Any one have a cab media blasted

[djgebert]

I have a cab I want stripped and I have gotten a couple of conflicting opinions from the local guys. All three I contacted are about the same price ($100+/- of each other), but all three recommend different methods. One says that soda blastng is the best way to go. One says that a small glass bead is what he uses and it leaves the finish on the metal at about 80 grit. The third and longest in business (20+ yrs) says he will bake the cab for awhile if the surface is bad, if not he just strips it. He says he uses plastic beads. His opinion is that the people have been having paint adhesion problems after soda blasting. I am just wondering who has had any of these methods performed in the past and which one is "best". Thanks!!

[bundeber]

soda blasting does leave a residue on the surface of the metal, it really needs to have a quality cleaning prior to any paint. The plastic beads do a great job of taking off paint, but don't do anything for rust. You would still have to sand the entire surface down to get any surface rust off, or prep it for paint. The glass beads take care of the rust and the paint, however an inexperienced person can warp your panels REALLY bad. If the guy knows what he's doing the glass is fine. But if the vehicle has no real rust issues.... I'd get it blasted with the plastic beads. They don't warp as much. And what does he mean by bake it? That's a new one to me. My local guy is a body man as well, and he really takes his time with the glass beads. Panels come back super clean and without any added warping. It's all about technique with blasting.

[ulakovic22]

"Best" is a relative term and I don't think you should rack your brain trying to figure it out. As long as the guy knows what he's doing I wouldn't worry.

[stich626]

plastic or walnuts
plastic leaves no oil thats a plus if going straight to paint..
if not the oil helps the onslot of rust..
soda you couldn't pay me to do mine with that stuff..
glass beads are good too, but like sand heats the metal and if the guy holding the gun didn't move fast enough can warp every panel..
good luck.. dad's redoing his 4th car that the owner just had to soda blast it..
the rust starts from under the paint as you will never ever get it all out

[djgebert]

I don't what he meant by baking it either. I asked him a little about it and it sounds like he heats it up to loosen up residue? I know the guy has a huge shop and all he does is strip auto body, commercial and industrial stuff. I know he has done tons of the local classic cars, etc. and has a good reputation, but so does the soda blasting guy and he is portable and will come out to my place. The soda guy also said he does the small glass bead stuff too. The cab is rust free, just appears to have about three layers of paint and the last one is thick.

[bundeber]

I would probably go with the plastic beads then. You don't want to have to clean up the mess of the portable one anyway. I always find it best to leave as much of the blasting residue at the blasting location as possible!

[stich626]

baking it hardens the paint , and will come off easier.

[djgebert]

I think I am going to take it to the big shop guy with the plastic bead. He said he'd do my doors for $75 a piece too.

[seafoam68]

My only experience is sandblasting. Bought the blaster and did it myself. No warpage issues. The sand takes off everything and leaves a 80 grit surface to which I applied expoxy primer, then 2k primer. Worked really well. Added benefit was by doing it myself, i. I got to see every detail.
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[bcutt]

[CG]

When I had my panel done I think they just used sand. The place I used does tons of cars and trucks, I didnt worry about them warping anything.

Just take it to someone that does a lot of cars. Most places that do this also have a ton of pictures hanging on the walls of the cars they have done. Its good advertising, and should make you feel better =)

I just remembered, my 58 Ford wagon was also blasted there. The previous owner had them do it. Once again they used sand and the thing looks great, well except for the fact it has no paint lol.

And like others have said, if you have it done with soda you really need to clean it good afterwards, and make sure you get it out of all the little crevices.

[djgebert]

I thought about doing it myself too, but it is so messy to do something that large with all the paint that is gonna come off and the sand. I wish I could fit it in my blast cabinet

[BCOWANWHEELS]

use white sand (FINE ) ONLY........

[seafoam68]

Heh, I didn't mention that I am blessed with a 1500 square foot garage with a large concrete pad in front. I laid plastic on the ground so I could scoop up and reuse the sand. Found that wasn't worth the effort,as I had to screen it to get the trash out. I found a "premium" play sand at Lowe's that is screened and most importantly,all one size. It also has to be very dry. Overall, it worked really well for me. Good luck...
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[yote1234]

i had mine chemically diped.
couldnt find cab pics but heres bed after dip

[djgebert]

Yote,
That looks really good. Is there any issue with chemical residue or anything afterward? If you don't mind my asking about how much $ does that run for the cab? They quoted me $375 to bead blast the cab and $75 ea for the doors.

[bosco200]

Originally Posted by djgebert

yote,
that looks really good. Is there any issue with chemical residue or anything afterward? If you don't mind my asking about how much $ does that run for the cab? They quoted me $375 to bead blast the cab and $75 ea for the doors.

x2

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by seafoam68

Heh, I didn't mention that I am blessed with a 1500 square foot garage with a large concrete pad in front. I laid plastic on the ground so I could scoop up and reuse the sand. Found that wasn't worth the effort,as I had to screen it to get the trash out. I found a "premium" play sand at Lowe's that is screened and most importantly,all one size. It also has to be very dry. Overall, it worked really well for me. Good luck...
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Thanks for the tip for sand.

Originally Posted by seafoam68

My only experience is sandblasting. Bought the blaster and did it myself. No warpage issues. The sand takes off everything and leaves a 80 grit surface to which I applied expoxy primer, then 2k primer. Worked really well. Added benefit was by doing it myself, i. I got to see every detail.
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May I ask what blaster you bought?

[ChevLoRay]

I had my bed and front cap soda blasted. If there are any issues, I haven't been made aware. The cab I have now....needs some TLC...don't know which way I'll go. I have a friend who does sand blasting, but majority of it is on heavy equipment (dozer, scrapers, etc.). I'll have to ask him about doing the cab and doors. He did my my entire chassis....after we disassembled it.

[QKENUF4U]

the place i worked at here in havasu did soda blasting and sand blasting.. ive done fenders and a whole willeys tub myself.. most of the stuff is soda blasted at the owners residence... yes theres some clean up afterwards but ive heard it works awesome....
the dip above looks super clean but finding a place that does something that big is the hard part.....