AKA vapor blaster? I'm really interested in getting one, mainly for restoring aluminum motorcycle parts. I'm trying to get some quotes from a manufacturer on one right now that fits my needs. I've heard they are about 3 to 4 times as expensive as a soda blaster cabinet but to me the results are worth it. They say it seals the pores of the metal making it's luster last longer and if you have a motorcycle, that saves you hours of polishing! Once I figure out how to use it, if I get it, I'll be willing to charge a fair price to blast some parts for you guys. I just want to see if anyone else has any experience with one.
Here is a video of what the finished product looks like.
I still haven't received any pricing back from the manufacturer but I'm thinking it will be a grand or two. But to me it's worth it because it's like a hobby kind of thing and fun to me. I'm interested in something between the 2820 and 3030 models. I want something that would fit a bare v8 engine block in it just in case I take on any big projects.
I read somewhere that the media is glass but can't find that again for some reason. This what the manufacturer says.
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It uses abrasives (40 mesh to 5000 mesh) suspended in water and forced at high velocity with compressed air through special nozzles against the surfaces to be treated.
I got my quote for the equipment, I'll just say it costs more than $10,000 for the one I want. I figured a couple thousand but I was way off. I did get me started thinking about starting my own business using it though. I'm still up in the air about it, I really want it and could save up a couple months to buy it but I still need to figure out the numbers and benefits over dry blasting to see if it would even be worth it. It's pretty hard to find people that use it since it's new to the little people so I might be getting in on the ground floor.
There is a "u-blast" place near my house, he has sand, walnut and glass cabinets. I have used him quite a bit. Costs if I recall about 45 an hour....I should suggest he get one....the place is packed on a Saturday, must be raking in the dough...and he blasts items for others as well during the week....
The more I look into it the more I'm leaning toward a soda blaster. It seems the other one is better but not by much and the cost difference is night and day. So now I'm torn between a cabinet version or the portable style. Portable can blast anything but will fog the neighbors.
Here are the specs and pricing of the vapor blaster I wanted.
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VAPOR BLAST MANUFACTURING COMPANY JANUARY 2009 PAGE 1 OF 2 PRICE GUIDE
VAPOR BLAST LIQUID HONING MACHINE MODEL VBLH 3030 DRAWING B99-530
BLAST CABINET * HEAVY-DUTY CABINET CONSTRUCTION, 10-12 GAGE MINIMUM STEEL WITH REINFORCING FRAME * FILTERED EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH MANUAL SPRAY WASH SYSTEM AND 5” DIRECT DRIVE FAN ASSEMBLY * THE VAPOR BLAST ABRASIVE PUMP ASSEMBLY SUPPLIES THE BLAST NOZZLE AND UNIFORMLY SUSPENDS ABRASIVE MEDIA IN THE SLURRY HOPPER. VAPOR BLAST PUMPS PRODUCE THE EXACT VOLUME FOR TOP PROCESS PERFORMANCE ... MEASURED FLOW AND SUPPLY PRESSURE AVOIDS EXCESSIVE MAINTENANCE CREATED BY HIGH PRESSURE SLURRY DELIVERIES. * PUMP FLUSHING SYSTEM (FRESH WATER) WITH CONTROL VALVE * FULL VIEW OPERATOR OBSERVATION WINDOW ... EASILY REPLACED SAFETY GLASS; CONVENIENCE TOOLS INCLUDED * ELECTRIC WINDOW WIPER SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE SPEED CONTROL; WINDOW RINSE NOZZLES ARE INTEGRATED IN WIPER ASSEMBLY AND WIPER