[pjr710]

Ok so i think i need a walnut blast. My gas mileage is tanking.

I am thinking of getting the harbor freight media blaster. Right now i have a small air compressor maybe like 3 gallons. Could i use it to walnut blast?

I don’t mind having to wait for it to power up.

I ask. Bc space is getting limited for me and i rarely have a need for a large air compressor.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

I bought a 6 gallon based on the requirements for the media blaster. Harbor freight has a portable media blaster that needs 4 cfm at 40 psi...then I found a 6 gallon Briggs and Stratton pancake compressor that can supply 4.5 cfm at 40 psi. I haven’t tried it yet...waiting for the weather to get nicer...

[ore0fllamp]

I used a 2HP 15 Gallon, and still was not nearly big enough. Running almost the entire time, not sure how great of a time your going to have with anything smaller.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by ore0fllamp

I used a 2HP 15 Gallon, and still was not nearly big enough. Running almost the entire time, not sure how great of a time your going to have with anything smaller.

Did you use a pressurized media blaster?

[ore0fllamp]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Did you use a pressurized media blaster?

No, just the cheap $100 setup. Air line goes directly into gun, walnuts fed to gun via hose to a hopper.

[Chris@VargasTurboTech]

3 gallons will not be enough. I would just do it by hand or pay someone else for that hassle. You'll get like 10 seconds of airflow before you're out.

I used a 26 gallon compressor and it was adequate, but not with a lot of margin. There was still definitely time spent waiting for the tank to re-fill.

[BaaQaf]

I bought this 20 Gal https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-20...201H/206189626

Does it take 175 psi for wallnut blasting ? No. Wallnut blasting only needs about 60–90 PSI to work effectively. So its important to have a regulator to set the amount of usable and adequate PSI. This will help the tank last longer and fill quicker instead of running at max psi.

[madbim]

Just did this last weekend using a 8 gal compressor, can't imagine using anything smaller honestly.

[pjr710]

I've been researching the heck out of air compressors, none are going to be perfect for me now b/c I don't have 240v in the garage.

I'm thinking of these - any advice?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-20-G...sor/1000578469
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-QUIE...sor/1000405189
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Campbell-...essor/51495094

My other questions are:

• I plan on getting this from harbor freight vs the bavauto one .. any issues with using this instead? https://www.harborfreight.com/portab...kit-37025.html

• Should I just pony up and get the expensive vacuum hose adapter? I hear the plastic ones can break. I plan on in the future getting an N55 X3 .. so I figure I could use it for that too right?

• Will doing the walnut blast improve my gas mileage at all?

Any other tips or pitfalls to watch out for?

[woodex m.e.]

I usd a 30 gallon and it was barely enough. Did something like 3.7cfm at 90 psi. Lots of waiting for it to fill bfore the next blast.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by pjr710

Ok so i think i need a walnut blast. My gas mileage is tanking.

I am thinking of getting the harbor freight media blaster. Right now i have a small air compressor maybe like 3 gallons. Could i use it to walnut blast?

I don’t mind having to wait for it to power up.

I ask. Bc space is getting limited for me and i rarely have a need for a large air compressor.

You can do it with a pancake compressor, but it will be running all the time and take a little bit to fill. I've done this DIY with one. I had a small porter & cable for about 3-4 years till it quit on me.

I then went an bought a DeWalt D55146 from Lowe's. Awesome, Awesome air compressor.

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

You can do it with a pancake compressor, but it will be running all the time and take a little bit to fill. I've done this DIY with one. I had a small porter & cable for about 3-4 years till it quit on me.

I then went an bought a DeWalt D55146 from Lowe's. Awesome, Awesome air compressor.

I see it’s small tho. Is 5 cfm much better than 4?

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by pjr710

I see it's small tho. Is 5 cfm much better than 4?

The higher cfm, the better. The other number you want to look at is tank pressure. 200psi, is really good. You only need 90 psi to walnut blast, so a 200psi tank will run very efficiently if you only require 90psi and blast 5-6 seconds at a time!!! 😉

I've used the my new Dewalt for walnut blast too. No issues what so ever.

You can probably get a good deal on the Dewalt 15 gallon compressor for under $375.00 right now. I almost bought that one, but opted for the small one due to space saving.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-1...5168/302918678

Either one, will have more them enough power to walnut blast or do a brake fluid flush via Mitivac.

[arkie6]

Originally Posted by pjr710

...Should I just pony up and get the expensive vacuum hose adapter? I hear the plastic ones can break.

Another option is to make the hose adapter yourself for <$1.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...&postcount=129

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by pjr710

Ok so i think i need a walnut blast. My gas mileage is tanking.

I am thinking of getting the harbor freight media blaster. Right now i have a small air compressor maybe like 3 gallons. Could i use it to walnut blast?

