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Okay, there are posts after posts about how to get started in sandblasting. Depending on your area: does it support sandblasted signs pricewise? Meaning, can you SELL them ? If so, gather up $2,500.00 and get a large air compressor from Home Depot, 7hp, 24cfm, 80gal tank Ingersoll-Rand or whatever brand you are comfy with for about $1600.00. Then, get a good pressure pot that holds about 90-100 pounds of sand, $300.00. Then, a good canvas hood and welders gloves, $100.00. Oh, and a good respirator... silica dust is DEADLY !!! And, the electrician to wire all this up for you. Now, depending on how your salesmanship is, you should have that $2500.00 paid off within a year plus more !!! The down side of this venture is having a place to do the sandblasting..... presently, I have a 40 ton pile of sand I have to rent a tractor Monday and put this used sand somewhere else. My bottom line is don't focus on redwood or cedar. Try to sell the HDU as much as possible. It is a much better product, lasts longer and much easier to work with. I don't want to brag or toot my horn, but, this week alone, I took in over $7,000.00 of HDU orders. Sandblasted and handcarved. NO wood at all, just HDU. (( BUT, then again, there have been weeks and weeks of no orders at all )). Good luck to you all !!!!
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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John, the set up you described does not work adequatly for me. I require far more air than what you'd get outa the Home Depot compressor.
I also preffer working with wood. It feels good to me and in the grain of each board there is a rhythem I discover. When it comes to dumping the sand, I find no problem letteing the rain wash it and filter it, since both rewdwood and sand are native here.
I personnaly don't like the feel or smell of HDU.
Also, in our historic districts, anything but wood is illegal.
So, hows that for countering your opinion? Best to you. Rick
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
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The post was for " Getting Started " in the art of sandblasting signs...... not for folks that are already setup. I myself find that the 24 cfm does not do wood well on a large scale. When it comes to larger or a quantity of wood signs, I rent a 185 cfm diesel big boy from my rental place right up the road. Maybe you more "seasoned" folks do it differently, but, I never reuse sand. At $1.25 per 50# bag, it is not worth my time. I am still a one-man shop with a helper. We need a multitude of information from all sides for any one person to sift out just what might work for their particular application. Still, there is the option of not sandblasting at all once one finds a "reliable" source to do that job for them. They can just glue up the panels, apply the mask and run it over to the shop that does sandblasting. In my "Spring Fling" A Gathering of Craftsmen, I will have workshops on sandblasted signs, from start to finish. Using redwood, cedar and HDU. Hope you see you there !!!
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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