I've been working since before Chicago to get a blaster set up in my new shop. I thought, initially, despite my own words to the contrary, that I would try and "get by" with a smaller compressor. I found one at Harbor Freight (my first mistake) that supposedly pushed 15 cfm @ 90 psi. Sounded good. The tank was only 29 gallons, but I could deal with the pump trying to keep up for the 20 minutes I figured it would take per piece. Big mistake.
The compressor was over rated like everything they seem to sell. Instead of keeping up, I got about 1 minute of blasting time at 90 psi before waiting 5 for it to repressurize. So, I contacted Mr. Rad Davis, master blaster. I love his blasts and I asked him what he used. I bought the same. A week later I had a big ass compressor in my shop, returned the garbage HF machine, and thought all was well. Well, as it turns out, a system is only as good as its weakest component. I had been using a cheapo regulator/filter setup (~$20 @ HF) and it gave crazy readouts and fluctuations in pressure that were not conducive to good blasting. Finally, I had enough and went to buy the best one I could find. Being in a large city I tend to have local suppliers for everything. I ended up with an industrial grade regulator that cost as much as my Cyclone cabinet. But, after using it for the first time today, I know that it is money well spent.
Here's what <10 minutes with the new setup rendered. Let's say that I'm a happy camper.
