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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 23, 2012 10:13:04 GMT -5
I stumbled onto something neat the other day that would work for many phases of our hobbies. A dual chamber soda / media blaster that could be used for cleaning and prepping fossils and minerals, etching glass, texturing metal findings etc. www.ancientfossils.info/categories/tools-and-supplies.htmlScroll to the bottom of the page and click on either image for more info. I'm seriously thinking about adding one of these to all of my toys. Don
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 23, 2012 11:00:42 GMT -5
Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 23, 2012 12:11:39 GMT -5
Ain't that a sweet setup ? I'm getting too old to be buying a lot of new toys, but I really want one of those. I wonder if the model with the blasting booth can be used independently of the booth ? Some things I'd be blasting are too big to fit in that little booth. Think I'll try to contact the company and find out. Also need to find out if they stock new nozzles and gloves.
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surreality
starting to spend too much on rocks
is picking up too many rocks at the beach again
Member since January 2012
Posts: 217
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Post by surreality on Mar 27, 2012 15:41:47 GMT -5
That looks like a seriously nice setup. I certainly don't have the budget for it, but I'd love to hear accounts of how well it works to see if it's something worth pinching some pennies for in the future.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 27, 2012 16:04:11 GMT -5
Sent questions to the company last Saturday, asking about the availability of spare parts for this machine. Still waiting for an answer. If I don't get one soon, that tells me that they don't stock spare nozzles and other wearable parts. I won't order something that expensive unless I can can get parts for it.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 27, 2012 22:33:02 GMT -5
Actually, soda blasting is the quickest way to clean quartz and other hard minerals. But even soda will dull and damage anything softer than quartz.
Using regular blasting grit, the machine would work good for cleaning small rusted metal parts, or etching glass.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 30, 2012 13:12:40 GMT -5
I use to sandblast for my Uncle's oilfield company in Montana,I really enjoyed the work!Hate to brag,but I was good at it too..........LOL
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 30, 2012 13:31:15 GMT -5
Yup, done a little blasting in my day too. Sand and hydro blasting both. Not bad if you have protective gear to wear. But one company I worked for was too damned cheap to invest in an airline mask.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 30, 2012 16:05:47 GMT -5
LOL,tried blasting once without gloves,what a stupid mistake that was-LMAO.............!!!!
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 30, 2012 16:28:04 GMT -5
Ooooo, ouch. That smarts.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Apr 3, 2012 0:59:01 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 3, 2012 8:23:32 GMT -5
Scott, I looked at them. I don't think they'll work for fossil or mineral prep work. The Pasche Air Eraser uses abrasive grit, which would damage specimens. It needs to be a gun which uses baking soda for the cleaning agent. Even baking soda is too harsh for softer specimens, but works very nice on anything Mohs 7 or greater. Don
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 3, 2012 16:39:54 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 3, 2012 18:22:29 GMT -5
I've seen the Harbor freight units. The name Harbor Freight says it all. Chinese junk.
The unit I'm looking at is small enough to be easily stored, light weight, and they supply baking soda in 40 lb bags. For prepping most fossils and minerals you don't need a big industrial unit. Also most larger units call for high pressure air, which may damage specimens. This little unit will operate from 25 to 90 PSI. 40 - 45 PSI would probably be enough for removing matrix and rust stains without damage to the specimen.
Actually, most museum prepping is done with tiny air chisels Fordam rotary tools, dental pics and soft brushes.
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Apr 4, 2012 0:35:51 GMT -5
Don, I agree completely that abrasive grit would be too agressive but if you do a search on google for "air eraser soda" www.google.ca/search?q=air+eraser+sodayou will find quite a few people using soda in them. It does sound like there is a couple issues but here is a video of someone using one with soda, in the video he tells how he modified the harbour freight one to make it work better with household soda. I had read in other spots that you should not use hosehold soda for blasting because its too fine so clogs, so it might be better with proper blasting soda. or if you just want to see what soda does before you buy anything check this out.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 4, 2012 11:26:18 GMT -5
I've done the searches for soda blaster soda. Even found a local source, so I can pick it up myself, instead of paying to have it shipped to me.
I think you miss the whole point here Scott. What I'm after is something that's small enough to sit on a work bench, and be stored on a shelf. The machine I posted the link for fits the bill.
A larger, more powerful machine would be great if you're cleaning and prepping a dinosaur, but how many of us will ever have the chance to do that ? Most of us work on cleaning and prepping fossil shells, fish and the like. We don't need the capacity of a 20 + gallon tank of soda. A quart or less works just fine for us.
Actually, a person can build their own soda blaster with just a compressor and hose, and a common spray gun with a pick up tube. The type you use for washing parts. I posted a link to a couple of those a while back. Total cost if you already have the compressor and hose, less that $25.00.
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newdog65
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2010
Posts: 3
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Post by newdog65 on May 14, 2012 0:30:19 GMT -5
I use soda from crystal mark or paleo tools. Product is very good and the size of the particles is consistent. I use a swam blaster unit which allows me to control the flow of material and air pressure which is great for delicate fossils. I also use dolomite but nothing harder.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2012 7:40:56 GMT -5
What would happen if you ran aluminum oxide or some other polishing powder through one of those? I have everything but the compressor and was wanting something to clean up small druzzy. My plan was to use it with the polishing powder mixed with water. Winter set in and I never got to make a test run then the compressor quit, Jim
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Post by jakesrocks on May 14, 2012 8:29:44 GMT -5
That blaster comes with 2 different media chambers. You can run different grit in each, and switch between them as needed. For cleaning crystals just be sure the grit is softer than the material you're cleaning, or else you'll end up with frosted material.
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newdog65
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2010
Posts: 3
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Post by newdog65 on May 14, 2012 19:22:05 GMT -5
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