We qualify an air supply on four things: pressure, flow, dryness, and how you connect. The same sheet covers power, noise, carbon dioxide, and cleanup, because those come up on the same jobs.
At a glance
- Pressure
- At least 80 psi. 90 psi or more for most work. 150 psi when you want more speed.
- Flow
- Often 100 to 250 CFM at 80 psi, through a line at least ¾ inch.
- Dedicated air
- About 50 horsepower, or 185 CFM on a diesel compressor, with that air left for the blaster.
- Mobile air
- At least 375 CFM at 150 psi when the compressor is a rental or portable unit.
- Dry air
- A working dryer on the line. A diesel compressor still needs a portable aftercooler.
- Hookup
- ¾ inch to 1 inch line, ending in a 1 inch NPT male nipple with a shutoff valve.
- Power
- A grounded 3-prong outlet on a 15 amp breaker, within 50 feet, unless that machine needs a different supply.
Pressure
Line pressure should be at least 80 psi. 90 psi or more is the pressure we want for most jobs. Higher pressure gives you more choices for speed and cleaning power. 150 psi is the supply we like to see available.
A lower pressure is appropriate when you already know it cleans that surface the way you need. Tell us the PSI at the spot where you will blast, not only the number on the compressor gauge. A long run of pipe can lose pressure before the air reaches the machine.
Flow
Most blasting wants 100 to 250 CFM at 80 psi or higher. The line the machine connects to has to be ¾ inch or larger. A smaller pipe or hose starves the blast, even when the compressor itself is large enough.
For a compressor dedicated to the blaster, at the pressure above, we look for about 50 horsepower or a 185 CFM diesel compressor. Other equipment on that same air has to stay off while you blast, or you subtract what it uses. The questionnaire asks for your best estimate of the CFM left after that other use. A higher blast pressure uses more CFM.
When the air comes from a rental or mobile compressor, we recommend at least 375 CFM at 150 psi. A pneumatic aftercooler uses some of that air, so count it in the total.
Dry air
The drier the air, the fewer problems you will have. Dryness is often given as a dew point. Lower is better. If a dryer is already in the line, it needs to be in decent shape and serviced on a regular schedule.
Moisture in the lines causes trouble over time. You may be able to blast for a while with wet air. Once moisture is in the line, pellets jam and the equipment can be damaged. The machine needs an air dryer on the line so it gets clean, dry air.
A plant dryer that is working can be that dryer. A diesel compressor still needs a portable aftercooler, including when the compressor has a built-in dryer. If you have no dryer, or you are not sure it works, we can rent you an aftercooler.
How you connect
From the tap to the machine, keep the line between ¾ inch and 1 inch. End it in a 1 inch NPT male nipple with a shutoff valve next to the hookup.
A rental includes 25 ft of 1 inch air hose with 1 inch Chicago two-lug fittings on both ends. Extra 1 inch hose is available in 25 ft, 50 ft, and 100 ft sections. Every pipe, hose, and fitting between the compressor and the machine stays at least ¾ inch.
The questionnaire asks which fittings you already have, so we can send adapters if you need them: NPT, JIC, 2-lug, or 4-lug claw (Chicago). It also asks for two distances. One is how far the compressor is from the work. The other is how many feet of air hose you need from the nearest usable drop to the machine. In a plant those are often different numbers, and the second one is what sizes the hose.
Extra air hose and blast hose are listed with the accessories.
Power
You supply the power. You also keep the machine, the work, and the power source grounded. A 120 volt hookup needs 120 V AC, and it can run from about 15 percent low to 10 percent high. Use a grounded 3-prong outlet on at least a 15 amp breaker, within 50 feet of the machine.
Confirm the voltage for the machine you reserve. The Aero2 machines are published for 110/230 V AC. Power for an Aero 40 or Aero 80 rental is confirmed when you inquire.
Noise, carbon dioxide, and debris
Blasting can produce noise up to 120 dBA. People within 20 to 150 feet need hearing protection. How far that reaches depends on the job.
Carbon dioxide is heavier than air. Pits and other low spots need extra ventilation. The same is true in a small room or any confined space. Increase the ventilation, or give the operator breathing air.
The dry ice disappears. The dirt does not. Decide who does the final cleanup before the job starts. On a sticky or dusty job, drape plastic, canvas, or another cover so operators, other machines, the building, and people nearby stay protected.
Air supply questionnaire
Fill this in as well as you can. An estimate is enough. The answers tell us whether the air will carry the job, and how much air hose or blast hose to send. Your name and contact details go on the quote form.
Request a Rental Quote or call 614-754-7192614-754-7192