Beadblasting with hobby compressor

[B@rt]

Most beadblasting cabinets you can find will have a gun that draws too much air for the average hobby compressor (~2hp).
Lately I have been using the Paasche LAC#3 which I converted from siphonfeed to tubefeed. The LAC#3 is designed to be used with precisely those hobby compressors, and I'm very pleased with how it works.
On the left is a mini beadblasting gun for small spots/precise work.

 

[csshih]

Re: Beadblasting with small compressor

smartass.

nice work on the BB'ing.

 

[wquiles]

Cool - good idea. Any more details on the conversion?

Will

 

[B@rt]

The conversion is as simple as can be, I only had to find a hose with a 1/4" connector in metric land. :shrug: Originally I thought of using a large external hopper, but since the suction created is enough that wasn't needed.
Just loosen and turn the siphon connection down, screw the hose on and connect it to a suction pipe.
I ended up using a flexible faucet connector.

 

[wquiles]

Thanks much. I would had expected (not knowing anything about these systems) that you must had the gravity to help you get the media into the blasting stream. I did not realise that there was enough suction to use a hose to the media container, which is of course more practical and much lighter in the hand while applying the blasting media

Will

 

[B@rt]

Yes, so did I considering it uses about half the air of a normal suction system, it was a pleasant surprise.

The small one needs the cup to be pressurized though.