Floyd111

Thank you very, very much for the helpful info. My mistake calling it rotary screw! Got a hold of Garden Denver tech -- GD bought Hydrovane -- 15k hrs is nothing for this machine, seller has full service records, so It looks great. Thanks again

Thanks. Good idea.

Hello to all! A CompAir Hydrovane (rotary screw) model 25PURS, With air dryer & tank , used 14,700 hrs is the subject here. I need more shop air -- expanding with more employees -- have plenty of room for it, just don't know if nearly 15k hrs is too much this good maker of rotary screw compressors. It will likely go for ~ $400 to $700. Runs and LOOKS great. I've only got experience with piston compressors, for which 15k hrs would be a lot of use, I think. Any advise would be MOST appreciated. Thanks. All I know is that Alan Evans has a similar Hydrovane, with which he's said he's quite happy.

Thanks Richard and Frosty. I've been using my old standby: the pile of soft insulating bricks on top of some hard firebrick, with a hastily fabricated bracket for the two Chile Forge burners, while baking the Blazelite at home in my wife's oven. I did 255 for 5 hours and just called her to up the temp to 450. I'm just not sure if I can use the new, much thicker cast floor (1.75") after say, another 5 hours at 450. She tells me the casting has no visible cracking and has turned completely white. I'm going to hope for the best and go ahead and coat the floor with ITC and use it for the heavy forging I need the Chile for. Worst that will happen is I'll have to fix or replace the floor again after getting this work done. Thanks again for responding. The makers website gives no info on curing, and it's the weekend. I'm calling their tech line Monday am.

I just cast a new floor for my Chili forge, using Blazelite 2300 refractory. Anyone know the fastest way to dry this product?? I'm in a tight spot with deadlines approaching for two big commissions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks in advance.

I just cast a new floor for my Chili forge, using Blazelite 2300 insulating refractory. Anyone know the best way to dry this product? The manufacturer's website simply gives different hardnesses and other specs for various firing temps ( 1000F-2300F). I'm in a tight spot with deadlines approaching, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I just finished prepping a load of forged railing with Black Beauty "medium grade" with very fast results. The mill profile is a bit rough, though. Perhaps in the 3 - 4 mill range. This requires a lot of primer and top coating to smooth out, masking my hard-earned hammer marks more than I'd like. What size/grade/type of steel shot would efficiently remove forge scale but give a smoother surface, say closer to 2 mill? My local blast media supplier has steel shot but wants to know what grade/size I want. I've no idea!!! Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks!!

Many thanks to all who responded to my OP about blasting! I've been working so hard I didn't see the additional discussion. 16 hr days plus all-nighters painting to meet deadlines for the biggest commission of my career. I've got a perfect alcove in my shop to convert into a blasting room, with only two 9'-high sides to wall off with roll up tarps; one will be clear plastic sheeting with holes for my arms as Alan suggested. The exhaust system is easy to make. (The rest of my shop has a 16' ceiling.) The $750 it would cost here to sub out the rail blasting pays for a commercial pot kit purchase, plus screw compressor rental for a week. Then the next part of the commission, large double gates and big grills to secure a porch, will only require the compressor rental. I actually enjoy painting with a spray gun, so after galvanizing I'll do the rest. Knowing me, I'll likely enjoy the blasting, too. And the added capacity. But I do agree there are advantages to subbing it all out. Always good to have more contacts for potential work, as Rick said, and others made many good points as well. Thanks again to everyone. I really appreciate the time people took to respond. PS: my name is David Barrett. Floyd is my loyal canine companion.

Thanks for checking the specs on your system Alan. I've got a Brut pressure pot kit on its way, and can rent a towable compressor for about $100/24hrs if mine is insufficient. I'll let you know how it turns out. Appreciate your time.

Thanks Glen for the safety advice. I will follow it for sure.

Alan, you've been so helpful -- thanks a million!!!!! I got a deal on 300# of new Black Beauty medium grit and looked up the nozzle spec which is 1/4". Brut mfg says 1/4" requires minimum 80CFM @ 90psi, as did Texas Blasters. Both seemed to know their business. I happen to have lots of clear sheeting and will follow your advice setting up a big booth. Thanks again, David

Many thanks to everyone who responded!!! Very helpful information. This is my first post, as I just registered, and really appreciate the responses. I'll do my profile ASAP, but for now in case anyone has a portable 80CFM compressor they'd rent I'm in Pawtucket, RI and have a truck that can tow or carry a compressor (and forklift to unload it). Thanks again!! barrettmetal@yahoo.com

Thank you, Alan, for your quick and thoughtful reply. I have often let the job buy the equipment, but a 20hp 80 CFM compressor, used, would run $6 - $10k, and take up valuable shop space. Though I'd have a great blast system! My 5hp two-stage Saylor-Beall 80 gal is continuous-duty rated; how long do you think it would run a 1/4" nozzle before I'd have to wait for it to refill? I'm guessing not very long, if at all. I suppose I will try it when my pressure blaster arrives and see. I can always rent a big rig (by the day) if the S-B won't run the system well enough. Maybe that's the solution. But, what I really want to know is what grade of Black Beauty to use, medium, fine, or extra-fine, to get the best mix of speed and surface texture for priming.

I have 62 linear feet of forged railing to prep and need a fast way to remove all forge and mill scale. What grade of Black Beauty to use, medium, fine, or extra-fine? The medium would be fastest, but requires 1/4" blast nozzle, and 80 CFM at 90 psi, which means renting a bigger compressor than my 5hp 80 gal. Please help!!