Air compressor

[turningal]

I’m looking for some advice, I’ve seen wood subjected to ‘sand blasting’ before being coloured, like the work of Laurent Niclot. I have no experience of any kind of ‘sand blasting’ although I’ve seen hand held small sand blasters which look like they would fit the bill. However I’ve no idea what sort of power air compressor that I would need. I have a bench air compressor that I use with an air brush but I’m aware that this may not be powerful enough. Any advice would be welcome.

[Paul Hannaby]

I have a small hand held sandblaster and a small cabinet sandblaster. I have a 3hp 50L compressor and that's only just enough for the cabinet blaster. The air reservoir is depleted in no time at all so there is a lot of waiting for it to refill. I only use it occasionally so it isn't a big problem for me. The handheld blaster works fine with the compressor but it isn't anywhere near as effective as the cabinet version.
If I was buying a new compressor, I would go bigger!

[Wood spinner]

Size matters 

[Bill21]

I’ve got a small Clarke cabinet and I run it on a 2.5HP 25L compressor. It’s not so good for large stuff but it’s worked well for occasional use on small items. I can’t get large stuff in the cabinet anyway.

 

[turningal]

I have a small hand held sandblaster and a small cabinet sandblaster. I have a 3hp 50L compressor and that's only just enough for the cabinet blaster. The air reservoir is depleted in no time at all so there is a lot of waiting for it to refill. I only use it occasionally so it isn't a big problem for me. The handheld blaster works fine with the compressor but it isn't anywhere near as effective as the cabinet version.
If I was buying a new compressor, I would go bigger!

Thanks Paul, just the info I needed.
Kind regards
Alan

[Les Symonds]

When I first considered this, I wrote to Pascal Oudet and he was very forthcoming with info...this is what he told me...

Hello Les
Pressure: as high as possible, without breaking everything ! I sandblast usually between 4 and 7 bars. But you need plenty of airflow, so a good compressor. The tank size doesn't matter, but the flow needs to be high (depends on your nozzle size, but 36m3/hour is a good basis, I'll let you convert in cfm if you're imperial).
But you're right, it's slow. i spend from one to several days on each piece.
Pascal

Hope this also helps...Les

[Bill21]

I have been meaning to try sand blasting wood at some point. Do any of you know what media wood turners have used for their work? I ask because I’ve use Aluminium Oxide for all of my work on metal but I happened to try it on some white Nylon the other day and it stained it brown.

Removing all the media and cleaning the cabinet out before reloading with a different type is something of a chore.

[David Buskell]

Bill,

The most regular user of sandblasting, as far as I can see, is Eleanor Lakelin in the Cockpit Arts, Deptford studio. It's their open weekend next week so a good opportunity to go over and talk to the lady herself. If not, she is on email and social media.

David

[Bill21]

Thanks. When I have some wood I want to blast I’ll maybe send an email.

[Paul Hannaby]

If you don't want the Alox brown grit, try the white ceramic grit instead. That doesn't stain. I've used (and still use) both on wood and never had a problem with staining with either.

[Bill21]

Thanks for the info. I suspect Alox staining won’t show very much on dark timbers only on the lighter ones. I’ll try a small test piece when I get a minute.

[GBF]

It is not about pressure it is about Volume so you need a large compressor to produce the necessary volume.
Glass is the best medium

[Bill21]

Looking at the instructions for my cabinet it says:
“The air supply should be dry and capable of delivering a minimum of 10 cu ft/min at 100 lbf/in.”

The only problem with most of the affordable compressors is that they are horrendously noisy, mine certainly is.
It may be worth paying a premium if it’s likely to upset the neighbours.