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RIDGERUNNER

Hey guys. This is my first post. I found this site doing research on soda blasting. I've been reading the posts for a week or so and decided to join. You all sound like you really know your stuff. I hope ya'll can give me some good advice. I live in western N.C. about 30-45 min. from Boone. I'm wanting to get into the abrasive blasting business. I have a full time job so it's not going to be my only source of income, just something on the side to see how much business is out their for right now. I found a Smith 100 compressor for really cheap($600). The thing works great the guy just doesn't have any use for it anymore. Would this thing be big enough to do any type of blasting just to get started or should I pass on it? I haven't bought any equipment yet. I thought I would ask for advise from the professionals before I started spending my hard earned cash on things I don't need or can't use. I look forward to learning from you guys and any advice given will be greatly appreciated.

plazaman

Welcome! My suggestion before making any purchase, is read all topics and get familar with blasting.

2nd) http://www.clemcoindustries.com/book_email.html Request a copy of both books and read them!

3rd) Keep posting and ask any question, we are here to help.


What is the output of the compressor? For a starter, a minimum of 185 CFM compressor is what you need.


Depending on your area, it could be a great business on the side. THeres a guy on here (killzone) who has a full time job, and seems to be making alot of progess with his blasting.

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doug6423

Welcome RidgeRunner,
I did a lot of research before getting into this business. I found the best customer service I received when buying my blasting equipment was Problast. Their blast pot is very mobile and easy to use. I bought a Kaeser 210cfm compressor. I went a little larger to plan ahead and be able to add hoses and other equipment without limiting compressor output.

I agree with plazaman.....ask a lot of questions and research everything.

Doug

MEDIA MAN

Welcome RIDGERUNNER,

Questions? Write 'em all down and post them. Most guys here have done a lot of homework. We're glad to help when we can.
If you don't mind me asking, do you plan to concentrate in one area of blasting or the whole gammet. I'd advise looking into a multi-media pot or having two pots. I would not limit yourself to soda only. There is a market deffinatly but its not as broad as "sandblasting". Also I learned right off the start that media blasting goes hand in hand with coatings. If you have painting knowledge I suggest getting into coatings also. I don't do coatings myself now but have been slowly moving into it. Something I will need to offer as part of my business. Now that I have my own rig and have been doing this awhile I have lost some jobs because I don't offer the coatings. One stop shop is what most customers are looking for. Currently I have a body shop do my automotive, commercial and fleet painting. I have another company help me on the industrial side. Larger on site coatings. Also powder coating. If there is nobody or only a select few in your area check into that. Powder coating is a big thing in my area, there is only one shop here that has the capacity to do large items. I think I would do pretty good.

Media Man (Steve)

RIDGERUNNER

Thanks for the info. I just ordered the books from clemco. The Smith 100 is rated at 100 cfm at 100 psi. That sounds to small for what I need. I am wanting to cover all types of abrasive blasting. I plan on getting a sand blasting pot and a multi-media pot. What types of media can you shoot through a soda pot without any problems? Also what kind out of a sand blasting pot. I work with a guy that has a older problast pot for sale. He wanted to get into to but he was advertising for $275-$300 hour. He didn't have a compressor and was trying to cover all the rental fees and still make BIG money. Didn't work out to good! Now he's convinced that the blasting will never go in this area and is trying to unload his blasting pot. Media Man I thought about trying to do some powdercoating too. That stuff is catching on around here too, with everybody going green and everything. When done right that stuff is tough as nails anyway.

plazaman

Depends on your area, it might or might not go. If you are in the city like me, you will find it tough. I havent officially started blasting or started to advertise, but im thinking it may be slow.

Soda pots can usally shoot soft media. Sand pots can shoot anything but soda, well technically they could, but it consumes alot more.

A multimedia pot will shoot anything with minor adjustment. I recommend a Schmidt Pot. http://axxiommfg.com/Specialized-Blasting-System.htm

i have the PMB 3.5 and ive shoot soda, sand, and slag out of it before.

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MEDIA MAN

[quote=RIDGERUNNER;372490]Thanks for the info. I just ordered the books from clemco. The Smith 100 is rated at 100 cfm at 100 psi. That sounds to small for what I need. I am wanting to cover all types of abrasive blasting. I plan on getting a sand blasting pot and a multi-media pot. What types of media can you shoot through a soda pot without any problems? Also what kind out of a sand blasting pot...quote]

RIDGERUNNER
I would not recommend shooting anything other than soda through a pot specifically designed for soda. Many soda pots have different metering systems specific to soda. Companies now are producing better multi-media pots. I would go with one of these. I have a soda pot designed with soda in mind only. My other pot that I shoot coarse media with is a "fine media pot". I shoot coal slag, crushed glass and even soda with it. I've even run cob through it. As far as pots go I am partial to Schmidt pots. Check out axxiommfg.com. M-21 or the PMB pots.

Media Man

plazaman

mediaman, have you ever seen a schimdt pot in use?

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MEDIA MAN

Plazaman,
No I have not seen one in use but looked at one in a distributors warehouse. I don't remember which model it was. that was last July.

plazaman

mediaman, want to buy mine? lol

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killzoneq2

Im running a 600# Schmit, a 600# Clemco and a 100# clemco. I use an Atlas 185 cfm compressor. I am building a small building next week to blast in so I can try and keep the winter months flowing. Thats when people like to do winter project cars.....I only shoot slag, glass, and some aluminum oxide on occassion and now silica sand on rare rare occasions. Depends if I am looking for that certian profile.........I know someone else on here has a bag of that stuff laying in a corner somewhere. LOL Hey what ever works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

plazaman

we've blasted sand before, sand is dusty and gets everywhere, slag has a heavy rebound also.

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MEDIA MAN

KILLZONE,

What type and size building are you building? Will you be heating it or just to get out of the elements? Are you purchasing a planned building or building it yourself from scratch?

Steve(Media Man)

killzoneq2

Sorry its been awhile... Have you seen those car ports sitting around at car lots for sale? Well thats what I purchased. 18'x21'x8' with a 10x8 roll up front door and a 36" side entry door. It was purchased AND installed on my lot for $3000.00. It is all steel construction, no wood anywhere. Here are some pics.. I am going to install some big exhaust fans in the back, and will probably not heat it because of condensation when hot and cold mix. If I heated it, as soon as I turned the exhaust fans on, good bye heat. I mainly bought it to be able to blast car frames and smaller stuff, and a place to hang my deer. This is going to make a nice blast room.

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