DIY Harbor Freight Pressurized Abrasive Pot Blaster Modifications for *Entertainment Purposes*

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

I like the vibrator attached to the tank! I was blasting this past weekend for the first time and that was a problem I had quite a bit. I did a quick search on eBay and found they make pneumatic vibrators, I'll do a little more research and use one of those. Trying to avoid running a power cord out too. Would also prefer to band the vibrator to the tank, rather than weld on a pressure vessel. My welds are good, just always nervous about welding to pressure vessels.

[@Jean-RobertSutton-o1i]

Just the add-on off the motor vibration make a huge improuvement ... no need the rest of modif. Thank for that brilliant idee

[@ljprep6250]

They're $36.99 at Amazon for a 30W unit. I'd hesitate at $50 or more, but that's reasonable, given the gains. It will pay for itself in one day, I'm sure.

[@boogerhead0]

Dude, Thank You !!! and if you had service on that boat, then Thank You for your Service to Our Country!... A++++++ Good info.

[@mike6497253]

I use to take my black & decker palm sander and ratchet strap it around the pot to get the tumbling affect lol. Next time I need to sandblast I'm getting the AMZ tumbler! Thanks!

[@LakeAndLodgeGarage]

That is exactly what I have been looking for! tumbler motor is on the way! thank you.

[@thegarageconnection]

Enjoy!

[@gregbelaskas1080]

Great idea! I never thought to put a vibrator on it. just ordered one. No more going back to the pot to shake,shake,shake. Thanks!

[@thegarageconnection]

It’s a life changing modification that’s for sure! Just be sure to start blasting first then turn it on, or maybe even put it on a foot pedal for intermittent bursts

[@gregbelaskas1080]

Just came in from using the the new and improved sandblaster. what a difference that vibrator makes! I set the cams at 25% and it's perfect. I also put a harbor freight foot switch on it and tha'ts the way to go. Thanks again

[@dennypokrywka7344]

This was an awesome tutorial on understanding the unit, mods and recommendations! Regarding the welded bracket for the vibrator, I would suggest possibly trying to make a bracket that mounts to the carriage/wheel assembly rather than welding one on the tank. A rubber spacer could be fabricated to press up against the tank in the same place as the suggested welded bracket.

[@davidbauman9409]

Best video out on this setup..big ass thank you brother…

[@xr500t]

I bent the support leg trying to shake the pot! That is definitely something I'll do. I noticed that besides the clogging, the pressurized air was funneling its way through the media and no abrasive would drop through to the mixing valve.

[@kuecker2]

there are several vibrators. which one do you sugest?

[@ljprep6250]

Excellent and logical tips, very good. Thanks for sharing all those.

[@jaypeerobot3745]

I have this exact same blaster but the Canadian version-Princess Auto! It's painted blue. I actually took the front leg off and the back arms with wheels and built a hand cart for it. It sits higher for better operation. Same problem with sand plugging the bottom valve. I am planning on doing the same with the bottom orifice, but I will be welding on a new threaded flange in the bottom instead of welding a fitting in a hole.

[@jimelder4009]

We did everything you said to do, to the letter. Spent a lot of money, including buying your stuff. NOTHING WORKED. These blasting pots are JUNK. Thanks a lot!

[@Douglas1ro]

Wow. Ever find out what you did wrong?

[@jimelder4009]

What would lead you to believe that it's my fault. I've been a fabricator, Welder, for over 35 yrs. Including arc, might, tig, and Lazer. Not to mention a large powder coating facility. So we've been around the block a couple a times. Maybe you left something out! I even dehumidifier my shop and installed commercial dryers on each device that uses air inside the shop at a cost of over $5,000.00 Still no good. However, don't worry about it. We've moved on and installed a large high-pressure commercial system. WORKS GREAT!

[@Douglas1ro]

@@jimelder4009 "What would lead you to believe that it's my fault." Because of all the DIYers in the comments working in their back yards that didnt have an issue. And just because YOU brought it up. Why in the world would you install $5k worth of individual dryers when 40ft of hard pipe, and a $300 filter will remove 99% of the moisture? No wonder you couldnt get it working.

[@jimelder4009]

OK, Problem figured out about 3 hrs. ago!.... your system does work and it works quite well as a matter of fact. The one thing we didn't think about and I can't remember if you mentioned it or not is "Blasting Media". Most people don't use what we do because it's the heaviest and largest coal slag offered. One of my guys tried it in your system, no good. However, he dropped down to the next grade, making it a little finer that normal around here, and WALAA started working great. So we do have a place for 3 of these in the powder coating side of our place. So I want to publicly apologize for jumping the gun so quickly, but it was certainly something to see how much of a difference just 1 grade of media made. Again, I hope you can accept my apologies because this thing taking off rust and paint 6" wide in one pass.....Nice Job@

[@jimdrechsel3611]

Great information. As a side note. I know of someone who used a four way fitting for the bottom so you could clear any clogs in the fitting. The plug was on the bottom. He also brazed a 4” tube on the bottom fitting for the tank with random holes to allow alternate holes to feed into the bottom T fitting. Really like shaking device idea. What is your progression opening and adjusting valves?

