Trying A New Blasting Technique...

zack24

Lifer

May 11, 2013

1,726

2

• Jan 9, 2015

• #1

Just finished out a pipe using my new microblaster...This proved to be a major challenge- It definitely wasn't cheap- a little over $500 and after a few hours of trying to get it to work, I was ready to pull my hair out and throw the thing across the shop....so I sent it back....and got a new one a few days later. Then I tried 6 different abrasive medias at different settings to try to get it dialed in...and I'm actually fairly happy with the results...This pipe is one of my largest- 7/8" chamber, 2" deep, 5.5" long, and 85 grams...

 

tbradsim1

Lifer

Jan 14, 2012

9,103

11,062

Southwest Louisiana

• Jan 9, 2015

• #2

Zach you are not getting there, You're There. :clap: :worship:

 

misterlowercase

Lifer

May 31, 2012

4,295

34

• Jan 9, 2015

• #3

Totally friggin' AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

:clap:
That looks spectacular,

very well done!
Thanks for sharing this and including a photo of the blast unit,

very interesting stuff.
btw

most excellent stainwork there,

and the cumberland stem is *perfect*

love the looks!

:clap:

 

huntertrw

Lifer

Jul 23, 2014

5,277

5,525

The Lower Forty of Hill Country

• Jan 9, 2015

• #4

zack24:
I believe that even Mr. Alfred would be proud of your initial result. Well done, Sir!

 

huntertrw

Lifer

Jul 23, 2014

5,277

5,525

The Lower Forty of Hill Country

• Jan 9, 2015

• #5

When I first read the title of this thread I was expecting to see something akin to that displayed below:

 

newbroom

Lifer

Jul 11, 2014

6,128

6,793

Florida

• Jan 9, 2015

• #6

I don't know which I like more, the microblaster or the results you got with your first attempt because they're both pretty nice. I'd love to hear more about your micro blasting. How much time once you get the hang of it, different grits and tips and pressures required, any information on the subject interests me.
For instance: How did you achieve the separation at the rim. Blast first and then cut the rim?

 

zack24

Lifer

May 11, 2013

1,726

2

• Jan 9, 2015

• #7

How much time once you get the hang of it, different grits and tips and pressures required

Click to expand...

@newbroom - Basically, just the abrasive blasting with the microblaster adds an extra 5 hours to the time to make a pipe- I could go much further and spend another 5 or 10 hours...but you hit diminishing returns at some point...and there's a reason why Cooke and von Erck are charging the prices they do...
It starts as a normal blast in my big cabinet to define the grain...and from there on, it's hours of chasing the grain with the microblaster using a lighted magnifier to see detail...and stopping every 30 minutes to replace the mylar that protects the top glass from being frosted...I'll be a little vague on the materials and pressures (I'd hate to deprive anyone of the joy of discovery)...but it's a glass abrasive- some of the other abrasive materials are dangerous to work around over long period...and it's at a low pressure...Tried the finest 50 micron nozzles and they are a huge pain- constantly clogging-I may eventually find an abrasive that will work with that...

 

conlejm

Lifer

Mar 22, 2014

1,433

8

• Jan 9, 2015

• #8

Zack, the pipe is beautiful!

 

voorhees

Lifer

May 30, 2012

3,834

939

Gonadistan

• Jan 9, 2015

• #9

Look at that!! Clearly you have the swing of it. Nice job!

 

derfatdutchman

Lifer

Jun 4, 2014

1,134

1

• Jan 9, 2015

• #10

That is a beautiful pipe, the blast job top notch.

 

papipeguy

Lifer

Jul 31, 2010

15,778

35

Bethlehem, Pa.

• Jan 9, 2015

• #11

That's incredibly gorgeous, zack, and I love the color with the brindled stem.

 

tbradsim1

Lifer

Jan 14, 2012

9,103

11,062

Southwest Louisiana

• Jan 9, 2015

• #12

Zach you probably do this but I will throw it out, when I used to blast and tip started to plug, I put palm over nozzle and press foot petal and that would clear nozzle, not good for glove but Exxon was paying. LOL

 

zack24

Lifer

May 11, 2013

1,726

2

• Jan 9, 2015

• #13

when I used to blast and tip started to plug, I put palm over nozzle and press foot petal and that would clear nozzle

Click to expand...

Yep..I do the same with my big blaster, but the smallest nozzles on the microblaster will jam in a heartbeat and have to be stripped and cleaned...A real pain...

 

blueeyedogre

Lifer

Oct 17, 2013

1,552

30

• Jan 9, 2015

• #14

That pipe is beautiful. Just when I think I'm over wanting another sandblast you got to go and show something like that. Killing me Zack..... simply killing me.

 

peteguy

Lifer

Jan 19, 2012

1,531

908

• Jan 9, 2015

• #15

As everyone has stated - you have "it". Now we need to know how/where to buy "it".

 

fordm60

Part of the Furniture Now

Dec 19, 2014

598

5

• Jan 9, 2015

• #16

That is a beautiful pipe!! Your blast looks very nice, the contrast from blast to smooth rim really pops on this pipe. I love how it came together!!

 

darthcider

Part of the Furniture Now

Jan 24, 2014

717

2

Wales

• Jan 9, 2015

• #17

Good looking blast, all your frustration was worth it.

 

L

lestrout

Lifer

Jan 28, 2010

1,763

302

Chester County, PA

• Jan 9, 2015

• #18

Zach - that one is so artistic that I think it was really Greta who did that. The stem's striations are just perfect and so poetic. Makes all my brindles, even my Dunnies, look kind of random.
hp

les

 

zack24

Lifer

May 11, 2013

1,726

2

• Jan 9, 2015

• #19

....striations are just perfect and so poetic

Click to expand...

Those words I will never speak in the presence of Greta- she might think I'm suggesting she has wrinkles and I would be a dead man long before I had a chance to explain...

 

tbradsim1

Lifer

Jan 14, 2012

9,103

11,062

Southwest Louisiana

• Jan 9, 2015

• #20

Yes you right Zach, you tell a gal she has beautiful Strirations and Bam you may have one upside the head. :rofl: