuff is large enough to not fit into large cabinets. So he's doing what you suggest- converting a small shed to do all the sand blasting.

He has a full fresh air respirator, though. Then again, art sells for good money AND he's constantly doing it. (And glass isn't very lung friendly, so he's super careful).

If you have good dust management, you'll be able to recycle most of what you could do in a normal cabinet.

The cost of the safety gear and conversion of the shed is going to far exceed any savings from having this farmed out. cant see a bike frame going over $300 to blast AND powder coat.

If you do go ahead, please U tube the action from inside the shed.

I agree with the people who say it's not worth the effort when someone else can do the dirty work for a reasonable sum. If you do decide to do it out in the back yard, I hope your back yard is pretty big...the neighbors might not appreciate the residue.

I have a sand blasting attachment for my big gas pressure washer. It works well and there is no dust. I do have to do something right after blasting to keep new rust from forming, but metal prep (phosphoric acid) works well

Respirator, face shield or goggles, cheap disposable painters suit w/ a hood for a job that big. I tried just the respirator but sand will drop from your hair and clothes into your face, ears, eyes n everywhere and you'll end up breathing it indirectly.

Yard works OK, sand is cheap at $3 / 50 lbs, large tarp will collect some for recycle. I still sun dry the sand in a plastic mortar pan, just a little moisture will slow ya down.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202389991&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&MERCH=REC--nosearch2-1--NA--202389991-

My approach to unorthodox media blasting

Anyone in MA need glass bead? I've got 70 some gallons to give away

I did some sandblasting in my driveway with a small air compressor, a siphon style gun from HF and a bag of sand. My neighbor had done something similar before and warned me I would be digging sand out of my orifices for days.

He was right, particularly in the ears (what were you thinking?). I even found sand in my mailbox, which was on the other side of the house. My air compressor wasn't very strong and it took forever just to sandblast some leaf springs. I'd farm it out unless I had the big equipment and either a big space or a confined space to do it.

Yes wear a tyvec suit duct tape the cuffs and grab and old M-cycle helmet.

I just got two quotes to blast my motorcycle frame and swing arm. Both places quoted me $50 with me bringing in the frame with the areas that I didn't want blasted tapped off.

I am looking for a place to send my carbs to be soda blasted - or to try the home soda blaster method.

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

i got quoted $200 to do a motorcycle subframe. That's why I built the behemoth