New sandblaster issues..

[Zack1978]

Hi everyone,
I just purchased a new Clarke sandblaster (I have a link below to the exact unit that I purchased), and I am having issues with it actually working. The blast media that I purchased is "Black Beauty" fine. I have used that media in the past with a siphon feed blaster, and it worked great; not so with the new blaster. My issue seems to be that the media is simply getting clogged in the nozzle, and it will not force itself out of the nozzle. The nozzle is a ceramic insert that can be removed or replaced, however it still is clogging.

Are there replacement nozzles that have a larger opening, as opposed to what I am using? Am I using the wrong blast media? Does anyone have any tips on getting this working before I return it to the store? Does anyone have any experience with this type of unit? The directions that come with the blaster are HORRIBLE, I can't believe that a company could produce such poor directions!

Clarke - SB9010A - 20 Gallon Sand Blaster $149.99

Thanks,
Zack

 

[Zack1978]

Oh and one more question, what is that advantage to a "pressure blaster" over a siphon blaster?


Thanks,
Zack

 

[cruiser88]

Zack that media is great stuff BUT it is prone to moisture. Rule of thumb

Never put to much media in the pot in case you walk away for a day

Never leave the media setting overnight in the pot

make sure you have a dryer in line on the pot

Keep the pot warm....or at least dry.


Siphon blasters requires more air to operate along with other design characteristics unlike a pressure or traditional blaster. Just the design.... they are junk
I bet you will be fine if you dump the pot out make sure the stuff is dry and put a drier inline with the pot.

Take a piece of wire and clean the tip but I think you said you can take it off. It(the tip) may not be small enough but I dought it.

 

[Zack1978]

Zack that media is great stuff BUT it is prone to moisture. Rule of thumb

Never put to much media in the pot in case you walk away for a day

Never leave the media setting overnight in the pot

make sure you have a dryer in line on the pot

Keep the pot warm....or at least dry.


Siphon blasters requires more air to operate along with other design characteristics unlike a pressure or traditional blaster. Just the design.... they are junk
I bet you will be fine if you dump the pot out make sure the stuff is dry and put a drier inline with the pot.

Take a piece of wire and clean the tip but I think you said you can take it off. It(the tip) may not be small enough but I dought it.

I realized another problem that I might be causing is opening the media valve too much? I had the media valve wide open, could that have caused too much media to be fed in, thus clogging the tip?

Thanks,
Zack

 

[cruiser88]

Yes ......

I realized another problem that I might be causing is opening the media valve too much? I had the media valve wide open, could that have caused too much media to be fed in, thus clogging the tip?

Thanks,
Zack

 

[Zack1978]

Yes ......

Ok update. Adjusting the valve worked somewhat but it would seem to run out of media, when in fact I knew it had plenty of media left in the tank. I found that shaking the tank would help, but it would only last a few seconds at a time. It was difficult at best to use this damm thing. IMHO the simple siphon blaster was much better. My next step is to add another water filter, there is one on the blaster itself, but nowhere else.


Zack

 

[cruiser88]

what is your working psi?

Ok update. Adjusting the valve worked somewhat but it would seem to run out of media, when in fact I knew it had plenty of media left in the tank. I found that shaking the tank would help, but it would only last a few seconds at a time. It was difficult at best to use this damm thing. IMHO the simple siphon blaster was much better. My next step is to add another water filter, there is one on the blaster itself, but nowhere else.


Zack

 

[flintknapper]

What are the manufacturer recommended PSI and CFM requirements?

Sounds like you have a combination of too litte volume/pressure and moisture problems.

 

[ntsqd]

I've been known to dig all of the media out of my cabinet and lay it out on cookie sheets in the oven. I set the oven on ~150* and let it run a full day while at work.
I'm about to have to do that again.....