On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 02:39:59 GMT, "Pat Thronson"
wrote:

C'mon Corky, I could blast the same stuff as you in 15 min., blow down and
prime in 15 min., clean up in 15 min, (just stirring it up)
Seriously dude, you should try Starblast tm ~40-60 size, (2.5-3.0 surface
profile 100 psi). It is a lot cleaner, looks and cuts a lot like silica but
very little dust. The only problem is the availability of it, as I believe
it is only made in Florida, or find a staging area. Copper/coal slag is
better for economy blasting.
If it was me, I would be more incline to use a complete 2-part coating
system including the top coat.

I don't think so Pat. The items were intricate and spindly and sand
is sand. One type may be slightly more abrasive than another but
Black Beauty is designed for blasting and I've seen it tested
scientifically against three other abrasives and it won the blast off
by a wide margin.

"The mask is on while mixing as this stuff too is dangerous."

I have seen painters throw cigs in paint cans and not go boom. I have seen
them smoke inside confined spaces (active ventilation) and not go boom,
although I have heard of them getting blown out of a tank, so take that as a
negative for smoking while painting. If you really want to get paranoid OSHA
requires your paint sprayer and lines to be grounded (static electricity).

Whoops, you missed the point here Pat. I wasn't concerned about
explosions or fire, I was concerned about inhaling the vapors. Pretty
much that's what any spray painter is concerned with. Have you ever
spray painted using epoxies or urethanes? I still remember reading
about a builder who spray painted his tail feathers in a closed narrow
shop. He'd built several airplanes previously, but he apparently just
forgot to use a mask this time. He lingered on for several months
before dying.

"Even at 100 psi and decent sand flow, sand blasting anything takes time."

If a production blaster cannot blast 1,000 sq. feet to a SSPC-SP-10 in a day
he will be reconsidered for the position.
I would suggest using welding gloves to rotate your pieces while blasting,
less clamp time.
Other than adding my 2 cents, A worthy post.

I'm not a professional and this was just a backyard operation using a
cheapo Sears siphon feed blaster and an air compressor that could
barely keep up with demand. None of the pieces were clamped, I in
fact WAS doing exactly what you suggest: holding the pieces and
rotating them for complete coverage.

Best advice; follow directions from the manufacture (read paint can),

I don't know where you read in my post that I was NOT following
directions. Did you actually read what I wrote?

And to the next post, blasting is always better than sanding (more even
surface profile), just takes longer for setup and disposal.

Pat Thronson NACE #1193

To your last sentence, I agree.

Corky Scott