Advice on media blasters...which one?, Let's go shopping... Options

[computers4kids]

I'm looking at a variety of media blasters at Harbor Freight and could use any insights/experience to lead me to the best purchase for my needs (below).

A:
I have come to a point in my project that I have the underside of both trunk lids and the door jambs that need to be prepped for paint. A real crappy paint job was sprayed on at one time. (rest of car has been stripped, reworked, sealed)

B:
Lots of little parts that I would like to bead blast and paint/powdercoat before the car goes back together.

C:
Picked-up a set of 2ltr alloys that I would like to bead blast the backsides to clean-up before I polish them. Not to sure if I should bead blast the front before polishing. I'm not going to send them out. Last set I wet sanded and polished the hard way, but they turned out real nice. Not sure if bead blasting would help or make more work for me.

Here are the choices I have and current prices at HF..some on sale.
What do you think?

Blaster Gun 16 sale (19.99)...would take alot of refilling but price is right?
35 gallon with vacumm 249 (not on sale)
40 pressurized 79 sale (129)
110 pressurized 119 sale (199)
cabinet 69 sale (87)...not sure if you can connect a hose for bigger stuff?
gravity feed (top load) unit 119 sale (139)

[Gint]

You on a budget?

I spent another $20 on one of these right after I bought it. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=93608 Then it was a decent unit. Works great and I've had it for well over 5 years now. In fact I think it's been closer to 10 years.

But my compressor is 220v, 6hp, 80 gallon tank. SO I don't have any issues there either. But for that you'll need a coupla... $$

Don't bead blast the front of Fuchs if you intend to polish. BTDT You'll end up with a lot more work to polish that way. I'd like to get some soda actually for my tank and try that on some softer metal to test. It's supposed to profile the metal surface much less than glass and can even do delicate stuff.

[computers4kids]

You on a budget?

I spent another $20 on one of these right after I bought it. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=93608 Then it was a decent unit. Works great and I've had it for well over 5 years now. In fact I think it's been closer to 10 years.

But my compressor is 220v, 6hp, 80 gallon tank. SO I don't have any issues there either. But for that you'll need a coupla... $$

Don't bead blast the front of Fuchs if you intend to polish. BTDT You'll end up with a lot more work to polish that way. I'd like to get some soda actually for my tank and try that on some softer metal to test. It's supposed to profile the metal surface much less than glass and can even do delicate stuff.

As far as a budget goes....no more than $200. I just don't want to end-up buying a something that is inadequate for doing the job. I really like the cabinet you bought, but it seams so limiting to what you can put in it. Can you attach a hose for big jobs, like a hood?