Sandblasting my SA200

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Well i finally rigged up my first sand blaster with and improvised tip till I rebuild the gun. Does a wonderfull job of cleaning up pitted metal, didn't know what I was missing till now but found I have a lot to learn and read up on. Always heard about warping sheet metal but thought the hood on the SA was pretty stout. Warp is more from heavy peening than often talked about heat. First picture is of the hood outside and looking good to you look further, this is at 70 PSI gun about 4 inches away.  Now looking down the inside you can see how the sides have really curled in, should see and arched top with sides at about 90 deg. bends, these have really pulled in. Guess I will cut the pressure down to about 40 Lbs and slow the operation down, I was amazed at how fast I could clean this up and it was severly pitted. Think I need to slow down and use less pressure, more distance from gun and finer media, however this was a black diamond 40/60. I found I had plenty of air but always read of guys not having enough air to keep up and needing all kinds of pressure.   Heres another shot showing just how much it curled in from just hitting one side. And this is my first time out with the blaster   And I just couldn't resist running it down the frame of and old pickup I have in the yard, it will make short work of that but it does seem to use a lot of sand, I used 100lbs to do the hood and really am not done yet."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Blast the inside and it'll go back the other way.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Sand blasting sheetmetal and warpage is no joke, the key is to use some what low pressure and keep the nozzle back away from the panel...I use vineger when I can on sheetmetal...Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:My understanding is baking soda is better on thin stuff. The panels warp because the metal is stretched. So it is actually expanding the surface area. Things like mounting holes and through openings actually move and the piece no longer fits. To recover/reuse your media, put the parts on a tarp. You can scoop up the abrasive and reuse. Can save you good bucks.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Make sure you have and use very good respiratory protection.  Sand particulates are nothing to take lightly.
Reply:Used Black Beauty, AKA coal slag. using a respirator with cannisters that are tubed behind the back. Duane, I am going to try hitting the inside about the same way, from then on I will take it easy even with fairly thick sheetmetal. Amazing how much it moves by peening.   I got anxious to try the blaster, I really want to make a cabinet. I thought I would use and old oil tank. Then the other day I was moving a bare stripped out Chevy Cab and the thought occurred to me what a nice sandblast cabinet it would make. Sheet metal the back window,  sheet metal the windshield and put a small view window in. A light and you already have doors with seals on both ends. Only draw back is it is quite large. Would also have a cool factor. Maybe someday when I build that dream shop. I will definately rig up some tarps to try to contain and re use some media when outdoor blasting."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderMy understanding is baking soda is better on thin stuff. The panels warp because the metal is stretched. So it is actually expanding the surface area. Things like mounting holes and through openings actually move and the piece no longer fits. To recover/reuse your media, put the parts on a tarp. You can scoop up the abrasive and reuse. Can save you good bucks.
Reply:Bead blasting is frequently used on aircraft, as it will strip off the Imron paint without doing significant damage to the delicate aluminum panels.  The media is significantly more expensive, however.
Reply:Originally Posted by kolotFrom what I understand they use Sodium Bicarbonate which is baking soda on steroids, as it hits it goes to fine powder and is not reusable but is enviromentally friendly. Also will leave a white film on the metal that will inhibit rust for some time.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseFYI, sodium bicarbonate IS baking soda.  For use in media-blasting, the baking soda used is (or should be) a bigger grit size than usual household baking soda powder.Dusty process though, as you are using a material that is soft and 'dusty' to begin with.http://www.sodablasting.com/about-sodablasting/http://www.universalminerals.com/lib...y_abrasive.pdf
Reply:Originally Posted by kolotFor YOUR information I know that but it's not the stuff you find in the back of your refrigerator is it? Therefore the Steroid analogy. Thanks for the Links.
Reply:got my 200 apart and at the blasters....cant wait to see how it turns outThermal Arc Fabricator 2101970 Lincoln RedfaceMiller 150 STLStill need a Syncrowave and a plasma and a milling machine and a lathe and a bigger shop and a....