Delivery

Your new A97 will be delivered in a wooden crate that can be transported using a forklift.

Unboxing

• Using a drill and a T25 bit, remove the top, then the sides of the crate. Remove any blocks of wood secured to the bottom holding the A97 into place.
• Check that the drive pin is removed from the drive wheel, roll your A97 out of the crate using a ramp.

Machine Setup

• Adjust the handle height and joystick angle to a position that is most comfortable for you.
• To get the machine ready to blast, you’ll need to charge the magnets, fill the machine with shot, and connect to power.
  • To charge magnets, pour shot on the ground and run the machine over the shot.
    • The downward-facing magnets pick up the shot, creating a curtain of shot that allows proper airflow and prevents shot shooting out from under the machine.
  • To fill the machine with shot, open the hopper and use a hand magnet to load shot. Fill with shot until the shot reaches the bottom of the screen. Overfilling can impact airflow and machine performance.
    • When purchasing shot, make sure you’re ordering quality shot. What we refer to as “scrap shot” is not perfectly round. That impacts how it bounces when it hits the surface and can lead to inconsistent, lower-quality results.
    • 280 or 330 steel shot is best.
• The final step is to make sure your wheel pin is inserted.

Power

Watch this video before connecting your A97 to power.

• When connecting to power, you need 230V Three-phase power AT THE MACHINE. 208, Three-phase power is not enough power – plugging into this will damage the machine.

• • The plug for connecting your machine to the DL4000P is different from the plug to connect your A97 directly to the wall
  • Speak with your on-site electrician to ensure proper power is being supplied to the machine. Failure to provide sufficient power can severely damage the electronic components of the machine.

Operation

Most controls for your A97 are right on the joystick.

• Press the trigger to drive the machine in blast direction.
• Press the trigger and the blue button to drive the machine opposite blast direction.
• Press the trigger and the gray button to enter overdrive mode to navigate through your job and job site without having to adjust your blasting speed setting.

• Turn your machine on with the main power dial on the bottom right.
• Turn on your blast wheel by pressing the green button in the top left.
• Stop your blast wheel by pressing the red button in the top left.
  • Your amp draw as well as power status will be illuminated by lights.

• Do not turn your blast wheel on until you are ready to blast. Even with the shot valve closed, there is potential for unwanted profiling with the blast wheel on.
• To operate the shot blaster, turn your dust collector on, turn the machine on, turn the blast wheel on, start moving along the blast path, and then open your shot valve. Opening the shot valve before moving could cause unwanted blasting and result in undesired profiling.
• To stop operation, close the shot valve, then stop moving, then stop the blast wheel.

Edging

• The A97 “leans” to the left. This is intentional so that the operator can blast along a wall and avoid the machine running into outlets, switches, etc. that are on the wall.

• To blast along the wall, install the edging side plate that comes with your A97.
  • Use a 13 mm wrench to swap out the edge plate
  • Don’t fully tighten the bolt on the edge plate once it’s installed – you want it to be able to float along the floor.
  • Be sure to uninstall the edging plate from the machine when you’re done edging to allow proper air flow and optimal results.

Adjustments

• Adjust the handle height and joystick angle to a position that is most comfortable for you. This is done with the button adjustment and dial at the base of the joystick handle respectively.

• Dialing in your speed will help you achieve your intended results.
  • Set an optimal speed before blasting most of your job to achieve consistent results. Increasing your speed will result in a less aggressive profile. Decreasing your speed will result in a more aggressive profile.
• Pay attention to your amp draw – which is related to how much shot is hitting the surface a.k.a. your shot flow.
  • This is adjustable by turning a screw on the side of your machine, underneath the shot hopper. Tightening this screw will decrease how much the shot valve is able to open resulting in decreased shot flow, lower amp draw and a less aggressive profile. Loosening this screw will increase how much the shot valve is able to open, resulting in increased shot flow, higher amp draw, and a more aggressive profile.

• From the factory, your control cage should be set properly for an even blast pattern.
  • If your blast pattern is uneven, refer to your manual for specific adjustments to get the desired blast pattern. Remember, minor adjustments go a long way, don’t overdo it.

Operator Tips:

• The A97 is designed to have the operator walk backward while blasting.
• This machine is not designed to blast around corners, turns, etc. The machine will blast in a straight path, but having an open shot valve while turning will cause shot to dump out of the machine.
• We recommend starting your blasting close to the dust collector and working away from the dust collector. This helps manage the hose and cord, making the job easier and the job site safer.

