Pressure washer sandblasting is an interesting type that mixes abrasive with high pressured water to help abrade the surface, while keeping dust down. The abrasive dust is one of the most annoying things associated with abrasive blasting, so these are becoming popular to keep the dust down. The water prevents dust from forming and is much safer for your lungs.
I found this attachment kit here: http://amzn.to/2iakkO9
Although these are similar to the type that is becoming very popular these days called the dustless sandblasting set up, they shouldn’t be confused and operate in a very different manner.
In actuality the pressure washer and so called “dustless sandblasters” are both dustless because they use water mixed in with the abrasive to control dust.
But since the market has sort of coined these terms this way, I will term the dustless sandblaster as the unit that uses compressed air, and the pressure washer blaster as the unit with a motor that only uses pressurized water. Using either system is considered “Wet Sandblasting”.
Pressure Washer Sandblaster Set Ups
There are two different set ups that I have seen sold by manufacturers:
- Stand alone units– which are made specifically for blasting.
- Attachment kits– which will hook up to your pressure washer.
How it Works?
These units work in the same fashion as the siphon systems. The nozzle attachment locks into the pressure washer trigger/ gun with an additional dry hose that leads into a container of abrasive. The water leaving the nozzle creates a vacuum which sucks the abrasive and mixes with the water right before it leaves the nozzle.
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Eric I’m wondering if there is any advantage to using a pressure washer sandblaster attachment with a pressurized media pot rather than the syphoning mechanism. What do you think?
Also, I’m wondering which is better: Using a pressure washer with a media attachment, or using a dry sandblaster with a water injection attachment?
thanks,
J
@Jerry, great question and I personally don’t think one is better than the other. I have always wondered myself why so many people prefer the more expensive dustless blaster. Perhaps because it’s different, seems cool and easy to use.
I think the pressure washer route is probably more messy with a greater water to abrasive ratio, so I would go with the water injection attachment- I believe this route creates more of a light mist similar to the dustless route. I actually started to create and test my own inexpensive attachment using mist sprayers but never got around to finishing. Hopefully soon!
Eric- I have learned a lot from your writings, and just have one comment. You refer to the pressure washer type as “compressed water”, and I would like to point out that although water can be stepped up to extremely high pressures, liquid cannot be compressed. I just wanted to point that out as a constructive addition. I am currently working on a hybrid type wet sandblaster with a pressure pot and pressure washer. I have got it to blast a sizeable area so i know it will work but im working out some bugs right now. I will keep you posted. Thanks for everything you do.
@Rooster, thank you for catching this and letting me know. I have now updated it correctly. I should have known better. I’m now recalling my science fair project with hydraulics a long time ago in elementary school 🙂