Sandblaster kit - recommendations?

Can someone recommend a good starter sandblasting kit? I want to do a once over on my engine while its still in the bike, and Im looking for a sandblaster setup, hose, compressor, media and all.

Any recommendations? Anything you recommend on Amazon?

I would not use a sand blaster on an engine. It is better to use a soda blaster which uses sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to remove paint, gunk, and corrosion. Cleanup after soda blasting is fairly simple; since the media is water soluble just use water to clean up With sand blasting it can be difficult to remove all the sand media after blasting. The link below shows one type of soda blaster. Ed

www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-portable-soda-blaster-60801.html

DIY



Good Fortune!

650Dude, there's a big difference between a sand blast unit and a bead blast unit. I never use a sand blaster, it's a very nasty tool and removes material(including the metal your working on)very fast. I have bead blasted and soda blasted bike engines for my restorations. If the engine is in the frame you can soda blast, just don't hit the frame or anything else that you don't want blasted. You don't have to worry abut the soda bouncing off one part and eroding another because when the soda hits the engine(or any other surface)it is disintegrated and the residue that bounces off is so fine it won't do anything to the surface. If you want you can tape a few rags on the frame or something you have handy. Another thing to remember is you need a GOOD compressor. I have a 40 gal. 2 cylinder compressor and it won't even come close to providing continuous air. I can only blast for 10 seconds at a time, I am getting a bigger compressor this spring. If you are just prepping the engine for paint the soda blaster will work. It won't take all the discoloration out of the aluminum like a bead blaster would but it will be clean enough to paint, just wipe it down afterwords with some prep-sol or laquer thinner. I have painted a few engines in the frame and if you are patient it will turn out great. I only use a bead blaster on aluminum bike engines if they are completely disassembled and I turn the air pressure down to 80lbs and use 180grit glass beads(I'm lucky enough to have a friend that let's me use his cabinet until I get a bigger compressor and hook mine up)and of course meticulously clean the pieces with air and soapy water when your done. I also replace all bearings before re-assembly.
This is a Honda CB750 but it will work to show the masking.

NO SAND OR GLASS!! on an assembled engine
Use SODA (baking soda / Bi Carb). Water soluble.
The eastwood company has many options ( www.eastwood.com ). Out of Pennsylvania.
Plenty of info and tutorials.
Plus you need lots of air! 80-90 steady cfm. I have been using a 5hp 60 gallon tank, that still can't keep up when I use my glass media cabinet. I beat the heck out of compressors! I use mobil 1 synthetic racing oil, and have a box fan blowing on high at the cylinders to help keep it cool. I go thru a compressor in about 5-6 yrs. The cheap Husky / Campbell Hausfeld types.
If I still did work, to make money. I would invest in a system. Harbor freight has cheap ones also

Elbow grease and patience is what I use .
Dude the bottom line is,
"There is no easy way to clean an engine, we've all been there".

Realizing it could only work on a fully disassembled engine, does anyone have experience with vapor blasting? Not a do at home setup, but on a pay for contract basis?

I used this cheapy gun from Harbor Freight along with a bag of blast soda they sell to do the cylinder head on my 750. Worked fine but killed grass in my yard.

P1020015 by nessism , on Flickr

ajsfirehawk wrote: Realizing it could only work on a fully disassembled engine, does anyone have experience with vapor blasting? Not a do at home setup, but on a pay for contract basis?

Dude! A main sponsor at the top of the page! RESTOCYCLE! Nils, does great work! Where Ya' been?

Hey Nessism that cleaned up real nice, how many pounds of soda did it take and what pressure?

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Dude that engine looks GLORIOUS! WOW!!!

[/quote] nessism , on Flickr[/quote]

LOL at killed grass in the yard. Which compressor do you use?