My Media Blasting Equipment

My Media Blasting Equipment

I have been asked lately by several in the industry to help them understand what "media blasting", equipment I use and why. This blog is on just the equipment I'm using, there are links to other entries in the blog that contain more information on "media or hydro blasting", please view them also to get a better overview on this type of blasting. I have been telling each contractor that contacted me much the same thing. Replying by phone and by email so I thought if I could put down here in the blog would be a good reference. What tools or attachments I use is the most asked question this is what I have been telling them it might just be a plus for all though wondering about this process. Helping each other in the industry makes things easier for all of us. Each of us has more or less knowledge on certain aspects of different aspects of power washing or in this case using a power washer as a tool to achieve a different goal, "media blasting". Again I am not a self appointed internet expert on blasting I'm sure there are others out there that know more, done more, achieved more and generally are smarter them me on this subject. Don't believe me just ask them, they will tell you. In any case for those of you who asked and are interested enough in what I have to say here it is.

This photo and description is from:  http://www.pacht.com/waterjetting/waterjetting.htm: (please check them out for other info on water blasting and cutting), it shows a basic rendering of what is going on with a pressure washer and a vacuum feed nozzle or head of a media blaster most of us will use. The media is being drawn into the water-stream then propelled out with the force needed to remove from the surface of the substrate we are blasting.

Wet Sand Blast, Vacuum Feed:
The sand can be made of various hard materials: Garnet, Silica, various oxides, etc. It is filtered and refined to a specific size, all depended upon the application.  
The sand is carried by the high velocity water that is generated in the nozzle. The high velocity water jet in the abrasive nozzle accelerates the sand. In this system the water jet inside the abrasive nozzle creates a vacuum that pulls the sand from the container to the nozzle.

Clicking on the links below should open a new tab taking you only to the information and place you want to be.

Cleaned by Pete hydro blasting set-up General pump BE older version.

Landa media blasting set-up Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.

One of the power washers Cleaned by Pete use for the media or wet sand blasting in Southwest Missouri.

I have been "wet blasting" for years and mostly have worked in the field of machine and transportation. Wet blasting cars, bikes, new assemblies, motors and the like. Have also used this "wet blasting" on concrete, cast iron parts, gates, and graffiti to name a few other areas. Wet blasting has its good points and its drawback as does "dry blasting" or traditional compressed air blasting. If you want to read more on that here are the links: www.cleanedbypete.com look under the page media blasting. Also more info here on the blog at: http://cleanedbypete.blogspot.com/2013/04/attachments-media-blaster.html  or http://cleanedbypete.blogspot.com/2014/12/hydro-blasting-what-is-it.html . For more on different media: http://cleanedbypete.blogspot.com/2013/05/sand-or-coal-slag-for-media-blasting.html or http://cleanedbypete.blogspot.com/2013/04/media-what-is-difference-sand-soda-coal.html .

Medium grade of coal slag use to remove paint from this tractor grill, Cleaned by Pete Fairgrove Missouri, "wet media blasting".

Some of my conversations about wet media or hydro blasting went like this;

Sir, 

First off soda will not remove rust. I would use coal slag more info below from my blog. You will have to get a blaster matched to one of your washers to make it work the best. There is no need to have hot water for media blasting, coal slag is cheaper then screened sand and cuts faster and better. You can buy it in different grades get course or the course you can find. Tractor Supply handles it as does Orscheln farm store. It comes in 40 lbs bags it flows well and you don't have to worry about a larger rock as found in sand. I would use your 4 @ 4000 for blasting you have the needed power with less water. Several of the dealers handle the better ones Landa and Shark are the most expensive depending on what you want look at the one at powerwash.com it can do the job you want with out too much out lay "below". A tip when using keep the hose feed on top of the wand I tape it on in place and always keep the wand pointed down so water will not get into the feed when letting off the trigger. Wet sand, soda or slag plugs things up also if you get to close you can cause water to backflow plugging it up also then you have to dry things out and start again. Read the links and ask any question I'll try to help you out. 

