First Sand blasting Project done! Vickers Tripod!

[IMBLITZVT]

Well after three days after work and all weekend, I finished my first sand blasting project with my new booth. Its my Vickers tripod. It was really nasty when I got it and took a ton of work. I was painted Green originally. I decided I would keep the brass, brass... kind of looks tan with the blasting. I also decided to keep the parts on the top of the tripod parking color. So I will just paint the legs Green to match the waterjacket. It was a ton or work but I am very happy with it. Works like new... man these things are tight... I have not see any modern machining this good!

BEFORE:
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/phiteshe/Vickers.JPG

AFTER:
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/phiteshe/Vickers1.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/phiteshe/Vickers2.JPG

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/phiteshe/Vickers3.JPG

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Very, very nice job!

I like the colors. Are they original?

What type of sand blasting outfit did you use?

[walt-oxie1]

Sweet looking work you did. Be proud:thumbup:

[drine]

Both on the gun and sand-blasting cabinet. Range report soon I hope?

[M1 Tanker]

Looks awesome Matt, great job!

Wondering how you lived without a blaster so long now? :)

[turbothis]

sweet gun, i would love to run my hands and brain through the guts of it.

[weasel_master]

My girlfriend's dad just got a nice compressor so I'm hoping I can do my 1928 tripod. Your vickers one looks great. What was your cost for the park setup? What solution did you use?

[weasel_master]

What did you use for media? I looked high and low for anywhere within 30 miles of here with 80 grit AlOx. Nearest place I found was 2 hours away unless I want a huge drum of it.

[IMBLITZVT]

Hmm... let see in order:

No not original colors. It would have all been painted dark green like the waterjacket.

I will be wait for a good while to get it working. I might however shoot my 1919 off the vickers now...

Yeah I can see I have days worth of sand blasting ahead!

I will take a look around. Someone did a 3D version of a maxim. They really are the coolest gun actions ever... I really mean that.... thats why I now have 4 of those types of parts kits :)

Cost of the setup... well a good bit. I am guessing over $400 at this point. I am using my Dads compressor which will keep up at about 100psi and enough CFM to get the job done.

Parking set up was not to bad as you see. I got the turkey cooker for free but spend $70 on the Stainless pot. I think you can get the whole set up from bass pro for like $150. Then I got the $25 kit from mg34.com. I really only use the parking chemicals... so I will not buy any more degreaser or neutralizer. I would just get the 28 gallon concentrate for $60. I would go with the mg34.com stuff for sure. Just stick it in and get it later and spray it down with WD40... I should tell you that I killed my solution by putting brass in it. Had it just been a little it would not have been a problem but with both large parts going in... it turned green... I will probably replace it all even if it still works (as long as nothing sticks about the water line).

Go to Harbor frieght... 70 grit, 50lbs...$35.00. I got two... and may need a third...

My only problem left is that my blasting cabinet is so big I think I will need 150lbs of grit to keep it flowing correctly... Can you have two much grit in there?

[M1 Tanker]

Imblitzvt, you can't have too much media :) remember it does break time over time and needs to be replaced.

+1 to just getting the $60 concentrate from MG34.com....the kit is a waste.

i still use my $49 cast iron tank from Brownells for parking. I used a camp stove for awhile, but since welded up a new stand/burner.

Tractor Supply Company, harbor freight both carry media.

[IMBLITZVT]

I did not know you could use a cast Iron tank? I thought it would have problems with the parking solution? mg34.com says only glass and stainless...

Brownells says the tank is for bluing...

[M1 Tanker]

You can use a cast iron tank, its just going to park the tank :) You cannot store your solution in there though or it will eat through it. I store mine in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid.

[weasel_master]

For a camp stove are you talking like the propane 2 burner portable stoves like a Coleman?

[M1 Tanker]

Hijack on!

2790

Yep, thats what I used...1 dual burner coleman camp stove that runs on white gas. its SLOW to warm up, but will get a 5 gallon tank up to 200 degrees. Perro taught me that. He uses 2 of them.

I use this now. the burner I bought. The stand I welded up.

2791

[weasel_master]

High-Jack-off. (not going to post a picture for that one). I am trying to get a big stainless steel pan from one of my jobs where I run the lunch program. You have definately inspired me.

[IMBLITZVT]

I got a 96" long 48" wide 38" deep stainless tank. It has some holes in it but I plan to cut it up and make myself a tank big enough to fit a whole maxim in!

"dual burner coleman camp stove" Since Perro told you... let me say, real men use camp fires when camping. Stoves at a camp site... where is the powder room!

[weasel_master]

"dual burner coleman camp stove" Since Perro told you... let me say, real men use camp fires when camping. Stoves at a camp site... where is the powder room!

Real men eat it raw.

[IMBLITZVT]

No Man must come to master fire. Otherwise he is just an animal.

Has the fire ever looked at you? :flamed: