Sandblaster or WBS?

[smallbitz]

Happy New Year to all!

I am adding to my home (garage) studio, and trying to decide on a wbs or a sandblaster...Not sure which one I would get the most use out of. Most of the work I do is functional (bowls, platters, wall hangings, etc), usually nothing over 20" or so. I do not do casting. I do a very small amount of jewelry. Any suggestions?

[JestersBaubles]

I guess it depends upon what type of coldworking you want to do . They are two very different tools.

If you are creating functional pieces, that probably means you need to clean up edges and flatten bottoms. If that's the case, I would get the wet belt sander (or a flat lap).

2 cents,

Dana W.

[Marty]

Those are both serious commitments of time and money and space. Aren't there studios nearby where you can rent time on both? I took my stuff to a rented sandblaster about an hour away until the inconvenience answered the question.

[charlie]

buy the tool that addresses the problems you are having, or what you want to do to the glass.

these 2 tools don't have any overlapping capabilities, whereas a wbs and flat lap have some, making that decision a harder one. we can't answer your question because we don't know what problems you are having, nor whether you can borrow/rent/trade time on one or the other more easily in your location.

[Jeanne]

As Charlie said, these tools do different things. I was able to get a new inexpensive blast cabinet (about 24" wide) that works for the size pieces I do. Cost about $200. The Compressor was more money (around $350). I was able to get a Somaca wet belt sander off of Craigslist (not that easy to find used btw) for under $300. Considering what they cost new, I was thrilled beyond words.

[Bert Weiss]

The good news is that small scale work uses small scale tools. You may well get away with a diamond wet grinder with a 4" flat lap for grinding, and a little sandblaster designed for cleaning small parts.

I'm sure some of the glass jewelry makers here can chime in with what tools work well for them.

[smallbitz]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I really don't have any studios near me to rent time on either of these tools. I suppose that I really do more edge work on sinks, thick bowls, strip work and drop outs so I guess that a wbs would be a more useful purchase for me. Most of what I would use a sandblaster for I could probably do by hand...

[lorimendenhall]

but a sandblaster is so fun!!!! I actually want both of these things too...