How To Fix Sandblaster Flow Problems

If you’re wondering how to fix sandblaster flow problems you’ve come to the right place. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all fix for this problem, there are a few common issues that cause it. These 3 tips can help you determine if your dry abrasive sandblaster flow problems are easy fixes. Check these out first and see if they correct your problem.

How to Fix Sandblaster Flow Problems: 3 Tips

There are three factors that can cause easy-to-resolve issues with abrasive air flow. We detail these possible problems and how to fix them below.

1. Wet Compressed Air is the most common problem for bad abrasive flow. It’s caused by a too small air compressor with a too fast compressor pump speed. Nearly all blasting cabinets are dry abrasive delivery, and that doesn’t mix well with wet compressed air. These light duty compressors pass hotter air into the cold steel dry blasting cabinet. As the air chills, the moisture condenses on the sides of the cabinet. You must cool the compressed air by installing an air-dryer. A quick way to see if you are having flow problems caused by hot air is to feel the temperature of the air inlet hose. Use your body temperature as a baseline. If the hose feels warm to the touch, then you are likely to have moisture developing as the hot air hits the cold steel.  
2. Using worn out abrasive is another reason you might have abrasive flow problems. Changing out the old abrasive for new abrasive is how to fix sandblaster flow problems related to this issue when you have a light-duty abrasive flow valve. Some people don’t realize you need to purge blasting cabinets and install new abrasive from time to time. The same rules for changing the oil in a car apply to changing abrasive in a blast cabinet applies. Make sure you drain all the old abrasive and change it for new abrasive.  Cleaning the dust collector filter at the same time will create better visibility.
3. Using the wrong abrasive size without the correct abrasive flow valve can cause abrasive flow issues. If you do not have an abrasive flow valve you need to use exactly the abrasive mesh size your cabinet was designed to use. Be aware that with very small abrasive sizes you will need special blasting cabinets.

A More Comprehensive Fix for Abrasive Flow Problems

If none of the three culprits for abrasive flow issues above seem to apply to your cabinet, it could be something more complicated. At Media Blast & Abrasives we receive many phone calls from people who have messy machines with bad abrasive flow. More often than not, the source of the problem with these cabinets is a low Daily Duty Cycle (DDC). If you’re running a 5% to 10% DDC machine with a smaller gun cfm size, then you may need to run your cabinet all day to complete even a small, home hobby project. Nothing can be done to fix the problem besides constantly cleaning the small dust collector every 30 minutes.   But don’t despair, even low-cost blasting cabinets prove they can be useful. Clean the dust collector on a 30 minute blasting interval and you will be okay.

To Sum It Up

If you are interested in Media Blast® Abrasive Blasting Cabinets we can help you find the right machine the first time you buy! We manufacture both WET & DRY models in Siphon, Gravity Feed, and Direct Pressure in every DDC (Daily Duty Cycle) to 100%. We offer more than 170 machine models and been manufacturing them for almost Half-Century. 

If you are not sure what you need, you can also visit our buying guide online to find the machine that’s right for your needs. If you still aren’t sure, contact a member of our team for more guidance. As a manufacturer for 50 years, we know more than online sellers, big box stores and most tool houses. Even most $2000.00 blasting cabinets still use a $30.00 shop vacuum blower!