OPERATION IS INTERLOCKED WITH BLAST PROCESS ACTUATED FOOT SWITCH * HIGH OUTPUT FLUORESCENT CABINET LIGHT SYSTEM DISTRIBUTES UNIFORM INTERIOR ILLUMINATION; ROOF LIGHT FIXTURE WITH SAFETY ENCLOSURE AND SEALED SAFETY GLASS PROTECTION * CABINET DOOR, RIGHT-HAND HINGED SWINGING ACTION. INTERLOCKED SAFETY SWITCH PREVENTS MACHINE OPERATION WHEN DOOR IS OPENED. SEE OPTIONS FOR VERTICAL SLIDING DOOR. * OPERATOR ARMPORTS FITTED WITH WEAR RESISTANT RUBBER GAUNTLETS AND REPLACEABLE ATTACHED RUBBER GLOVES * TYPE “S” BLAST GUN WITH 1/2” CARBIDE NOZZLE AND 1/4” STAINLESS STEEL AIR JET (75 CFM @ 80 PSI) * SINGLE PROCESS CONTROL, VIA ELECTRIC FOOT SWITCH, ACTUATING SOLENOID CONTROLLED COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY TO BLAST NOZZLE * AIR GAGE; COMPRESSED AIR INTAKE FITTED WITH OSHA APPROVED AIR LOCK-OUT/BY-PASS VALVE * PERFORATED METAL WORK PLATFORM * MACHINE SPECIFICATIONS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OSHA REGULATIONS * MACHINE PAINTED WITH HIGH GRADE INDUSTRIAL ENAMEL (TAN) AND FULLY POWER-TESTED BEFORE SHIPMENT * MACHINE INSTRUCTION MANUAL, CONVENIENCE TOOLS AND SPARE WIPER BLADE IN MOUNTED ENCLOSURE
ELECTRICAL * NEMA I, NEC, 230/460 VOLT, 3 PHASE, 60 HERTZ, PRIMARY SOURCE WITH CONTROL TRANSFORMER TO 115 VOLT, SINGLE PHASE, 60 HERTZ CIRCUIT * 1/2 HP FAN MOTOR WITH MANUAL MOTOR STARTER * 3/4 HP PUMP MOTOR WITH MANUAL MOTOR STARTER
DIMENSIONS * INSIDE WORKING AREA - 30” WIDE X 30” DEEP X 40” HIGH * LOADING DOOR OPENING - 25” X 33” * FLOOR SPACE - 31” X 41” * OVERALL HEIGHT - 89” * MACHINE NET WEIGHT - APPROXIMATELY 1050 LBS.
PRICE (F.O.B. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN) $ 11,025.00
SHIPMENT APPROX. 8-10 WEEKS ARO PAYMENT TERMS: SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL
VAPOR BLAST MANUFACTURING COMPANY JANUARY 2009 PAGE 2 OF 2 PRICE GUIDE
VAPOR BLAST LIQUID HONING MACHINE MODEL VBLH 3030 DRAWING B99-530
MACHINE OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES FOR MODEL VBLH3030:
* SECOND SIDE LOADING DOOR ASSEMBLY $ 930.00 RIGHT-HAND HINGED SWINGING ACTION. INTERLOCKED SAFETY SWITCH PREVENTS MACHINE OPERATION WHEN DOOR IS OPENED.
* B68-412-2 SETTLING TANK (PORTABLE INDEPENDENT UNIT) $ 365.00 TANK INCLUDES WEIR SYSTEM TO SETTLE OUT AND COLLECT ABRASIVE. AN OVERFLOW DRAIN FITTING CAN BE CONNECTED TO BUYER’S SEWER TO DISCHARGE THE SEPARATED WATER. THIS TANK RECEIVES THE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE CABINET WINDOW WASH AND EXHAUST FILTER RINSE.
* A68-267-9 SLURRY EVACUATOR SYSTEM $ 665.00 AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM THAT TOTALLY EVACUATES HOPPER SLURRY CONTENTS VIA AN ADJUSTABLE PNEUMATIC OPERATED DEVICE. THE SLURRY IS CONVEYED TO BUYER’S DISPOSAL CONTAINER WITH 8’ DISCHARGE LINE.
* 87-1207 AUTOMATIC FILTER WASH SYSTEM $ 520.00 TIMER-CONTROLLED, AUTOMATIC SYSTEM OF FRESH WATER RINSE OF EXHAUST FILTER.
* 55-259 STAINLESS STEEL CABINET AND HOPPER STRUCTURE $ 4,740.00 WITH NON-FERROUS INTERIOR PIPING SYSTEM AND COATED WORKTABLE.
* OPTIONAL VERTICAL SLIDING CABINET DOOR ASSEMBLY $ 485.00/DOOR FEATURING DOUBLE PULLEY COUNTERBALANCED SYSTEM AND SELF-ACTIVATING SAFETY BRAKE. INTERLOCKED SAFETY SWITCH PREVENTS MACHINE OPERATION WHEN DOOR IS OPENED.
* INTEGRAL TURNTABLE – CABINET INTERIOR $ 1,700.00 HEAVY-DUTY, BALL BEARING SPINDLE MOUNTED, MANUAL ROTARY TURNTABLE ASSEMBLY. TURNTABLE SURFACE IS FITTED WITH PERFORATED METAL REMOVABLE WORKDECK. THE TURNTABLE ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED INSIDE THE BLAST CABINET AND MOUNTED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE WORK SURFACE OF THE CABINET
