Media (Soda) Blasting?

[SmallBlockOfFury86]

Ok,i've heard all about it,on TV,internet sites,things like that.

My question is,is it worth it? Would you rather sand until your hands fall off,or have your body/frame/whatever u want shipped off and sprayed,and brought back to you spotless,bare metal?

Just tryin to get some opinions,i think media blasting looks pretty cool,but if it's expensive it's out of the question,and if it's not worth it then i'll sand until my hands fall off haha

No matter which way i choose,i need to see some metal haha!

[EyeH8the24]

if you have a decent blaster around i say go for it ...you can see everything when you get it back ..will try to snap pics of a 50,s cab we just got back from soda blasting tomm for you ...its awsome

[SmallBlockOfFury86]

thanks,that would be great!

yea i don't have my own blaster,i was going to try to find somewhere around here in Jersey that does it,and then find out a price,so i'm still not sure what i wanna do yet

[EyeH8the24]

think they charged us 250 for a 50 sumthin cab doors and fenders....

[shortbed70]

Look on the 67-72 side and search about it. I was going to until I read some stories.

[rod86]

its that cheap over there??? its a new thing here in oz, my dad paid 2000 oz $$ to get a whole car soda blasted...

[James McClure]

Morning everyone. I just finished my truck. Sandblasted everything from the ground up except replaced panels. After having sanded other vehicles, don't waste your time. Sandblasting is quicker and more effective. I bought a Clark pressure fed system brand new for less than $200. Media is expensive if you buy the good stuff (50 lbs for $35). They tell you not to use sand because of the problems with the silica (silicosis), but I used it anyway after sifting it. I worked out doors with the breezes blowing and a good respirator without a problem. The finish is very smooth with a nice tooth for painting. Soda blasting is even smoother and is more environmentally friendly, but you will still need a good respirator. Downside is, IT'S MESSY!!! It's going to be years before I get all the sand out of the garage when the wind blew the wrong way. You will also need a good air compressor to keep up with air a blaster uses. I bought a lot of tools to do this job and spent a lot of money on them but I figure they will earn thier keep as time goes on. I got most of it from Tractor Supply & mostly name brands. Lincoln MIG welder, (about $200) Hobart spot welder, ($800 w\extra long tongs) DeVilbus paint guns ($50 each) and AIR corp torches. Air compressor ($700) is one of thier own brands. Mine is a 3 cyl, 220 volt verticle and I think it's 15 CFM at 100 PSI. In my opinion I should have gone bigger, but the DeWalt unit was almost $700 more expensive. You can get all the gasses you'l need at Tractor supply also. I use #3 tanks and the refills are all around $20. My welders are going to pay for everything I bought. If I work at home welding is $50 an hour. If I have to go someplace else and load everything trailer, generator, torches ect, I get $100 an hour. You all could do the same thing. Jim

[Rooster's82]

Originally Posted by James McClure

The finish is very smooth with a nice tooth for painting. Soda blasting is even smoother

Is that down to the metal?

[blink32]

Originally Posted by SmallBlockOfFury86

i was going to try to find somewhere around here in Jersey that does it,and then find out a price

I don't know of anyone as far south as you but there are places from Sewell and north.

[SmallBlockOfFury86]

yea that's where all the listing on the net were that i found,do you know any of the names of the places in Sewell or any more?

[blink32]

I'll check out my business cards when I get home for ya.

[SmallBlockOfFury86]

thanks man that would be awesome

[msgross]

I just called a few places around me, Garnet blasting $90/hr (expect 4-6hrs for a cab?)

I blasted my frame and will never,never do that again, WHAT A MESS!

Eastwood has a blasting setup that uses soda and a mist of water to keep dust down, you still need a huge air compressor to do it....

[87Bob]

I routinely have stuff blasted in fact I have a pickup tool box and some tractor wheel weights being blasted now. I have an 85 C-10 LWB that needs painting and I'll have it soda blasted when I get ready to paint it. The why is because it is that light blue metalic color and it is the color that peals down the the black primer. I would hate to sand it down, do the body work, and paint it and then have a spot peal after I'm done with it. As I recall the guy that does it said its about 600 to 800 for a car, a truck might run more because of the box. Here in Indy these guys do alot for the car restoration businesses it is the only way to go. Paint is expensive but it's cheap compared to having to do it over because the prep wasn't good enough. Their good and it's their business.

[blink32]

Originally Posted by msgross

you still need a huge air compressor to do it....

Doesn't look like you need too big of a compressor. 3mm and under nozzle is 20cfm @ 80psi or less.

[mhicks]

Can't you rent the big sandblasters at a rental place?

[blink32]

You definitely could. But at that point I would think you'd might as well let a pro do it. So between $90/hr vs renting the industrial compressor/blaster I'd say the pro wins out.

[HanSoloWS6]

I was just looking in the latest Eastwood catalog last night and saw the last Trucks! episode and was also wondering if it was as good as they say it is, or better than sandblasting.

[CrashOverKill]

Buidl your own PA Blaster out of a 100lb Propane tank. Thats what Im doing.Got plans from a buddy if you want a copy let me know.

[msgross]

I used the 40 lbs unit like on Trucks with Black Beauty and my compressor only pushed it at 30psi or so... I have a 2 stage, 100v craftsman.... I say huge being it better cost $700+ if you want good results...

[bb1979]

I got quoted $2500 to do my truck, was going to do it to until I read some stories on here. I class Chemical dipping in the same no no basket after seeing what it has done to my dad's cab, 10 years are a full rebuild it has blown on every seam because they never got all the chemicals out.

[James McClure]

Morning all. I just got done with my 84. I've restored quite a few vehicles, mostly cars and from what I have been throuigh, I'll never sand a finish off again and I would never even think of a chemical stripping bath. I've sandblasted everything I've done since 1975. Now they have the soda blasting option and I believe it's the way to go, especially on sheetmetal. I will still use sand on frames because it's faster. There is no other way, or better way to get into all the nooks and crannys. Yes, it's messy, so I work outdoors. I also use beach sand which is a no-no from a health standpoint but it's real cheap and easier on the equipment. I have an industrial pressure fed system and run 2, 5 HP 220 volt compressors. I also use the best respirator I can get my hands on. This is a must because the sand shatters and the dust will cause silicosis and that will kill you! You can do a rolling chassis in a day and the sheetmetal in 2 or 3 days. Then it's just a matter of painting and reassembly. jim

[72BlckButy]

Jim, am I correct in thinking that after you soda blast your sheetmetal, you will then only have to wash the piece off with soap/water, and then you're ready to prime?

[msgross]

I just talked to another place, he prefers using the coal sand (black beauty) over the soda. he stated that you have to thoroughly wash the metal after the soda and it doens't remove deep rust. I mentioned the fact of warping sheetmetal and he said a lot depends on the guy doing the work...

[vintagesteel]

If you soda blast you have to clean it good when you are done. it puts a coating on and keeps the parts from rusting for a few days. Also makes the paint not stick. Most good blasters that do cars use stuff called Super K. It's pink. Its a little more aggressive than regular soda, but not by much, and all you do is blow the car off. You should be wax and grease removing the bare metal anyway before you prime. That is all the cleaning you have to do with soda.