I don’t mind having to wait for it to power up.

I ask. Bc space is getting limited for me and i rarely have a need for a large air compressor.

Six things to consider when buying a compressor.

1) gallons
2) CFM - the higher the better
3) max tank pressure
4) space in your garage
5) jobs you are using It for predominantly & how often.
6) ROI & initial cost $$$$

The only job that I can think of where you would want a 30 gallon tank, 200psi tank pressure & a really high CFM would be to clear your sprinkler system lines in the fall. Even then, with a really good 30 gallon tank, it would take a long time to do this job.

Honestly, You are better off just paying the local guy $60.00 to do it. He's got a huge, industrial tank in his creeper van or in the back of his pickup truck.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by pjr710

Ok so i think i need a walnut blast. My gas mileage is tanking.

I am thinking of getting the harbor freight media blaster. Right now i have a small air compressor maybe like 3 gallons. Could i use it to walnut blast?

I don’t mind having to wait for it to power up.

I ask. Bc space is getting limited for me and i rarely have a need for a large air compressor.

You can buy a kit at say Bav Auto for around $225-250, if you want an aluminum cylinder adapter vs a plastic one.

Or you could price out each piece Individually and probably buy everything for around $175.00 or so which would get you the aluminum cylinder adapter in that price point.

Google is your friend.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Honestly, You are better off just paying the local guy $60.00 to do it. He's got a huge, industrial tank in his creeper van or in the back of his pickup truck.

Watch you kids around that local guy in the creeper van...

[pjr710]

Ok well w/ the air compressor I probably want to buy once cry once. I don't want more than i need. Everyone says ignore PSI .. but it makes sense a 200PSI tank will last twice as long at 90 PSI than a 100PSI tank theoretically right?

As far as CFM .. I'm limited to 120v outlet, so 6CFM seems to be the max i can get, 4 seems pretty common, how big a of a difference is 4 vs 6? I have no idea...

All I really care about is probably sound, and refill time, ideally i'd like a fast filling quiet air compressor.

For jobs? I'm going to walnut blast, besides that MAYBE use air tools down the road when working on my car but that's it.

I just really don't want to buy a compressor and realize it falls short and have to rebuy one. And at this point I don't know what I don't know.

The dewalts seem very nice.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by pjr710

Ok well w/ the air compressor I probably want to buy once cry once. I don't want more than i need. Everyone says ignore PSI .. but it makes sense a 200PSI tank will last twice as long at 90 PSI than a 100PSI tank theoretically right?

As far as CFM .. I'm limited to 120v outlet, so 6CFM seems to be the max i can get, 4 seems pretty common, how big a of a difference is 4 vs 6? I have no idea...

All I really care about is probably sound, and refill time, ideally i'd like a fast filling quiet air compressor.

For jobs? I'm going to walnut blast, besides that MAYBE use air tools down the road when working on my car but that's it.

I just really don't want to buy a compressor and realize it falls short and have to rebuy one. And at this point I don't know what I don't know.

The dewalts seem very nice.

Mine is fairly quite, and will run any air tool. I've walnut blasted with it, no issues.

Dewalt D55146 - $299.00 - Lowe's

5.0 SCFM at 90 PSI / 200 psi

78 dBa operational noise

If you have room in your garage, and you really want more air capacity, then get the DeWalt 15 gallon at Home Depot for $349.00

Dewalt D55168 - $349.00 - Home Depot

5.4 CFM at 90 PSI / 225 psi

78 dBA operational noise

The 15 gallon will run considerably longer with out having to refill. The smaller 4 gallon can can run a bit without having to fill up, but quickly recharges and can hold 90psi easily while recharging.

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Mine is fairly quite, and will run any air tool. I've walnut blasted with it, no issues.

Dewalt D55146 - $299.00 - Lowe's

5.0 SCFM at 90 PSI / 200 psi

78 dBa operational noise

If you have room in your garage, and you really want more air capacity, then get the DeWalt 15 gallon at Home Depot for $349.00

Dewalt D55168 - $349.00 - Home Depot

5.4 CFM at 90 PSI / 225 psi

78 dBA operational noise

The 15 gallon will run considerably longer with out having to refill. The smaller 4 gallon can can run a bit without having to fill up, but quickly recharges and can hold 90psi easily while recharging.

Thanks I’m really going to dig into these

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by pjr710

Thanks I'm really going to dig into these

Originally Posted by pjr710

Thanks I'm really going to dig into these

Hard to go wrong with a Dewalt.

If you want an awesome Airtool that you would use to get suspension parts off like frozen nuts on control arms get Dewalt - DWMT70773L

Just make sure you get a "QUALITY" hose & fittings. Don't skimp on those items...

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