Pískovací pistole Fengda BD-178

A jet of sand instead of abrasive paper

Sandblasting solves at the bench what abrasive paper cannot manage. A jet of fine abrasive gets into corners, into swages and between rivets, that is where the edge of a sheet of paper never reaches, and at the same time it does not sand the surrounding detail flat. It is used to take the sheen off a smooth surface before painting, to remove an old coat of paint, to clean castings of residues from the mold and to create a rough texture on a diorama base.

Technical parameters

The device works on the single-action principle, which means that a single controlled variable triggers it and the dosing is set in advance. The abrasive reservoir sits on top, holds 15 ml and closes with a lid, so the contents will not spill out when you put the gun down. The nozzle screws on and in the basic version it is 0.5 mm in diameter. The recommended working pressure lies between 2 and 4 bar, the connection to the hose is provided by a G1/8 thread, that is the same size used by common modeling airbrushes.

Where it pays off

Modelers most often reach for sandblasting with resin parts, on which a greasy film from the mold remains and paint then holds badly. A short pass with a jet of grit creates a microscopically rough surface that the primer grips immediately. It also serves well on metal castings and on photo-etched frets.

Before you start

Put on safety glasses and work over a container that will catch the rebounding grit, because the abrasive flies off to the sides. The compressor has to be able to hold the pressure steadily, not in bursts. Keep a distance of a few centimeters and pass over the area evenly, otherwise you will bite deeper into one spot than you intended. When you have finished, empty the reservoir and blow the nozzle through so that no grit stays in it to block the opening the next time you start.