I have a ULS M-300 25w laser and 3+ years experience with it. Just ordered a Rotary Fixture to expand capability, should be here this week. I'd like to get into sandblasting to also expand my capability and explore some new directions. I have an air compressor that I use with nail guns and an airbrush for applying Cermark. I have a Paasche Air Eraser Airbrush and a couple pounds of aluminum oxide. I realize if I do a lot of this I will need to upgrade to better blast equipment. After doing a lot of reading I can see there is a lot out there but the most confusing thing is the masks. Can anyone recommend how I should get started without a lot of additional expense? RapidMask sounds interesting but then placing a mask on the object, laser the design and then eetch sounds like a possibility. Any directions anyone can send me for suppiles of info or personal experience greatly appreciated. I also have a couple HP inkjets - a PhotoSmart 8150 and Deskjet 812C. I use CorelDraw, Photoshop, Engravelab, photoGRav, etc.

Thanks,

I have used the laser mask for sandblasting and was totally thrilled with it. after placing photo resist masks on items, lining them up took more time than lasering did. I was doing 3 x 4 x 3/4 glass pieces. If your piece fits in the machine, it was a simple matter to put the mask on, laser the piece, then sandblast. Seemed real problem free.
Good luck.
Nick

Nick,
Thanks for sharing. Good info. I have some of the laser mask on order and I guess it will be like most things in this business - just get in and do it, then adjust acccordingly.

The more I read about the sandblasting, something that seemed very simple, all of a sudden starts looking complex and daunting with all the masks, resists, different systems, water, no water, small compressor, big compressor, etc.

Most of the time I am reluctant to buy entry level anything as I seem to outgrow it almost immediately, but in this case it might be the best as I have no idea which direction to go. I am rebuilding my business away from awards and trophies and moving to photos on anything I can find that will accept a good image. RIght now I am having trouble justifying $3000 - $4000 without really having a clear difrection on what I want to do, but I don't want to waste $1000 either just to learn. Typical decisions. A lot of vendors and websites but oh so confusing.

Thanks again!

I have also thought about getting into sandblasting and read and read about the process. One thing I could not understand was if you had a laser to make your photo resist ( or templete) why would you need the sink, water and all the other?

Does the laser photo resist do a good job, yes or no.

Thanks Cindy

Cindy,

The laser resist does a good job, but it's not a photo resist.

Other than Rapid Mask, which doesn't require a wash-out step, photo resists are exposed to UV light, then the image is washed out, or "brought to life", with pressurized warm water.

Ok, I guess I don't know what the difference would be between laser resist and photo resist.

If you have the laser resist would you need to have the photo resist?

Thanks Cindy

Cindy,

With the use of laser mask material and your laser engraver you can do many of flat and cylindrical items. Where your laser falls short is when you want to etch curved glass frames, compound angled items, multi-dimensional items, recessed items, etc.

I will say, if you have already have laser, the best investment you could ever make is a sandblast cabinet, dust collector and compressor. The photo resist processing equipment can come later.

Cindy,

I see you are in Mississippi. Fortunately for you there is a guy by the name of Tom Eddleman who is on the sandcarving board and lives in Mississippi.

He is a master at blasting. I think he is near Jackson. If that is near you, contact him via the board and go talk to him. I guarantee you won't regret it.

Don

You won't regret it!

Tom Eddleman
Eddleman Etching
Jackson Mississippi
(601) 373-0276

tomeddleman @ jam.rr.com

Cindy,

I think David answered your question.

Tom used to offer classes. I am not sure if he still does, but if he does I would take one from him.

I flew down from Michigan (when I still lived there) to take one.

Plus, Tom is a lot of fun.

Don

Jim,

I am familiar with that unit, but I have to recommend another option if you want to keep your work area clean and tidy. There are many blasting cabinet suppliers such as GlaStar, Rayzist, Etchmaster, Photobrasive, A-Blast, among others, who have the pressure pot built right into the lower portion of the cabinet. This is a big plus because all you have to do to refill the pot with abrasive is depressurize the unit, then a tension cap opens up and the abrasive in the cabinet falls back into the pot.

With a remote, independent pressure pot you will have to dump the abrasive from the bottom of your cabinet into a container, then dump that container into your remote pot. In both of these actions you will get a small to medium dust cloud that will work its way around your shop.

If you are going to focus on photographs, the best results will be achieved by using RapidMask HD film from Photobrasive. The laser mask process may work with very large photos, but will not produce the detail you need on smaller photos because of the dpi size required when halftoning the image.

OK, that's what I need to hear, I would have been pretty unhappy with the mess. Back to my research. Too many choices!

Jim

Cindy,
I was out of town for a couple days and was away from a terminal. I see the forum "regulars" took good care of your question in a lot greater detail than I would have been able. Yeah, the sink, etc. is used with the photo resist. Laser resist is simply like tape.
Nick

I took Don's advise and called and visited Tom Eddleman. All I can say is this guy is awsome. He does teaching and would be well worth it.

But after looking at the equipment, him letting me do a sandcarving of a eagle. Not sure this would fit into the nitch I have created for myself.
I'm thinking that if I come across business that requires sandcarving I will outsource this peice of business.

I'm a home based business and don't do trophies or gift items. The business that I have so far come across that would require sandblasting or sandcarving would be big stuff that I don't think I could handle anyway. For big peices Tom gets all suited up (like an astrounaunt) with air supply and does this outside. Not sure even if I wanted to that this is something that I could handle.....

Cindy