TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone Ever Sanblast In A Tent For Camping?

Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:02 pm

Let me preface with, I think it's a good idea, but I've had those before and sometimes they weren't...

I just bought 5 smoothies for my 65 that need some love. While I was spinning my wheels on where to sandblast with minimal mess I remembered I had an old tent. I also have some fans that I will place around the top to help pull out some of the dust. Anyone ever done this before?
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DSC_8749 by offshores, on Flickr[/img]

Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:56 pm

I have blasted large items in an old box trailer; however, I used a fully enclose breathing apparatus. Yes, great idea, but I would make sure you protect the old lungs as best you can.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:27 pm

Bad idea unless you have a fresh air system to breath with.
Silica is nasty stuff to breath.
I always blast outside on a big tarp. The tarp will catch a lot of the sand. That way you can sift it and reuse it.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:58 pm

offshores wrote: Let me preface with, I think it's a good idea, but I've had those before and sometimes they weren't...

You are a wise man.......It sounds like a good idea,Id experiment with some holes in the very top and bottom (on one side,away from the blast)to gain some circulation.Perhaps even rig a fan to the bottom holes for some forced air dust venting...then if ya want you could duct the top holes to a can or a box to collect some of it.If ya do it and it works,post pictures.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:33 pm

I did the front of one wheel and it actually worked great. The tent has a mesh top that allows good ventilation and I zipped up the mesh section of the door and had a fan blowing in. I also had a fan on top sucking out and the inside never got too dusty. Visibility was great. I just got this sandblaster and this was the first time using it. My compressor is only 2HP so that was the only draw back. Here are a few pics.
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DSC_8756 by offshores, on Flickr
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DSC_8760 by offshores, on Flickr

Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:49 am

It's not that difficult to build a sandblast cabinet if you have the space for it.

I doubt you will want to use this tent for anything else latter on.

You may want to make sure you put a piece of plywood or heavy cardboard under your pieces so the floor of the tent is still there when you're done!

Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:12 pm

drscope wrote: It's not that difficult to build a sandblast cabinet if you have the space for it.

I doubt you will want to use this tent for anything else latter on.

You may want to make sure you put a piece of plywood or heavy cardboard under your pieces so the floor of the tent is still there when you're done!

what if he goes camping in the desert?

Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:55 pm

I guess if I were to be sand blasting all the time I would look into something more permanent. I actually did have the forethought to put some old boxes down before starting. This is the actual wheel I sand blasted. Picked the worst to start with.
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DSC_8754 by offshores, on Flickr[/img]

I actually camp in the desert all the time. BRAAAWP! I've actually been in much worse condition in the dunes during sand storms compared to the conditions of my lil sandblasting tent. Talking 3 days straight of high winds and blowing sand.

Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:29 pm

good idea, blasting is just miserable no matter how you do it, but it is so nice to have clean metal when you are done.

Tue Mar 20, 2012 7:49 pm

Theres a company called Bad Dust that made tents for doing this- intended market is for boat hulls- but I saw an installation they did for blasting a train car. Air inflated and exhaust pulling to a hepa filter(s) to catch all the lead paint dust. Guys doing the blasting in full on space suits with outside air.

Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:20 am

my59 wrote: Theres a company called Bad Dust that made tents for doing this- intended market is for boat hulls- but I saw an installation they did for blasting a train car. Air inflated and exhaust pulling to a hepa filter(s) to catch all the lead paint dust. Guys doing the blasting in full on space suits with outside air.

They use a similar (or maybe the same) set up for doing roadway bridges. Can't let the blasting media get away into passing traffic.

Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:56 pm

I got my compressor in order and had another go at it today. Got a 5HP, 26 gallon and it was much nicer than my 2HP 12 gal one I used first. I was able to get through 4 wheels today before I just had about enough of it. Still need to do one more, but the goal was to get the 4 done today. Took a couple of hours and very satisfied with the outcome. Got to get a few dents out then I'll paint em. The ventilation wasn't even an issue and it never got too dusty in the tent...
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DSC_8734 by offshores, on Flickr
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DSC_8881 by offshores, on Flickr
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DSC_8884 by offshores, on Flickr
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DSC_8880 by offshores, on Flickr[/img]

Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:16 pm

Nice mang!!

You got any pics of your sand blaster, what abrasive did you use?

Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:34 pm

clark_brandon24 wrote: Nice mang!!

You got any pics of your sand blaster, what abrasive did you use?

Thanks!
This is the sandblaster I bought on Craigslist:
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-lb-capacity-pressurized-abrasive-blaster-40925.html
and this is the media I bought at Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-lbs-80-grit-glass-bead-blast-media-46426.html

Just kept sweeping up the sand in the tent and filtered it through a screen back into the tank. Worked out great once I started using a bigger air compressor. The tent was really nice too. Kept my garage pretty clean

Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:56 pm

Good idea and they look great!!!
Except for the bends on the lips.

You might want to try a brass hammer to straighten them up before your paint/powercoat them.