[Jewelry making - Article 00253] - Re: [Orchid] Sandblasting set up

[Jeff Simkins]

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CJ,

    I use a sandblaster for cleaning stainless steel shielding to remove
    copper, titanium, gold, and chromium thin film deposits. The blasting
    media is glass bead. 

    1.  What is the minimum size compressor that's effective? Our system
    is connected to the building air (a seemingly unlimited capacity,
    Facilities Management calls the compressor "The Big Bopper", running
    24/7 since the 60's, a single piston is large enough to sit on), half
    inch trade copper tubing, pressure regulated at 80 psi. Check with
    the manufacturer, as it may vary from one model to another. You can
    change the pressure for different jobs too! 

    2.  What sort of work enclosure is best? A work enclosure that has: 

    * a door large enough to pass the pieces into the cabinet. I have
    pieces that just fit through the door. 

    * a door that doesn't shelve the media, because it will fall to the
    floor when you open the door, making a big mess. The "fix" for this
    is to shoot the door once before opening it. * a replaceable viewing
    window, so you can continue to see inside the cabinet. When I can't
    see what I'm doing (very often)...it is time to replace the window. 

    * a filtered blower exhaust. It removes the dust by recirculating
    the cabinet air. It is very noisy. 

    I'll probably be working mainly with small pieces of karat gold,
    Sterling and perhaps platinum -- as well as cleaning rust from my
    jewelry tools (just moved from a beach location).  

    Any rust removed from your tools will become part of the blasting
    media. You want to consider this, if contamination is an issue. 

Good luck!!

Jeff Simkins
Cincinnati, OH

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