[@uncleronny6748]

I had the smaller one of those shitball CentralAutistic blasters and the best hotrod advice I can give you is to use aluminum oxide as the blast media. But wear gloves ( ask me how I know, etc).

[@randymacsgarage]

Dude you fukin nailed it ! Great job I used the vibration device from my old POS recliner for mine worked great never told no one but you figured it out Kudos bro.

[@petersindo6981]

What size wattage vibrator motor did you buy…they have..30 watt…and up…?

[@DF5152]

I see you have 2 blast cabinets in the background. Are they joined together to increase the size of items you can put in?

[@thegarageconnection]

They absolutely are

[@DF5152]

do you have any videos on that? @@thegarageconnection

[@rjwentworth4168]

the hose from the bottom to the blast nozzle did you go up in size from the one that came with it? bigger diameter

[@lucristianx]

Glad I found your video. I’m about to sandblast a car flip. Since I’m stupid new to this, what desicant and filter are you using? I think I can handle the rest.

[@thegarageconnection]

The desiccant is a generic Silica based pellet, comes in bulk packaging from Amazon. The dryer/separator is also a generic 1/2” air dryer also off amazon

[@willteasel6099]

Regardless of what type of media you use with a pressure pot blaster you should always practice safety wearing googles, respirator and disposable suit

[@user-ic2cw6qz2s]

what size air compressor and nozzle are you using? I have an 80 gallon 5hp and the pot has the deadman gun you were talking about. great video BTW

[@thegarageconnection]

I have a 30gal 10.4cfm unit

[@Initial_Gopnik]

I got a pot blaster too, i think mines broken, everytime i use it i forget what im doing.😂

[@kevinlowe4845]

Where are you in virginia,I’m in the southeast near the Norfolk naval base

[@thegarageconnection]

Williamsburg

[@edwh164]

What media do you use and what’s the price ?

[@thegarageconnection]

I get it from tractor supply in the red bags

[@gradyturner3367]

add water to the output at the nozzle assembly to settle dust and help lessen damage to project..... somethin in the neighborhood of 70/30 mix water with course soda blast media or similar will clean an amazing variety of surfaces i own a Dustless Blasting machine like on TV and have learned using a media machine can take literally days off your build time

[@halburke9115]

Damn, too much work and time to buy this unit.

[@thegarageconnection]

It wasn’t too bad, really it’s about replacing the poor-quality factory parts with better stuff. Any entry level blaster is going to have similar issues.

[@halburke9115]

@@thegarageconnection thank you for your reply…..

[@Kerry12354]

LMAO at the people freaking on welding on the tank . Theres millions of air tanks welded in China , loose sleep over that !

[@stephenjharnois]

Wow.forget sand blasting.thats is a painfully slow process. Shit will be rusting before you finish lol

[@chrislyons2907]

I am not sure if you are a certified pressure vessel welder or not. Pressure vessels are extremely dangerous and are all carefully engineered then have to be approved. Tapping out threads, and welding on plates and fittings, makes my hair stand on end, especially by the average home handyman. I have been in the compressed air industry my entire career. This video is a recipe for a law suit.

[@thegarageconnection]

this video is for entertainment purposes only

[@bucktis9]

yea you ever see a tank blow it will blow a hole in your roof watch out!

[@mrhatch117]

As a pressure vessel engineer, I agree with your comment completely. Regardless of the title of the video. This guy is asking for a lawsuit

[@thegarageconnection]

@@mrhatch117 there are longstanding legal precedents that when someone chooses to do something themselves, they knowingly and willfully assume all liability for said actions. There are many videos on KZbin about repairing rotted sections of vehicle frames, or rebuilding hydraulic cylinders, or any number of contractor level home improvement projects. These things absolutely have a high probability that, if done incorrectly, will cause injury or death. The only liability for content creators is if they knowingly post something wrong that is guaranteed to hurt someone. I agree that there is a certain assumed risk associated with welding on this pressure vessel, which is why I’m not instructing people to modify the relief valve or delete it in any way, and telling them that “this is what I chose to do”. Should anyone want to attempt to do what I have done, that is completely dependent upon their own knowledge, assumptions of risk, and their freedom to do so.

[@dannymoreno799]

This video is awesome, I'm A certified welder and I weld on Tanks all the time, and I say engineers are full of it, they knew Nothing about welding