The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-23
RAILROAD NEWS.
''Sand BIast' an Important
Feature in Shop Work.
One of the Little Things That
Save Time, Labor and Money.
IS A FOE TO OLD PAINT
Iron and Steel Surfaces Are
Cleaned In Short Order.
Compressed Air Forms the Mo-
tive Power of the Machines.

A recent invention and one which
accomplishes saving of time, labor and
money to a railroad company. is the
sand blast" which is now in use on
nearly every railroad of any import
ance in the United States. The sand
blast machines are not large. but it is
often the little things which are re-
sponsible for the greatest saving.
The sand blast is used mainly for the
purpose of removing old paint from
iron and steel. sides of engine tanks,
wheels, parts of engines, and other iron
work found around a railroad shop. The
removing of old paint from iron and
steel is no small matter and machine
which facilitates the operation as the
sand blast does, is an important adjunct
to every well regulated machine shop.
The removal of old paint was former
~ accomplished before the advent of
the sand blast, by a solution of lime
and I've water, which was applied by
hand, and for an ordinary standard en-
CINE tank this operation took from 10
to 25 hours or more, the work varying
with the rapidity with the solution took
hold of the paint and the speed with
which the solution was applied by the
Worknen.
With the advent of the sand blast,
the cost of removing the paint, the time
required for the work, and the labor
necessary to do the work, were all les
Sen6Q. w mere IL formerly required from
10 to 20 hours to take the old paint from
the sides of a standard engine tank by
the application of the solution of lime
and I've water, the sand blast cuts the
time and cost to one-third and less.
Formerly the number of men required
to do the work was only limited by the
amount Of space, but with the sand
blast the services of but two men are
necessary, one to direct the sand
against the iron, and the other to oc-
casiOnally look after the machine and
see that it is running in good shape. If
absolutely necessary the operator can
both operate the machine and look af-
ter the running of it.
Sand blasts of various kinds have
been in use in the railroad shops for
several years past, but until recently
they have been crude machines and not
of perfect working.
The sand blast leaves the surface of
iron in far better shape than it is left
by the solution. The sand blast is very
effective in it's work, and removes every
bit of rust and scale from the surface
and leaves it bright and in excellent
condition for the Immediate application
of a new coat of paint.
The sand blast machines are exceed
ingly simple, and use compressed air,
motive power Very fine dry sand,
which has been thoroughly sifted, is
used in the sand blast, and it is this
sand, together with the action of the
powerful compressed air Which drives
it with terrific force against the surface
of the iron which removes the old paint
and which has to a certain extent revO-
lutionized the work of removing old
paint from iron and steel.
The sand blast machine proper con-
sists of a fairly large steel tank, the
size varying with the amount of sand
which it is desired it should hold and
several pipes running in and out of the
tank. The tank is mounted on wheels
in order that it can more easily be
moved from place to place.
Running into the top of the tank is
a pipe connection for the purpose of
letting in the air. which forces the
sand down and out of the bottom Of
the tank. Another pipe, the outlet pipe
for the sand, is connected with the
hole in the bottom Of the tank, and
through this pipe all the sand passes.
AS the sand passes out of the tank
through this pipe it is forced into an
other pipe through which the COM
pressed air is also allowed to enter. and
this forces the sand on away from the
outlet of the tank on it's way to the
nozzle. A few inches further on is also
another pipe connection, through which
comes a fresh supply of compressed air,
giving renewed force to the sand and
carrying it rapidly out of the iron
nozzle.