air-eraser makes you want a cabinet,
HF cabinet comes with a larger blasting gun,
larger blasting gun requires a much larger compressor,
(my 60-gal compressor is about half of the recommended capacity)
a proper large compressor likely wants a 240-volt connection,
cabinet is also gonna want dust-collection of some kind.
Cabinet, large compressor, and dust collection together take up a fair chunk of space.
Compressors are not quiet, especially if they are under-sized for the application and have to run too often.
Hahaha! Yes, I have. One of many capabilities that is currently out of hobby rotation and collecting more dust than it generates but which I can not part with.
You should have gone to the NBM show last weekend in Long Beach ! The free classes are funa nd the sandblasting ones are hands on (We etched a few glasses). I’ve been doing it a few years, but it’s still fun even if I haven’t learned anything really new. You can also pick up the laserable sandblasting mask which you put on the glass object (with would have to be flat - no rotary attachment for ) , laser it and then sandblast to get a much deeper and smoother etch in the glass. I have a roll around here somewhere, will have to try it some day…
While I’ve still not used my GF to cut stencil for sand (really soda) blasting glass as I find it easier to cut vinyl on a vinyl cutter. The concept is the same once you get to the sand blasting. I started with a very basic kit from Harbor Freight, the glass in the post above was made with that tool. I still use that basic setup, but I built a very basic containment box with a rubber maid box a couple toilet flanges and a pair of rubber gloves, all from Home Depot. This was simply to reduce the mess I was making in the yard.
I’ve added to my sand blaster collection a larger free standing heavy duty sand blaster from Harbor Freight, still no enclosure for this unit so it makes a big mess when I use it. With Black Beauty grit in this unit I can quickly remove paint and rust for metal. I’d still like to try etching wood with it, just have not had the time to find or make a good design and try it.
Enjoy the journey into sand / soda blasting. As @jbv said
Here’s another rabbit hole idea related to sandblasting glass… once you get the etching process down, you can try the next step, a process called glue chipping. You apply an animal hide glue over the sandblasted area then set the piece into a heated box (heat lamp is adequate). When the glue dries, it shrinks and rips a chunk of glass off the surface and pops off.
Yes that… I also picked up a few pieces at the NBM show - 3x5 sample pieces I can try until I dig out that roll… Need to find a flat glass object that I can do…
note: the Razist reps were/are awesome !
Many sands contain silicon so know what you are shooting. Silicosis is a serious disease. Use a cabinet or do your work outside with a good respirator. Particle size determines the smoothness of the finish so experiment. Garnet, especially very fine garnet, gives a smooth finish, if that is what you like and can be used many times.
Sandblasting requires lots of air, so get a huge compressor (3 hp with 30 gal tank min) if you want to do it continuously, other wise you will be waiting and waiting and waiting for the compressor to catch up. Pressures of 90+ PSI are needed if you want to work fast , do deep etching or have large pieces.
I use aluminum oxide and get really nice results. I also have a Harbor Freight setup with blasting cabinet (table top unit with a mod to continuous feed return grit and filter the used) plus a standup compressor. It takes a LOT of air for continuous blasting, so I needed a big tank. Then, I needed to get an air cleaner to pull the grit out of the air in the cabinet so I could see. Before long, it looked like I was down the rabbit hole, but the results can be nice.
Laser etching became so much easier and cleaner, so haven’t used the cabinet in a while. I still have to use it for larger work.
I fell down the same rabbit hole. Bought a professional blasting pen from SCM and loved it…and then GF caught my attention. Now I have both! Using the GF far more than the blasting pen but still use it sometimes to do stencil work etc.
Was wondering if my dust collector unit might work for GF rather that waiting for the add-on filter sometime in November. Any thoughts on this?
The GF filter is designed to remove the majority of airborne contaminants that a GF produces, not just particulate matter. Your dust collector might only handle the larger particles, so not a 1:1 swap. If you want to be able to use the GF inside without venting outside, the GF filter is probably the safest option between the two.
the air compressor I got is 110v and 175 PSI max. there is only 1 air tool it will not provide enough Air for, and I have no plans to ever get a dual action sander that large
I have done a LOT of sand blasting(think a whole lot of my 1970 Firebird). Without a cabinet you will want large tarps to help you recycle your blast media. and you will need a good respirator.
in a nutshell you can never have too much air compressor
would have to be flat - no rotary attachment for 
