I have seen an add for a sandblasting unit that attaches to an airbrush setup. I think it was at micromark.
Wondering if anyone out there has seen this in action or has one? Contemplating its worth in removing engine numbers and/or roadnames from engines.
I have a Badger abrasive unit (which is not an aribrush, but a separate unit), but have only used it a few times. Using one is a messy proposition, you need to have somewhere to spray the grit into, and it creates a lot of dust when in use. And using it does remove lettering, but the area where the lettering is also sandblasted, leaving it dull looking.
So the lettering may be gone, but it is really obvious where it was. I’ll have to repaint my model because of this. I used the fine abrasive Badger sells, but a friend has reported using baking soda, but I don’t know if it is less aggressive or not. I imagine it would make quite a cloud of dust when in use.
So you’ll need a dustproof sandblasting booth and may end up with dulled paint where lettering was removed.
Bob Boudreau
It’s a very useful tool, but Micro Mark’s is way over priced! I paid about 1/3 less from another on-line source that I can’t recall right now. Just put “Badger sandblaster” into Google and you’ll get a few sources that won’t over charge you.
I use a large opaque storage container as my blasting booth. It contains the dust and it allows you to recover most of the abrasive. I cut a rectangular hole, just smaller than an 8"x10" piece of picture glass and duct taped it in, cut holes in the side for my arms and taped the long sleeves from an old shirt to it.
The abrasive that comes with it is very dangerous, especially if you use it in a confined area such as a basement or garage. Any motors or mechanical items are subject to getting the fine grit into them and can ruin bearings and other mechanical parts. The dust is still hard to contain even with a sealed booth and I don’t recommend using it at all.
I use baking soda exclusively. It’s cheap and is easily cleaned up and non aggressive. I blast it at 60 to 80 psi and it works wonders on truck side frames, slick engineering plastic and anything you need to etch a surface on. It isn’t the best for removing lettering say for patching numbers etc. It isn’t that precise of a tool. It does have quite a few applications, you just need to practice, practice, practice.
I tried to use a cheap Badger airbrush for sand blasting. (I saw an article on useing baking soda for abraisive.) It took the weathering off a box car.(100 psi.) but did not remove the paint. Maybe some more air pressure or a more aggressive medium would have done the trick…I just use a chemical proccess now for stripping stuff.