Media Blasting - Good or Bad? Cost?

[Jimbotronics]

I was talking to a body shop guy, my truck appears to be about 95% rust free but since the PO had done some shady body work such as a sloppy job filling in the bottom trim holes as well as some bondo work around the drip rails, he recommended having it completely "media blasted" to get a fresh start. He said their shop didn't do it and didn't know what it would cost to have done when I found someone that would. Has anyone done this and if so how much did it set you back?

[Huskerboy2]

Plastic media blasting a whole truck, inside and out, top and bottom, about $1000 here in Central Texas.

[Jimbotronics]

ouch - but then since I'll be getting a good deal on getting it shot it'll make up the difference. How do I go about finding shops that do it - I've yet to find one here locally that does. I'm about an hour east of Orlando so surely there would be some over there.

[Huskerboy2]

In the yellow pages, plastic media blasters are often listed under sandblasting. Some of the companies with bigger, more descriptive yellow page ads will list plastic media as a material they work with. I did a quick search on Yahoo's yellow pages under the heading of sandblasting for Orlando.

Blast Off
407-648-4482

This was one that jumped out. They do plastic media.

If you have any local auto body shops, especially guys who work on classics, call them and ask them. They will know where to go and they will give you a better idea of pricing in your area.

[djracer]

I don't know much about the plastic media but I have been reading allot about soda blasting as in baking soda. I plan to borrow one from a friend but I will have to rent a compressor to run it! If I like it I may buy it.

[Jimbotronics]

Excellent info - I'll call them tomorrow.

Let me know how you like the soda blasting.

[glock35ipsc]

Just FYI - I had my cab, grill and cowl done at a place in Cheyenne for $300.

[Huskerboy2]

Prices do vary depending on location. I was actually quoted $800 for my Blazer. I was guessing $1000 for a pickup, factoring in extra for the back of the cab and front of the box.

[MOTHERTRUCKERS]

Restoration Depot in Wachula Fl 863 773 2545 they dip the cab in an alkaline solution for under 800.00, they have done cabs for many of the board members trucks we have worked on, we have a board members suburban body there now. There is no better way of getting all the rust,bondo,seam sealer etc out of a body than dipping it. Media blasting is great as long as you take the cab apart at all the spot welds to get to the inside roof,firewall, support mounts etc to get the inner rust but it's tricky as hell putting it back together. ( been there). You will be very impressed if you go over there and check them out, Rolls Royces,Hemi Cudas,Jaguars sitting around everywhere waiting for a bath and very informative people to help in your project. If you go don't mention me or they will kick you off the property because i send them all my problem cabs and then bother the hell out of them for a finish date. The owner has called me something other than Mothertrucker on more than a few occasions.

[TugOwar]

The owner has called me something other than Mothertrucker on more than a few occasions.

He called you persistant?

[djracer]

ED
Do you have to prime and paint everything after its dipped to keep it from rusting?

[Jimbotronics]

Do they have a website to see before and after photos?

[Huskerboy2]

You can go to www.starttofinishrestoration.com. This is a chemical dipper/stripper in South Texas, but he has some good before and after pics on his website.

[nu2-72]

The owner of one of the areas largest body shops had his truck soda blasted. Said he will never do it again. The bed panels are overlapped at the bed rails and stake pocket area. The soda would not come out of those tight areas. Months later all the soda began to look like a crusty battery post. Ate the paint off.
Dip or plastic media is the way to go.