Hi one and all,
I am new to this list as of yesterday (4 nov). Got this list source from
an ArtMetals list (blacksmiths, casters, fabricators, jewelers and anybody
else working in metal and the arts). I am an art bronze caster and Cynthia
is a jeweler, master model maker, sculptur and student (MFCC/Art Thearpy).
That is for the bio. Glad to have found this list and be here.
Rick,
snip
1. What is the minimum size compressor that's effective?
this question will be dictated when you find the unit that you
like/want/need/are going to get.
2. What sort of work enclosure is best?
Complete with a vacuum air removal/filtration system. Gets dusty (removing
investment) and just the media blowing around inhibits visual if you don’t
have a vacuum. If you do not need to look at what you are working on then
a power vacuum is a bit less necessary but the exausting blast air still
needs to get filteres as it gets out of the enclosure.
3. What kinds of media and equipment (brand names) have you found
effective?
I would suggest glass beeds rather than sand (or any other sharp material)
as the beads do not remove any metal…the sand will. I do not know of
any jewelry units, but I got a 3’x4’ 'clamshell unit from Harbor Freight
for under a grand. you definately do not need this large of a unit (unless
you do custom work for Jack’s Giant or something) but HF does have smaller
units. If it does not come with a vacuum unit get a small shopvac and hook
it into the blast box. And if you do this, be sure to add some sort of
“air valve” (joles in the box with a plastic?? reed/flap valve, so when you
are not blasting, air can still get into the box to supply the vacuum.
Also the vacuum will most likely have a higher cfm than the blaster, so
this extra air will help clean out the dust cloud. This is sounding like
more than you might want, but I venture to say if you go this route you
will find all sorts of uses and wonder how you ever got by without it
before.
I'll probably be working mainly with small pieces of karat gold,
Sterling and perhaps platinum – as well as cleaning rust from my jewelry
tools (just moved from a beach location).
works great for rust (the beads). Don’t use sand or you will remove a lot
of metal.
Also, for our Master Model Maker, or anyone else, has anyone
experimented with sandblasted textures on Ferris hard wax? It may be a
really dumb idea, and there may be better ways to achieve interesting
textures without embedding sand or silicon carbide in your wax model. But
I’ve worked with lots of it and, with the right medium, it just might
work…all ideas welcome.
Cynthia has used Farris wax for years but we have never tried blasting it.
It might not work too well as the plastic filler in the wax may have enough
give so the blasting material gant bit into it. Sand might work better
here rather than the beads. I do not think that embedding media would be
much of a problem in the farris wax. softer waxes yes. Even if it does
occur, still might be an interesting added “effect”.
Hope this is of help. When Cynthia and I need equipment, we usually get
the best that is available for our needs. I don’t use the blast cabinate 8
hours a day 7 days a week so we figured we didn’t need a $5-10,000 heavy
duty, industrial cabinate, but we needed a big one for the sculptures. I
guess I am saying that get the best for your needs, but this doesn’t always
mean the most expensive.
For a first post to a list this is really a bit much, but I hope sombody
might get something from my experience/thoughts/ideas.
John
PS Just noticed Jefferies note about hand helt units. Post or Harbor
Frieght sell a hand gun/syphon unit for about $20.00 ($10.00 on sale).
Work great but difficult to contain the media and thus it is lost and it
gets all over you. I use one all the time for certain cercumstances, but
then everone calls me Sandy that day.
John Dach and Cynthia Thomas
Maiden Metals
a div. of Open your heart and let the sun shine in.
MidLife Crisis Enterprises
PO BX 44
Philo, CA 95466
707-895-2635(phone/fax)