Question about Media Blasting and Compressors, Which is the correct combination? Options

[ellisor3]

I recently bought a media cabinet and I already had a 30 gallon compressor. I started a trial run with the cabinet on a pair of calipers. I got no where. The media barely put a dent in the caliper paint. I sprayed for 30 minutes and completed an area about 3"x3". The media was glass bead 70 grit and the compressor was set at 100 psi.

I believe my issue may be the amount of air the compressor moves, and not the PSI. What is the recommended amount that will work on brake calipers? My compressor is a 5.2 CFM.

Is glass bead appropriate for enamel paint?
What size compressor do I need?
What is everyone else using?

[Jeff Hail]

Like the famous SNL skit.. "Gotta have more cow bell". You will need CFM to push any media fast enough to get it airborne.

Aluminum Oxide is pretty useless for blasting parts other than aluminum. After one cycle on hard parts the media profile turns round, beats itself into dust then its done. Its soft material which just does not strip well.

On the other hand its a dangerous material once it becomes pulverized into fine dust, leaks from the cabinet and lands everywhere.

I didn't believe the danger until one of my special effects buddies put on a pyro show to prove a point. It didn't take much. Google it and you will see why it really should not be used for heavy stripping. AO dust inhalation hazard is the least of your worries. Once you get enough you wont have any worries at all.

If you want to remove paint, crud whatever fast try Dupont Starblast comes in three grades from fine to course depending on the finish texture you are attempting to achieve. Starblast XL really turns out nice and uniform.

You can always shoot a finer media after initial strip with glass, ceramic, walnut, soda for finer degrees of surface finish.

For aluminum parts walnut, corn cob media and soda work very well.

If you have way too much time on your hands and like standing around for hours holding your gun by all means go with the Aluminum and breath deeply.