Badger 260 sandblaster questions

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Ok, I received my sand blaster today and tried it out using baking soda. I could not get the baking soda to syphon up the tube into the mixing chamber and ended up having to use it inverted, tapping it againt the table every 5 seconds or so to ensure a flow.

So I know it is caking up, but how and why? Humidity is under 50% so that is not an issue. The baking soda was from the kitchen and free of contaminants.

I was using about 40 PSI as per instructions.

Any ideas?

[nscaler711]

How's the humidity there? Baking soda will start to clump even with a little bit of moisture. So that may be an issue...

[Chris333]

My Harbor Freight blaster pretty much only works when all the way full.

[peteski]

I use the standard aluminum oxide abrasive Badger sells for blasting.  It is much finer than baking soda and it works well.

[BN1970]

Using a Paasche Air Eraser I found some baking soda worked better than others, I use Arm & Hammer.

I also found that the air eraser did not plug up when I only filled the hopper to about 40% verses all the way.

When I totally filled up the hopper the air eraser would plug up quite regularly. --Brian

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Would baking the baking soda to remove any moisture help?

I'm also wondering is the pressure equalization hole in the top is too small. I'm guessing a vacuum in the hopper would reduce flow to the nozzle.

I'll probably try these tonight when working on the GP40-2LW (IM sent assembled, painted and damaged shells instead of undec parts on a sprue) 

[craigolio1]

You could add some rice to the baking soda. It will absorbs the moisture.

I found the Aluminnm Oxide works better than the baking soda. I made a sifter out of hash pipe screen sold in rolls on eBay. I cut out the top of a plastic container similar to a peanut butter jar. Replaced it with screen and taped it to a long saw-z-all blade. Clamp it all in place, lock the trigger and let it do the work. Now I can reuse the sand instead of buying it.

Craig

[chessie system fan]

I just picked up a harbor freight version and realized they no longer sell the aluminum dioxide in a fine enough grain.  The thought just occurred to me that I've got some fine unhandled tile grout.  Think that would work?

[craigolio1]

I wouldn't use grout. It has an adhesive in it and just based on how hard it is to get it off my tools once dry, I can imagine it would be impossible to get out of your blaster. Obviously you're going to put water in it but it could draw moisture from the air.

You can get the Badger Aluminum Oxide abrasive on Amazon, or from a good LHS.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_22?k=badger+aluminum+oxide+abrasive&sprefix=badger+aluminum+oxide+

Craig

[peteski]

I wouldn't use grout. It has an adhesive in it and just based on how hard it is to get it off my tools once dry, I can imagine it would be impossible to get out of your blaster. Obviously you're going to put water in it but it could draw moisture from the air.

You can get the Badger Aluminum Oxide abrasive on Amazon, or from a good LHS.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_22?k=badger+aluminum+oxide+abrasive&sprefix=badger+aluminum+oxide+

Craig

Yeah,
Badger makes and sells blasting media designed specifically for the sandblasting gun - I'm not sure why people just don't use it, instead of looking for alternatives.

[chessie system fan]

I came to the same conclusion after thinking about it some more.