I have decided to build something similar to a sand blasting cabinet that I can use to clean small Corian signs after they have been laser engraved. The engraving process leaves behind a sub-surface area that is filled with material from the heat process that needs to be cleaned. For years I have been brushing the engraved areas to clean them, the volume of work I have these days makes it necessary to make the cleaning process faster and improve the technique. A pressure washer would be the perfect machine for this job but I don't want even think about being outside in the Winter water blasting sign blanks.
I have intentionally placed this thread in this forum rather then the Engraving Forum because it really isn't about laser engraving, it is about water blasting or the combination of water and air blasting. Possibly there is a similar technique that someone is using to clean or process wooden parts using an air/? medium that I could adapt to this situation. Maybe I don't need air at all and would be better off looking for a small high pressure pump.
I have decided to purchase one of the plastic deep sinks from the local BORG and fabricate a new top with an acrylic window to contain the mess. What I need is any advice you might have concerning a blasting gun for lack of a better description. My first inclination is to try one of the air hose types of nozzles that has a siphon connection, these are used to air blast a cleaning solution of some kind. Rather than rely on just the siphon ability i have been considering attaching a water hose to the siphon connector which I would hope would provide a better mixture of air to water.
Under normal circumstances using a simple water hose to clean sign blanks works OK but it won't clean out areas that have very fine lines. These areas are also the big problem with brushing since you just can't purchase a brush that is stiff enough with bristles that are small enough to get into the very thin sub-surface areas.
I have also considered the possibility of using a traditional sand blasting gun connecting a water hose to the sand siphon connector. Another option might be to just use a paint sprayer type of gun.
Surely someone has been down this road before and can save me some time and testing that can recommend a nozzle they have used to clean metal parts or some other type of blasting technique.
Links, make and model numbers or whatever you have that will help would be appreciated.
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