The size of your sandblaster and nozzle will determine the necessary size for your compressor. To properly size the compressor for your sandblasting project, it’s important to understand exactly how a sandblaster works. 2 1/8-inch nozzle: 20 CFM. #3 3/16-inch nozzle: 45 CFM. #4 1/4-inch nozzle: 81 CFM. #5 5/16-inch nozzle: 137 CFM. #6 3/8-inch nozzle: 196 CFM. #7 7/16-inch nozzle: 254 CFM. #8 1/2-inch nozzle: 338 CFM. Remember to increase the size of the compressor for projects with a higher PSI. When in doubt, look to the manufacturer’s guidelines for your tools.
Here are the best air compressor for sandblasting that I found best for small and medium-size industries including automotive work. Review Verdict: The 10HP 120-gallon DXCMH9919910 from Dewalt offers a fine balance between output air volume, size and price and is our top pick for the air compressor for sandblasting. While those are good for some jobs such as nailing, for sandblasting you want an air compressor that has a minimum of around 10 CFM. Ideally, you would find one that goes up to 20 CFM. Because sandblasting is such a high-intensity job, having an air compressor with a high CFM is crucial.
The CFM ratings of air compressors tend to be based on the output of the air compressor pump. If you required to use the sandblaster on a 50% duty cycle, the sandblasting gun would require 3 CFM. The air compressor running at it’s recommended 50% duty cycle would not be able to provide the amount of CFM required by the sandblasting gun. Therefore an 14 CFM compressor with a 50% Duty Cycle can be used to run an air sandblaster that’s rated at 14 CFM – if used intermittently with a sufficiently large air tank.
In their relentless pursuit of better technologies, they have made an air compressor that has the power and compactness required to become the best compressor for sandblasting in today’s environment. DEWALT DXCMV5048055 Two-Stage Cast Iron Industrial Air Compressor, 80-Gallon The DEWALT 2 stage air compressor is built with a 5-HP TOPS motor to provide long life and quiet….The integrated control panel has a tank and pressure gauge and 2 quick-connects for convenient control,….This compressor delivers plenty of air to run multiple tools at the same time to get the job done faster,….The thermal overload protection system motor protects the motor from voltage fluctuations, Nozzle Fitting…. 6. Even if we show you the top-recommended air compressor for sandblasting, it still won’t matter unless you know what makes a product the good air compressor for sandblasting.
If you increase your nozzle orifice size or the PSI at which you wish to blast, you will also be increasing the volume of air required to keep your blast pot pressurized. Low-pressure systems utilize ambient air pumps and therefore don’t affect compressor size. If you’re uncertain whether your compressor is large enough for your sandblasting needs, remember to keep in mind both the PSI at which you’ll be blasting as well as the nozzle size.
An air compressor is needed to do any sandblasting, so knowing the right size air compressor to use is very important. If you have get a 100% duty cycle compressor most medium-duty sandblasting jobs can be done with a 5 gallon tank.2.CFM. CFM is air volume or total airflow that a given air compressor is capable of. If you are doing a little more work and need some more power, then you should use a compressor that can do 25 to 35 CFM. Taking it a few steps further, you would need a 50 to 100 CFM air compressor to do industrial-scale sandblasting work.3.PSI. This is the amount of force or air pressure that can be generated by a given air compressor.
Your air compressor will also be one of the highest cost items as they can easily cost between $8,000 and up depending on the style of compressor. What you need to know to Choose an Air Compressor for Sandblasting. To choose an air compressor for your sandblast process the key is to know the size sandblast nozzle you will use for sandblasting.
best size air compressor for sandblasting Related Question:
How many CFM does a sandblaster need?
At the minimum 50 PSI, a 7/16” orifice nozzle will require 147 CFMs. As you increase the pressure going into the pot, the amount of CFMs needed at the nozzle will increase as well. The same TMP-7 Nozzle blasting at the optimal 90 PSI will require 240 CFMs to keep up with the amount of air being put out at the nozzle.
What size compressor do I need for sandblasting cabinet?
As a general rule when cabinet blasting, use a small nozzle setup (4-8 cfm) for 3-5 HP single-stage compressors and then only plan on blasting on an intermittent basis (to allow proper cooling of the compressor).
How much air pressure do you need to sandblast?
What Sandblasting Air Pressure Is Required? The blast pot requires a minimum of 50 PSI. This measure will allow the pop-up valve to seal and the internal pot to pressurize. While operating, the pressure of the pot will typically in the60-80 PSI range to ensure the most efficient amount of blasting.
What size air compressor do I need for media blasting?
Usually, a 50 – 60 hp compressor will do the job, depending on the number of operators and the size nozzle(s) being used. Clean, dry air is a MUST for blasting.
What size blast nozzle is normally used?
For vapor abrasive blasting, the most commonly-used nozzle orifice sizes range from 3/8″ inner diameter to 3/4″, increasing by increments of 1/16″. A 3/8″ nozzle is sufficiently constricted to produce a effective blast pressure with a 185 CFM compressor.
What is 2 stage air compressor?
In a single stage compressor, the air is compressed once; in a two stage compressor, the air is compressed twice for double the pressure. By increasing the number of cylinder stages and pressure, these machines work more effectively with a faster recovery time, and can handle more tools at once.
Is SCFM the same as CFM?
SCFM and CFM are both essential values that indicate the airflow rate in a compressor. SCFM measures this value based on ‘ideal’ temperature and pressure conditions, while CFM measures the ‘actual’ air flow rate. CFM is the recognized value for measuring the airflow rate in the United States.
What sand do you use for sandblasting?
Silica sand for sandblasting. The most commonly used type of sandblasting sand is silica sand. Silica sand is used primarily because it is not only of good quality and durability, but is also usually inexpensive and easily found.
What equipment is needed for sandblasting?
Getting to Know Your Blasting Equipment Air compressors delivering the high-pressure air essential to the blasting process. Blast pot, or pressure blast tank, a coded pressure vessel that feeds the abrasives into the air stream. A nozzle that directs the abrasive media at the appropriate angle for sandblasting surfaces.
Can you use beach sand in a sandblaster?
Blasting with silica sands, such as beach sand, river sand, and any other crystalline silica sand may cause serious injury or be fatal.
How do you calculate sandblasting jobs?
Knowing your surface area and your production rate, you can calculate your blasting time: surface area divided by the effective production rate equals blasting time. Note that we’re using effective production rate.
Is higher CFM better air compressor?
A compressor with a higher CFM rating can deliver more air and is better suited for heavier applications, such as operating air wrenches and framing nail guns.
Can you use kiln dried sand for sandblasting?
kiln-dried and block paving sand) is illegal to use for blast cleaning. It is banned ( wet or dry blasting) for cleaning so called ‘articles’, (ref : Factories act 1949 & 1961 ) which according to HSE guidelines encompasses a wide variety of metal objects from small castings to ships .
Can I use a sandblaster for soda blasting?
Yes you Can Soda Blast in a Regular Sandblaster This helps to ensure you do not experience packing out where your blast pot outlet becomes plugged because your sandblast media ends up clumping together.
Does tank size matter air compressor?
Tank size matters—sometimes The compressors we chose have tanks ranging from 1 to 6 gallons. A larger tank holds more air and will allow you to use more air before the pressure drops and the motor kicks on to refill the tank. That might let you avoid stopping work while the compressor refills the tank.
