WINGNUT
02-25-2007, 08:55 PM
I have decided that I will need to pick up a media blaster in the near future for the purposes of restoring my GTO and my brothers '75 Bronco.
I know that there are enclosed cabinet units and the gun style blasters, my preference right now will be towards the gun style. The cabinet units are to restrictive with the work you need to do, since you can only use them for small or medium sized parts. I will blasting frames and other large body panels, so the gun style is a better buy for me, I can enclose my work area with plastic sheeting.
I guess I need to know which blasting media is best; sand, glass bead, plastic bead, crushed glass, walnut shells, soda etc. I know that it is possible to warp metal with sand and I don't want that, so a softer media might be what I'm after.
So what kind of media material should I use? I will be blasting frames, panels, suspension components and other various small parts. Do I need different blasters to use different media types, or can I use just one blaster that will take all kinds of different media?
Plus I want a good American made brand, no China crap. My brother wanted to chip in for an $80 eBay China made special and I refused. I like using American tools on my American vehicles. I am suspecting that a good one will range in the $500 or more category. I get Eastwood restoration catalogs in the mail, but I need to know a thing or two about blasters before I buy one. I want the one that will work best for my application.
Thanks!
I know that there are enclosed cabinet units and the gun style blasters, my preference right now will be towards the gun style. The cabinet units are to restrictive with the work you need to do, since you can only use them for small or medium sized parts. I will blasting frames and other large body panels, so the gun style is a better buy for me, I can enclose my work area with plastic sheeting.
I guess I need to know which blasting media is best; sand, glass bead, plastic bead, crushed glass, walnut shells, soda etc. I know that it is possible to warp metal with sand and I don't want that, so a softer media might be what I'm after.
So what kind of media material should I use? I will be blasting frames, panels, suspension components and other various small parts. Do I need different blasters to use different media types, or can I use just one blaster that will take all kinds of different media?
Plus I want a good American made brand, no China crap. My brother wanted to chip in for an $80 eBay China made special and I refused. I like using American tools on my American vehicles. I am suspecting that a good one will range in the $500 or more category. I get Eastwood restoration catalogs in the mail, but I need to know a thing or two about blasters before I buy one. I want the one that will work best for my application.
Thanks!