Crozzer

Hi - lots of threads about walnut blasting, but I'm not finding much on which air compressor or adapters works best. Will a pancake air comp get the job done if I'm willing to wait? Will an add-on receiver tank make the job much better? 10 gal? 20 gal?

I'm aware that while blasting, we need ~15-20 CFM and ~100 psi roughly. Also that the pump doesn't have to hit that number, just the air available from the tank, for what.. 20 seconds at a time every minute or so?

If you have done this job with a pancake - did it work? How long did you wait between being able to blast?

If you have done this job and felt you had the right tool without being overkill, what was that air compressor?

Thanks all!

I think the local dealers would do the job for $1,000 - $1,500. I'm hoping to spend < $500 for the tools, media, compressor, etc., but that is just me hoping, until I figure out what will work.

PourBoi-Jay

20-gal is the minimum for the job, in my experience. I’ve done 2 cars with mine, and it still runs quite regularly throughout the cleaning.

If I recall correctly, I spent around $400 for my setup. I purchased a cheap media blasting gun from Harbor Freight, and modified it with a long blasting wand.

Standby for a pic

phatz

Really? A large single stage Quincy couldnt even do that

PourBoi-Jay

Here’s my very budget solution:







The main item is a Central Pneutmatic Blast Gun with gravity feed. It was around $20-30 from Harbor Freight, but required some light modifications to function as a suitable blasting tool.

First, I had to remove the red canister to widen the media feed port at the bottom, so it would accept the more coarse walnut media.

Secondly, I purchased a walnut blast wand tool on eBay for dirt cheap, and hammered it through silver tip that came with the gun. Super simple.

While it’s certainly not the most efficient tool, it certainly still gets the job done, provided you have a suitable air compressor. The media canister is small, and needs to be refilled 2-3 times per cylinder.

Hope this helps

Crozzer

I think those are the needs while blasting, like while pulling the trigger, not continuous.

from the 50 lbs media blaster specs:
”Air consumption: 6 CFM @ 60 PSI, 25 CFM @ 125 PSI”

but… I am definitely not an expert here!

jeff spahn

I use an Ingersol Rand 185 CFM at 100 psi. Diesel power. Rent one from United Rentals or something. I happen to own two, a 185 and a 375 CFM.

Jamescoop

I had no problems doing walnut blast with a $20 amazon blaster, with hose going to a 2.5gal bucket of walnut shells ($25 at harbor freight -med grit), with a small pancake compressor. Just takes a little while longer. Absolutely no need for a giant compressor whatsoever.

I also clean as much big stuff out with picks as possible first (but dont bother with chemical, just $1 HF picks, old toothbrush, Q-tips to help get gunk out

Want the ultimate flex? Use the onboard compressor (if you have air suspension)

Crozzer

ha ha! Pretty sure I was the only one airing up with onboard air at the track day last fall…

thanks for the report on the pancake + patience. I picked up a dewalt 15 gal model D55168, so I think I’m good to go.