Eric, I am having a problem and that is why I hunted down your site and purchased the “unclogging the pressure pot” pdf. I think that is my problem and will pursue it this weekend.
I am a glass beadmaker and am ready to put beads in the cabinet and sandblast the designs that I have made with photo sensitive film and applied to the surface of the bead. I have attached prototypes that I did in a workshop that had a proper (read: pretty expensive) sandblast unit.
Previously, I had a cheap sand blast cabinet with a siphon system that I bought from Harbor Freight coupled with a 5hp 20 gallon compressor. It did the job but spending 45″ biting into the bead to get the depth that I wanted was not cost efficient.
So this week I assembled a pressure pot (40 gal) bought from Northern Tool and my cabinet (which I drilled out the hole where the siphon hose went to accommodate the new hose for the pressure pot handpiece.) I bought 25lbs of 180 grit aluminum oxide to put in the pot.
Got it all hooked up, tried to read everything I could on how to turn it on: which valve first etc. etc. (And through all my searching there is not one clear, step by step procedure for this) Well I think I made a big mistake because i had all valves full open when i turned on my compressor and the first time i opened the dead man valve for the handpiece/nozzle, I think I packed the medium in the lower opening and clogged that sucker up big time because all that comes out is air.
So, I am going to try your pierced pipe in the middle of the pot and hope and pray that it works as I am running out of ideas and this system is not one that is the usual set up seen on the web. Most info for sandblasting is oriented to car restorers or people that blast pane of glass for decorative work. Yup, they need big pressure pots, etc. You can’t just open up the yellow pages and find “service for pressure pot sandblasting set-ups.”
Anyway, I have another question that has me stumped and maybe you can answer it. The handpiece for this pressure pot has such a powerful spring in the deadman handle that I fear I won’t be able to use this for more than 5 minutes before my hand gets cramped. It is made for Mr. Gorrilla Hands not me, an average sized woman who has a fairly strong grip. I really would like to know if there is a trigger-type gun similar to the one I had with my siphon system that can be used for the pressure pot hose. I would glady chop this one off and reattach a smaller one. Or, is it possible to adapt a siphon gun by plugging up the siphon intake tube on the gun? Right now, I have a piece of wood jammed in the handle so that it stays open all the time. This is going to be a waste of media. Not to mention that that beast is heavy. I anticipate spending a half an hour or so every time I have a batch of beads to sandblast and that handle is not going to be a day at the beach to use for that amount of time.
I appreciate your time and any advice will be a help.
thanks,
Barbara
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Hey, Eric. I’ve been designing, cutting and making stained glass windows for over 30 years, but am just getting into sandblasting (had a friend give me a blasting cabinet). Aside from the info. on your site, I see you have some reading/reference material for sale (i.e., Sandblaster Modifications, Tips & Info.). Do you have, can you recommend any information/book/website/etc. that would help me get started in sandblasting glass and evolve quickly (with practice of course!). Thanks in advance.
Mike,
Finally getting back to you. I actually created a membership site about it here: glassetchingsecrets.com/member/
Although, the first 2 modules are dedicated more on basic sandblasting and equipment processes. I will be releasing a new module (hopefully in the third) about more sandblasting techniques on glass.