I just got a sandblaster. I heard all the don't do its and this is why..... What can i use as a media to get rid of my rust? Besides sand if that's the best way how can i make so as not to warp my panels??
If you are using a blaster without a cabinet, buy a couple of the blue plastic tarps to lay your parts on. Put the tarps under the part of the car you are blasting if you didn't take them off the car. That way you can recover the used media or sand by simply rolling up the tarp and dumping the media or sand back into the blaster hopper.
I made a sieve from a plywood box, 1/4 mesh chicken wire and window screen to sift the used media/sand when I poured it back into the blaster hopper. The 1/4 mesh chicken wire supports the window screen and keeps it from pulling away from where you stapled it to the plywood box. The plywood box is about 12"wide 12" long & 6" deep.
If you decide to use sand, buy the best respirator Home Depot has - cost is about $25. Used correctly, it will protect you from any of the ill effects mentioned in the blaster instructions.
Using sand for blasting - Home Depot has Children's play sand - 50 lbs for about $3.50 a bag. Most blasters are very fussy about the amount of moisture in the media/sand. The extra moisture makes the media/ sand stick together and not feed properly. One second you are blasting away, the next you are blowing air. The trick is to pour the media/sand out on the tarp, spread it out and let it dry overnight. The difference it makes with dry media/sand is amazing.