[Rockhounds] air abrasive units - sticker shock!!!?

[Tim Fisher]

Doh! I meant 0.1 mm, not 1 mm nozzle. I was told by COMCO that under 
no circumstances should I run their microblasters without an air 
dryer. My air dryers cost $20 each and works like a charm. Google 
"desiccant snake air dryer". Cheap, disposable, and last a long, long 
time. Don't be fooled by the $500 dryers; you don't need them unless 
you live in the jungle :) I have been using a Delta dual bag dust 
collector for about 6 months now and I can report that it works 
splendidly with an SS White dust cabinet. More suction than I need 
and it's in its own little house outside so it can spew all the 
powder it wants through the cheap bags. I air it out every once in a 
while since I am paranoid that the motor could die if it sucks in too 
much dolomite. There are 60 (I think) micron mesh bags available for 
them but you have to shop around for them. Since I use 40 micron 
media they wouldn't do me much good.

At 07:33 PM 4/20/2008, you wrote:
>Typical air abrasive units have nozzle diameters much smaller than 
>any of the cheaper units that have been mentioned. I have 2 old SS 
>White units. The first one came with a blast cabinet and a Torrit 
>dust collector for under $1000, The second cost me about $600. I 
>bought 2 more and resold these. Both needed a little work and cost 
>me in the range of $250.
>
>The micro blasters deliver controlled grit and controlled pressure 
>through nozzles that range from 17 thousandths of an inch up to a 
>whopping 60 thousandths. The fine nozzle is what is needed for 
>delicate fossil work. In additon I can control pressures down to 
>about 15 PSI which is sometimes needed for fine and delicate work. 
>If you are trying to clean corrosion off a steel plate, by all means 
>use one of the cheaper sandblasters. If you are trying to prep 
>fossils or delicate minerals, you need the better units. If you live 
>ina humid climate you will also need an air dryer. I made mine out 
>of a copper coil in an ice bucket, with a separator downstream. Works fine.
>Gene

Tim Fisher
Ore-ROCK-On!
Email address at http://OreRockOn.com