Pete
 http://www.powerwash.com/industrial-sand-blaster-kit-with-wand-pipe.html


Sir,
While I use power washers rated at 4 gallons at 4000 psi and a 4 gallon at 3200 for blasting I'm sure you could use a higher flow washer. The problem with higher flow washers is water usage 4 gallons has been sufficient for all the jobs I have undertaken thus far. Since I do mobile blasting at customers homes and locations water flow may be and issue (a well or out laying area many not keep up with much more them 4 gallons per minute). Yes all my "media blaster" units or washers are on wheels. Getting to some areas is just hard here in the Ozarks.
Pete


Dan,
I have two power washing units that I use for blasting and their output is a close range I do use each of the wands or set-ups with both washers but they are matched to a machine. Most upper level systems or nozzles will be sized or ordered to fit your machine you intend to use it on. The one you asked about is a Landa brand wand, head, nozzle, lance and pick up tube they run around $650.00 to $750.00 dollars depending on the markup at a Landa dealer. I have seen the Shark brand available also it appears to be the same setup. The blasting nozzle is replaceable if needed. You asked about the other one it is a older model General Pump or BE that has been superseded by another one. I like this nozzle when using soda it seems to work well but also use the coal slag with it.
Pete
*******
Dan, 
here is the the link to the closest thing to the old General I believe this would work for you. I know other dealer sell them too. Look to find one to fit your washer. The Landa / Shark kit use to be found on Amazon too. The Landa comes with a thumb control valve to increase and decrease the media flow on the side handle very easy to use.
Pete
http://www.powerwash.com/industrial-sand-blaster-kit-with-wand-pipe.html
http://www.amazon.com/Shark-89044720-Pressure-Sandblaster-Carbide/dp/B005QZ4FOQ
*********
Yes it is different the newer one have a media flow valve on them and I don't know how well it works. I have made a flow valve at the pick-up tube in the system I use. A bit of a hassle till you get the flow you want have to walk back to the bucket a couple of time the flow at the nozzle may save a few steps and some time I really don't know. I use about 25 to 30 feet of feed hose,
Pete

*****,
I have the two different units for different machines each is matched to the output of the pump. For the price if you were not going to serious about media blasting the General or BE style would be OK, Long term, easy to media flow adjustment and parts that will not be superseded I would say the Landa is the way to go. It is a bit heaver and I have had problems getting it in crevices where blasting is needed. The smaller head / nozzle of the General one was much easier to get into places, though the new style is bulkier too. I saw this one It is a little lighter I don't know who makes it but it may be OK to begin with due to the price. Again I do not know much about it since I'm not looking to replace anything yet so I can not recommend it but the overall design is very similar to my old one and has replaceable nozzles.
Pete
http://www.arkansas-ope.com/Wet_Sandblasting.html



Sir,
The silver tube looking thing as you called standing by the washer is my hopper it holds about 100 pounds of media. It is a gravity feed hopper (homemade by me) but soda does not like to flow to well in it maybe to skinny. I have to whack it a rubber mallet to keep the soda flowing down sand and slag work well since it weighs more. I use mostly a 5 gallon bucket with media in it now and throw a blue tarp over it when working to keep the water out. One tip I learned the hard way is to never let off the trigger unless you are point the tip down. I have had water back flow a bit and plug up the media flow. Stop and dry it out wet media does not flow and slows the job down. You can see I have buckets in the picture, I find them easier to use and keep the media in. It may look a bit more "unprofessional" but it works better for me.

Cleaned by Pete media blasting Battlefield MO.

These are a few of the questions I have answered I only posted my answers since I did not get permission to post the questions from the people who asked them. Posting other texts, emails and communications is just bad taste in my opinion. you can under stand what was being talked about and that is all that is needed in this case. I have not told you how to do it that is up to you each unit will react somewhat different you will have to develop your own technique and style of doing this, type of work. I was asked by one of the power washing groups if I would help by teaching a class on "media blasting" it looks like a growing field and I just may do it at one of the conventions if there is interest in it. I hope you find this blog entry answering some of your questions about this add-on service to your business. I'm still available for questions.

