One question we hear frequently is, Which blast machine do I need…HP or LP?
Here’s a hint: it all has to do with your breathing air respirator.
When choosing a complete blast machine package, you will see either the letters “HP” or “LP” contained within the name. These letters stand for High Pressure and Low Pressure.
Immediately one would think, well, I want High Pressure for my blast operation, because who wants to blast with Low Pressure, right?
Wrong.
The HP and LP actually have nothing to do with the blast pot itself–
These letters are to designate which type of breathing air respirator you would like with your package.
Let’s take, for example, a “Clemco Classic Blast Machine Model 1648 HP Complete Package, Portable, 3 CU Ft – 300lbs 1-1/4 Inch piping.” Now, there is a lot going on in that name to help identify exactly what you are getting. The HP is designating the breathing air respirator type. In this example, High Pressure, the respirator is fed by an air compressor and filtered with a CPF-20 Breathing Air Filter. Although this option is generally a little higher in price, it is 9 times out of 10 what the buyer actually needs.
This same system in Low pressure would be a “Clemco Classic Blast Machine Model 1648 LP Complete Package, Portable, 3 cuft – 300 lbs., 1-1/4 inch Piping.” The LP version would require a separate ambient air pump be used to supply the breathing air to the respirator. This package is usually priced lower than the HP version, but that is because it is assuming you have an ambient air pump.If you do not have an ambient air pump, one can run you from anywhere between $1800.00 and $3445.00.
All of this being said, you can convert an LP Breathing air respirator over to HP with a conversion kit, but that can delay any jobs you may have lined up (since you will be waiting on parts after you received your equipment.) It will also cost more money to convert over–so if you are unsure of what you have, you can always call.
You will notice these LP and HP designations within the Apollo Breathing Air Respirators– this is because, as we mentioned above, these designations have nothing to do with the pot itself, but instead identify which type breathing air respirator it is (which will naturally affect the helmet you need).
If you have any questions on this subject, or anything else regarding the products seen on sandblastingmachines.com, feel free to send an email, chat with us, or call us toll free:
sales@sandblastingmachines.com
1-855-358-2850