We're talking about an amateur using equipment for the first time. It's all well and good to say it's fine if you know what you are doing.

A simple run over with a fine grade of sandpaper will provide the key for the primer and the top coats. The fact that the guy says he doesn't want to use sandpaper suggests to me the finish is going to be less than desirable because he simply won't have the patience to do the proper prep work.

I have used a sandblaster. It's not as simple as it looks.