Hydro blasting Battlefield MO Cleaned by Pete.

I have given you some links to more info that I have written about blasting please give them a read and a view. I have listed some local resources for media also in hope to help. As I tell others you can do more with a power washer than you would think. I have also included some pictures of actual work done by Cleaned by Pete. Showing you I actually do this and what my results are. Expand your opportunity but don't just buy the cheapest blaster you see, unless you just want to try it, it's cheaper for a reason. Buying a better one and practice with and how to use it is a good path to take. Would I buy the Landa outfit first at the cost I would have to really think about it. Was the Landa blaster worth the cost I still have to say yes to me it was. I remember my first time I tried wet blasting! Yes it was a mess the learning curve almost sent it to the trash, but what took me hours then, is much faster now. I'm a old fat man and move at a steady pace the Mustang above took me 3 hours on site setup, blasting and breakdown just to give you an idea of time. There are more pictures at my google+ page if you would like to see them, and please visit Cleaned by Pete at our web site www.cleanedbypete.com and on facebook also. Please to like us on facebook and follow us on google+.

Wet Sand blasting Nixa MO, Cleaned by Pete.

In wrapping up I will list my blasting equipment so you can see what I use:

set up #1

15 hp Lifan motor driving an AR nickel head 4000 psi @ 4 gpm direct drive pump.

Landa sand blasting kit nozzled to the unit (I bought this to use on my Landa hot water skid which is 3500 at 4.7 so the nozzling is close enough to use it on both).

25 to 30 feet of suction hose to draw media.

several 5 gallon buckets to hold the media for  uses in blasting.

tarp to cover the media buckets

and about 50 to 75 foot of high pressure hose.

set up #2 

15 hp Duro Max motor gear drive a Hypo pump 3200 psi at 4 gpm  on the four wheel kart.

General or BE (older style) blasting head on just a regular gun and lance.

home made flow control valve on the sand probe to regulate the flow of media

and ever thing else listed above is the same.

It is not the equipment that does the job, it is a means to do the job. What does the job is the person running the equipment, who has the knowledge, practice and the time, plus a willingness to learn this trade and then to do it. One has to practice with it and understand the difference in the medias and what the substrates are to be effective in wet blasting. There are not a lot of mobile "blasting" services out there so it may be a good add-on service for you or your business.

Media blasting pump and Landa wet blasting set-up Cleaned by Pete Southwest Missouri.

The media control valve lets in more air or less air to the suction line causing a smaller or larger low pressure zone allowing more or less media to flow. To much media in the line means it does not pick up speed to impact the surface. It all comes out at once in a big gulp not a smooth stream you know you have this when the wand wants to putt putt  to little flow no cutting going on. The idea is just enough to propel each grain of media at speed hit the surface cut chip, or roll then bounce back in the water stream once again. To much media is like a heavy splat then just falls off in the runoff stream. This comes with using your setup I can show you but trying to explain in words is hard if you are trying and not having the results you wish remember sometimes a little is better than alot. Also the media needs to fit the substrate surface and what is being removed. That is the reason for all the grades and different medias out there. Don't give up on your first couple of tries it something new and will take some new techniques to do effectively.

Soda blasting Springfield MO, Cleaned by Pete.

Cleaned by Pete soda blasting a Honda Motor for a "cafe racer project.

Soda blasting BMW wheel centers for a restoration Cleaned by Pete.

Cleaned by Pete 

just a power washer trying to help others out

417.459.7869

serving the greater Springfield MO area

A few other links you may wish to visit about wet media blasting:

 http://www.ultimatewasher.com/water-sandblasting.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfA-IkaMRGE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zym-YMHYZzQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9AabQbhG84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxQwr6UcVBI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl-muDjaKyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pj1jn_heVM

This entry will be ever growing as I add questions and information to it.