Bill,
I think what you have heard of for auto bodies is called "media blasting".
>From what I've heard:
The problem with sand blasting is that it can cut so fast that it generates
enough heat to warp flat panels.
Bead blasting uses fine glass beads to slow down the rate, but the beads
are expensive and I think the blasting is always done in a fairly small
enclosure that recycles the beads. I have never heard of bead blasting on
large parts.
In recent years I have heard of media blasting bodies with plastic beads or
walnut shells. These materals are softer than sand so they don't generate
as much heat - yet cheaper than glass, so I suppose they don't have to be
recycled.
I am not sure what air requirements there are for media blasting, but any
company selling the blasting nozzles will be able to tell you. It will be
a huge amount of air volume.
Les
At 11:51 PM 6/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
>I've read several letters about bead blasting instead of sand blasting.
>I understand it is much safer for bodywork and I want to try it on my
>Bugeye. My problem is that I don't know what size of compressor to get.
>I plan to use my compressor to do general painting and pneumatic tool
>operations. Can anyone make a suggestion?
>
>Bill Walters
>AN5L/04913
>Which may never see the light of day again.
>In my basement since October 1974
>
>
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