• Your A97 needs to be paired with a 318 CFM dust collector. A machine like the DL4000P that has auto-pulsing will use compressed air to keep your filters clean, decreasing downtime and increasing efficiency and safety.

Maintenance

• Get Your Manual Here
• Read your manual and check the maintenance schedule for a complete list of maintenance tasks.
• Shot blasters have wear parts that need regular attention.
  • The first of those parts is the blast wheel which should be replaced roughly every 40 hours.
  • A better indicator is how worn the blast wheel is. If the impellers are worn more than 3/4 of the way through (pictured below), it is time to replace your blast wheel.
  • Liners need inspection roughly every 50 hours. You will know these are due for a replacement when they are worn about 3/4 of the way through. Typically they should last about 300 hours.

404330 Blast Wheel Kit

$127.14

MSRP:

National’s 165mm blast wheel kit fits on the A95, A96, and A97 shot blasters.  This is a regular wear part for shot blasters and should be kept on hand to quickly replace on large jobs.  

A general rule of thumb is that blast wheels should be replaced or inspected after about 40 hours of work.  Cleaning and prepping a concrete floor with a shot blaster is an easy one-step process, made easier when you have the right wear parts on hand. 

For details about how to replace the blast wheel on your shot blaster, click on the how-to bideo below.

 

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A97 Shot Blast KIT

$1,789.21

MSRP:

The A97 KIT is designed to include all of the spare parts and wear parts you will need to operate your A97 shot blaster.  A replacement blast wheel kit, spare wrenches, liners, belts and brushes are just a few of the parts you will find in this kit.

Investing in high-quality equipment can pay for itself in just a few jobs by cutting down prep time and improving project outcomes. It’s about working smarter, not harder. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing equipment or add a new tool to your arsenal, a shot blast kit is a game-changer that can help you maximize your profitability.

Included in A97 KIT:

• 404147: Toolbox 20″ x 9″ x 8″
• 404148: Open wrench 13 mm
• 404149: Open wrench 10 mm
• 404154: Wrench, open, 17 mm
• 404155: Ratchet, 1/2″
• 404152: Slotted screwdriver 6″
• 404151: Hammer
• 404540: Belt
• 404150: Hex key wrench 6 mm
• 1009: Safety Glasses
• 404330: Blast wheel kit 165 mm
• 404361: Top liner
• 404647: Bottom liner
• 404646: RH liner
• 404645: LH liner
• 404649: RH liner (small)
• 404648: LH liner (small)
• 404603: Side Brush (2)
• 404604: Front Brush
• 404870: Blast Wheel Adapter
• 405003: Screw, Blast Wheel
• 405231: Socket, 13 mm

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Additional Tools/Accessories

• Hand Magnets make loading shot easy. They also help with cleanup when a sweeper magnet is too large.
  

  Hand Magnet

  $187.39

  MSRP:

  This handheld magnet is for use loading and unloading media into shot blast machines.

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• Use a Sweeper Magnet to clean up extra shot and metal debris on your job site. Shot is incredibly slippery and neglecting to clean up excess is a hazard.
  

  14″ Sweeper Magnet

  $305.24

  MSRP:

  This push-type sweeper is made with a powerful ceramic magnet and durable aluminum frame and handle.  It features a 14-inch sweeping width, 6-inch wheels, and a quick release handle to make picking up nails, screws, and other metal debris easy.

  Sweeping Width: 14″

  Overall Width: 15.125″

  Height: 42″

  Shipping Weight: 21 lb

  Approx lb pull: 400 lb

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• At the NFE Training Center, we always keep our old hotel room keys with our shot blasters. This helps us clean off the magnets without risking injuring ourselves with debris that the magnets may have picked up. You could also use a 5-in-1 tool, or something similar.
• The DL4000P is the best companion dust collector for your A97. The 318 CFM rating and the auto-pulsing feature make this vac powerful enough to work with your A97 and advanced enough to help you decrease downtime.

Transport

• If transporting your machine in a vehicle or trailer with a metal floor, make sure you push down the operator handle. This allows for clearance between the magnets and the floor.
• Make sure your machine is securely tied down.
• Lowering your handle helps save some space and makes transportation safer.
• If you are able to, insert the drive pin into the wheel. Because the machine isn’t powered, this will act like a brake – it’s like putting a manual car in gear when you park it.