Pressure sandblaster from propane tank

[H80N]

the safety and/or usability of making and using a sandblaster out of a short wide thinwall tank like a 20lb propane can be argued amongst yourselves.... I personally would not be within 50ft of one.......
some will be driven to construct one simply because they can.... not because it is a good idea.... and they will....

the real reason for this post is to suggest that if you plan on doing any sandblasting outside of a cabinet...
Wear Protection!!!

Silicosis is a very real hazard to people who sandblast... so make sure that you have a source of clean air under your hood while sandblasting...
here is a link..

http://www.silicosis.com/respirators/index.php

take some time and do an additional search, read and understand the hazards.. before the next time you sandblast...

[tanglediver]

2 year old thread or not, I whole-heartily agree with Bearston and the others who urge you against building pressure vessel projects.
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=69011
The very real threat is nothing to play with. I'm done now, good day.
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php...ht=garage+bomb

[H80N]

the safety and/or usability of making and using a sandblaster out of a short wide thinwall tank like a 20lb propane can be argued amongst yourselves.... I personally would not be within 50ft of one.......
some will be driven to construct one simply because they can.... not because it is a good idea.... and they will.......

Those pics say enough for anybody with any common sense to avoid such a suicidal project....

but I would like to change what I said about avoiding such a thing by 50ft..... I was wrong.... Make that 100ft...

[H80N]

I have a 500 gallon propane tank that I think Im going to make a blaster out of. I have no other use for it.

or your life either.....

so........................

In your case we will make the standoff distance 1000ft.......

Darwin in action.......................

[1930case]

Old large propane tanks are best used for pig cookers, not continued as pressure vessels.

If you can't afford a properly engineered pressure vessel you don't need a pressure vessel. Find a way to fix the money problem instead. Pig cookers sell for good money by the way.

This thread deserves revival as a reminder not to do hideously stupid projects.

I don't really care much if a builder injures themselves by such deliberately negligent acts, but if a vessel goes "boom" and turns someone's kid into a spray of teeth, hair and eyeballs that isn't cool at all.

"Sorry about yer dead curtain climber, but I needed to sandblast some junk. She was kinda homely anyway and you are still young enough to squirt out a replacement" probably won't go over well.

[Joe from N.Y.]

I have edited my original post to discourage anyone who might be foolish enough to attempt this. See the first post for details. Thanks to all for either the encouragement, or the admonishment. I appreciated both.

[wildfire]

I've built a few pressure blasters out of big propain tanks. Here's an article on one of them.

http://gwd.weldingmag.com/mag/gwd_24556/

[H80N]

I've built a few pressure blasters out of big propain tanks. Here's an article on one of them.

http://gwd.weldingmag.com/mag/gwd_24556/

Wildfire
just because you got it into print does NOT make it a good idea!!!

modifying a pressure vessel without the proper engineering or hydrostatic test is not a good practice... it is downright dangerous and ill advised.....
Sandblasters are particularly dangerous because the sand/abrasive will erode the inside surfaces as it is being used leaving the outside visually fine...

The outside may look perfect but the inside may get worn paper thin over time... leaving it primed for a catastrophic and deadly rupture at any time....

This is especially dangerous for beginners who;s skills are lacking and who look to more experienced members for sound advice...

This is a Very DANGEROUS practice... use some common sense and do NOT do it...!!

[slanwar]

Propane tanks are rated at 350psi and they have a escape valve set at 250psi (Propane requires 177psi of pressure to stay liquid). If the propane tanks couldn't handle the 125psi set on that sandblaster then I could say a lot people would be dead by now.

[slanwar]

A year ago I built a sandblaster with a propane tank but I did tested the tank before using with air. Filled the tank with water, making sure no air's inside and then I used my pressure washer at 50% more than the rating of the tank. I did had my propane tank inside a container full of water but I was told later on that I didn't had to. I kept the same pressure for about 10-15 minutes and no leaks.