Kawi2strokes.com Forum

I know bigger is always better when talking air compressors, but. What is the smallest compressor that you can get away with for running a bead blaster? Tank size and cfm.

Something like this http://www.tractorsupply.com/-3310006?c ... compressor is decent.
Sand blasting is an air hog. The smaller the tank, the less sustainable time you will have before you must wait for the pressure to rebuild. If you are just doing small jobs with minimal blasting required, you MAY get by with less. A compressor, as shown, will not keep up with big jobs without a wait for rebuilding pressure.

I would never attempt blasting on any sort of a long term basis with anything less than that shown.

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Answers are here: http://kawatriple.com/

+1 on size for continuous duty with media blast. 11 cfm and 80 gal tank will do most anything you need.

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Rotortech
Indianapolis
1974 S3

I've found that a big problem with using a small compressor tank for bead blasting isn't the fact you got to ocaasionally wait for the compressor to catch up .. The problem is compressing air causes the air to heat up... if the tank is big, the outside of the tank has more area for the heat to dissapate. on a small tank, the air inside gets warmer... The warmer air is, the less water it will hold.. this means a warm compressor tank will condense more water than a cool compressor tank... If you don't have a water trap you get water in your beads... not good...
If you do use a water trap you empty it ... a lot...

If you are going to invest in a compressor, get the biggest you can reasonably afford - after a while you will wonder how you did without it!!

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"One day, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." : anon.

My Champion 80 Gallon upright has been perfect for my machine. It is rated for contiuous duty and I have been using it since 2004. I have been through trying to use a smaller older compressor and it is frustraing to say the least. Bigger is better in this instance

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I Love the Smell of Blue Marble in the Morning!!!
Tim Steele in Front Royal, VA
Home of the Phoenix Project
Stay in it when it comes on the pipe, no need to be scared...

Thanks for the replies. I know bigger is better, but you never know when that good CL deal comes along.

im using a 27 gallon horizontal without issues. this is one that actually has the separate pump you put oil in, not a direct drive unit.

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74 H2B with reeds and 34mm carbs
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