Suburban 400 restoration

[mhlmeader 689]

I wired up a 240v outlet for the air compressor today, and put together the sandblaster.....she blows!!! Prolly get some ppe, and blasting medium tomarrow and give her a try.

[ebinmaine 67,484]

Looks like you have some really interesting stuff in that there play space..........

[mhlmeader 689]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Looks like you have some really interesting stuff in that there play space..........

Yeah, I've acquired some stuff,

[953 nut 55,224]

9 hours ago, mhlmeader said:

blasting medium tomarrow and give her a try.

You will be best off avoiding silica sand. For your own safety use some "Black Beauty" or "Black Diamond" blasting abrasive. Tractor Supply sells it.

[mhlmeader 689]

Just now, 953 nut said:

You will be best off avoiding silica sand. For your own safety use some "Black Beauty" or "Black Diamond" blasting abrasive. Tractor Supply sells it.

Yeah, I been doing alot of reading up on it, and the Black Diamond is what I'm gonna get, the fine grit seems to be most recommended to avoid clogging, thanks for the recommendation.

[mhlmeader 689]

Well yesterday was my first attempt ever at sand blasting, didn't go as well as I hoped.  But today I had better success I think.  It's not perfect, but it something to work from. 

[rjg854 11,361]

From the picture looks like you did good 

[Jennifer 1,877]

On 5/20/2019 at 9:01 PM, oldredrider said:

"Purtyfied"...like this:

 

Could you please post a few more pictures of the engine on the sweet looking Horse!  Thanks!

[mhlmeader 689]

Get a useful tool, and the friends and family crawl outta the woodwork....blasted this door stop for my Dad. Today:)

[ebinmaine 67,484]

2 minutes ago, mhlmeader said:

Get a useful tool, and the friends and family crawl outta the woodwork....blasted this door stop for my Dad. Today:)

Niiiice

 

 

Also a boot scraper??

 

[mhlmeader 689]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Niiiice

 

 

Also a boot scraper??

 

Huh!!!  Never made the connection.  Sounds good

[mhlmeader 689]

Parts is parts...making a lil more progress sandblasting...and making a mess

[mhlmeader 689]

 

https://youtu.be/u_TmWX6zJKk

No blasting today cause of rain and laziness,  but I did see if the engine would run, it PURRS!!

Edited June 2, 2019 by mhlmeader
Added video

[ebinmaine 67,484]

Niiiice....

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

Great thread. Great progress. How did that blaster work with that air compressor?  Pros and cons?

[mhlmeader 689]

5 minutes ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

Great thread. Great progress. How did that blaster work with that air compressor?  Pros and cons?

Thanks,  so far I would say I'm pleased with the blaster it has been working pretty well, once I kinda got it dialed in.  The pros and cons......it seems to work it's best at around 100psi or more, problem is the air compressor is only a 30 gal tank, so it really cant keep up for very long.  I can blast pretty good for about 3 minutes, then I close the valves on the blaster and let it build up more pressure, doesn't seem like a long time, but for the little parts and generall smallness of the tractor, it's really not too bad.  By then I need 5o wipe off the goggles anyway, just to see better.  A 60 gallon tank, would prolly be much better.  I'm using the finest grit material too, so glogging hasn't been an issue.

 

  Cons!!...its messy!!.. I set up just outside my roll up door about 5 feet.  I,ll probably start closing the door abit to help that.  Still get alot of material back in the barn, no biggie, but just messy.  I wear goggles,  faceshield,  respirator, welding jacket and heavey leather gloves.  Moister in the blast materials can be an issue, but this has a water trap, and somewhere I read to use a 25' hose from the compressor to the blaster tank, and that's suppose to help aswell.   

 

 Overall, I'm pleased, and can see myself using it for other small projects.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

 Can we see a pict of your work site, next time you're blasting parts...

so we can get an idea of what "messy" really means?   

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

Thanks for the info. How long would you estimate it took to blast the parts in the picture with hood, frame and fenders? Looks like they turned out great.

[mhlmeader 689]

1 minute ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

Thanks for the info. How long would you estimate it took to blast the parts in the picture with hood, frame and fenders? Looks like they turned out great.

Hmmmm,  I'd say if I had it dialed in better when I was starting on those parts, all them could be done in about an hour, give or take.....I've only had about 4-5 blasting sessions,  and the first couple were the learning curve, a bigger capacity air compressor would definitely make things quicker, but I dont rush at it....after about an hour of blasting, I'm ready to get cleaned up anyway considering having worked a construction job all day to begin with.  I have the parts setting on a cart on plywood,  wheel it out the barn a few feet or so, load up, dress up, and have at it for awhile.

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

Great info, thanks a lot

[mhlmeader 689]

More sand blasting today. With the exception of the rear rims and a few smaller tractor parts, I think I'm about done blasting for awhile. Kept the roll up door closed this time, less debris in the barn.  

[mhlmeader 689]

Put the frontsie on the backsie and put two coats of etching primer on, figured I'd better stop before I messed up too badly, reevaluate some life choices and such....

[mhlmeader 689]

From what it was, to what it is.....pretty excited to see some new paint on it!!!

[mhlmeader 689]

[Pullstart 62,856]

Are you coming to the big show?  That’s what Putt Putt looked like about this time last year