posted
Not sure how many of yall will remember me, but I hit my first Letterhead Meet at the Sign Circus. Well tonight, just now as a matter of fact, I blasted my very first HDU sign. The end result should be ok, once the primer dries, but the task of blasting it was plagued with problems and I did not get as deep of a cut as I was hoping for.
1. The blast media kept clogging in my nozzel, I used "Black Beauty" medium but I had to remove my nozzle tip to get it to flow, and my poor air compressor just couldnt keep up with the massive air being exhausted through the blast end. I am thinking about trying the fine or extra fine next and seeing how that works out. Any advice?
2. The blast stencil started to break down way before I was prepared for it too. It is green, and i'm sorry but I dont know what brand or the thickness of it. I have some "good stuff" like what was used over at Wizard's in Suwanee, but it does not run through my plotter, bunches up at the rollers. So if there is any advice on that as well...... please let me know.
There is something about putting that hood on and turning the valve that just makes me happy!!
Thanks so much in advance.
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Way to go Joe. Each one gets a little easier. Sounds like you might need to go with the finer grain sand and maybe more pressure - what kind of compressor are you using?
The green stencil is Hartco and will run thru a friction plotter while the thicker Anchor stencil won't. I've gotten good results with the Hartco on HDU. Give us a little more detail and we can troubleshoot it for you.
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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The Hartco is it, I knew the name of it but I forgot. I have been trying to post here since I got back from the Circus, I just couldnt get logged on to reply.
I may not have the air compressor that I need, it is a Craftsman 175 psi compressor, plenty big enough for the painting I do, but may not be up to snuff for the blasting, atleast not with out a tip in my gun. I am not sure why the Hartco started to break down though, was kinda frustrating, but looking at the sign now that the primer is dry, I can still tell what it is supposed to be, once I have it all painted up I will figure out how to put the picture on here and show yall.
I may try the Anchor stencil, just cut it out by hand, im using up all the scrap pieces I have aquired and Rob Estes (a GREAT friend) helps me out alot.
I have painted something almost every week since the Circus, I even spoke about you guys in one of my Sunday School lessons right after I got home, people can learn alot stuff from you guys, and not just about signs....... and I am thankful for that.
Did I give enough info?
Thanks Sonny
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Hi Joe The more hillbillies the better! Sounds like ya need more pressure, you can blast HDU with that compressor, but it's gonna be stop & go while ya wait for it to catch up. You need more CFMs to blast continuously. I used medium silica sand for years, suddenly it's become hard to find, had to switch to Black Lightning last time around. (it's coal) Pick yer poison white lung/black lung. 1/8" nozzle handled it well. I use the Hartco exclusively, never had any problems with it breaking down.
-------------------- Bill Dirkes Cornhole Art LLC Bellevue, Ky. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are. Posts: 591 | From: Bellevue,Ky. US | Registered: Aug 1999
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Hey Joe! Glad you found your way here. It was great meeting you and your family in Dixie. I'm not big on making sandblasted stuff, but I know whatever you do will turn out purty. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Hi Joe, I'm not sure you need more air pressure, but you definitely need the CFM from the compressor, and a big tank to hold the reserve. Otherwise, like above, you're going to keep stopping to wait for air. I'm not sure why your stencil is going bad so quickly. Are you holding the nozzle too close? I think more troubleshooting is in need.
Industry is now using dry ice pellets for sandblasting. Works great and leaves no dirty, messy residue to clean up. Might be something to look further into.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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Well let me tell you about the mess...... ooo myyy goshhhhhhhhhh, black beauty everywhere, my driveway looked like black top instead of the pretty cracked grey concrete it usually is.
I am wondering if it is because the stencil is very old, plus it had gotten wet atleast once, plus cold, warm, cold, warm.
Right now I dont mind the stop and wait part of the blasting, it gives me an oppurtunity to stare at it with amazement (yep, I get really jazzed watching a sign come together, plus I like to talk so if someone is around that would be a great time to excersize my ja some more. I am going to try a finer grade of medium, see if it will flow through my gun with the nozzle, that should help a bit on the lack of air pressure I imagine, that big 3/8" opening is a great release for air pressure.
Thanks for all the imput, keep it coming.
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Some of your stencil problems might be the type you are using. I've never had any luck with Hartco. It either didn't release from the backer or left glue residue on the substrate.
I use Anchor and if Hartco has similar products which I'm sure they do, you might be using a medium tack resist. You need high tack resist for HDU. The medium tack is for super smooth (marble, Corian) glass and pre painted wood.
Even if you are priming the HDU before you blast (a waste of time) medium tack sandblast stencil will not stick as good as high tack will.
And your blasting pressure should not be over 70 psi for HDU.
By the way, Anchor is not made for the rollers of a friction plotter to ride over the rubber. Their product for friction plotters has the plastic backer protruding 3/4 inch beyond the rubber. Thats where the rollers ride. You could trim away some of the rubber from the edges and make it plotter cutable.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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That is good to know Dave, thank you so much.
I had problems with the Hartco not wanting to release from the backing, and it left residue on the HDU.
So your saying I am not supposed to blast at 150 psi. No wonder the stencil broke down so quickly. I told you it was my first real panel.
Boy am I gonng have some fun this week, if I would have gotten this bug three weeks ago, everyone in my family would have gotten a blasted sign for Christmas.... hehe
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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As I read your post it brings back so many memories for me of when I did my first sandblasted sign. I remember the excitement of watching the wood disappear as the sand hit it... pure magic!
I get that same feeling now as I watch our MultiCam whittle away at a thick piece of Precision Board, revealing the creative thing which was only a thought previously.
Keep the passion going for all apsects if signs!
-grampa dan!
[ December 19, 2006, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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"I am wondering if it is because the stencil is very old, plus it had gotten wet atleast once, plus cold, warm, cold, warm."
If you are having trouble getting the mask to release from the backing, that could be the reason. The paper getting wet and the changes in temperature have probably broken down the adhesive on the mask and it's crept into the backing paper. Fresh material has it's advantages.
I do most of my HDU blasts with Black Beauty, but as you mentioned, it does leave a mess. I job it to a local body shop. They blast with it all the time and are already set up for the process. If you're planning on doing it more frequently, a sandblasting booth would be the way to go.
Nice to have met you at the Dixie meet and welcome to da 'Ville. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
The only thing I might be able to add to your post is that you could check if the blast media is dry enough...humidity can cause the nozzle to clog. Have never used Black Beauty, though. Also, be sure to hit the substrate straight on and not on an angle.
All the advice, all the help and the friendship is overwhelming to say the least.
I have to leave the love of my garage to go out and do my day job now, im blessed to be able to work from home, so I get to work on both during the days (and nights).
Dan the passion is there for sure, I have been playing with my paint brush since I was 14 and it only becomes a bigger thrill each time I get to pick it up, this blasting stuff rocks, love it and in the town I live in, the market is wide open for it, if I can get it down.
It was aweseom meeting you as well Ray, I still cant get over how nice and geniune all of you guys were and are, I dont even get that at my Church here at home, but I'm working on them about that.... hehe.
Bernice, humidity is the enemy, coming from the dry climate of west Texas, i soooooo despise the humidity.
Take care guys and God Bless each of you reall good.
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
overworking the compressor is caused by using a tip with too large an opening and overworking the compressor will cause moisture to collect in the air reserve..which in turn causes the blasting material to clog dryers and automatic drains are available for your compressor at various prices
[ December 19, 2006, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: Michael Boone ]
posted
A 3/8 tip is for blasting bridges and towers and requires a 1 1/4" supply line. You don't have a supply that could handle that for more than thirty seconds.The supply line should be four times the size of the nozzle.
I blast between 75 and 175 lbs depending on the circumstances. With higher pressure I just get a bit farther back.
I've not tried the Hartco products in many years, but have sucess with the Anchor 155 in my Graphtec cutter with the rollers on the rubber or on the plastic. I prefer the rollers on the rubber becaust ther is less opportunity for slipping, but it cuts down on the working area.
I also only use sand (030)
Try borrowing a smaller tip and trying that.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Guess I was to dumb to catch on that you ain't spose to cut anchor stencil on yer plotter
I do it regularly with this old vinyl express plotter and haven't had any problems, my roll of stencil even goes out to the edge, pinch rollers run right on it
Just bury the blade and slow it down to about 3 inches per second.
posted
I have thought about telling my plotter several times to act straight cause I knew more then it, and in fact, if it wasnt for what I nkow, it would never plot or cut another thing again, and how sad would it be then.....
OK, so I spend way too much time in my shop (garage) late at night, but I do love the sound of that thing running.
I think I just got my hands on a couple pieces of old barn wood, if i get them, im going to try to run the Anchor material through it again, it is alot newer and i have cut out by hand a few things in the past and just kinda blasted on them, worked good except my plotter got all in a huffy about me not using it.
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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Dusty, I did my spraying last night when it was 34 degrees outside, tonight it is a much milder 48, but im in here with all the door shut and heater going, maybe i should have brushed last night and sprayed tonight.
I remember why I love single stroke letters so much..... no need for a second coat.
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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I use a 1/8" tip on my blaster, but it continues to get clogged, maybe I should drop kick it once or twice and see if it settles down.
I am going to get some sand, that 030 you use will be a try, and Black Beuaty makes a fine and super fine that I will try before I look into a different blast gun (whatever it is called).
Thanks so much
-------------------- Sharing the WORD one sign at a time!! Joe Golden Signage 721 Oak ST, Madisonville KY, 42431 270-871-0454 Posts: 270 | From: Madisonville, Kentucky | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
If you step your airline down starting at the compressor, you'll get needed extra volume w/o having to purchase another, bigger unit, also, adding another air tank in tandem will increase volume radically, almost dbln' present load...3/8's nozzle is too big, scale it down some, I use an 1/8th, works great...
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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1/8 is a real slow way to blast but the only way to go with a low volume compressor, and they do jam, particularly if there is any moisture in the equation. I water seperator is a real must at the pot end of the line...not the compressor end.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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