Wow, I just read this entire thread -- must have missed it somehow? I rarely use Aluminum Oxide (AO), it cuts way too fast, and is very unforgiving to use, and how much did you purchase? You're blasting in your driveway? You're kidding right? Let me tell you that the IR185 compressor will send media back into your house, your neighbors house, and will be very dusty, dirty and noisy too! You do have an air-fed respirator right, and a blast suit, gloves, helmet with tear-off lenses? I would think sending this one out to a media blaster up in your area is a wise choice -- after all, I relegated myself to "I can't do it all" mentality. I'm really interested to see pics of your set up, and operations in your driveway, not that I'm critical, I just want to see how extensive you're getting. I blast panels, hoods, deck lids, roofs all day long -- never warped any. The only thing I've ever warped was an aluminum door, filled with Bondo, all with a broken air regulator sending way too much psi into my nozzle. Bondo is not nice, it's very hard if let cure properly, and very heavy too. I can pick up a door, fender, etc and can tell if it's filled with the stuff.
All the best!
