I have a blasting question...

[darkness falls]

My buddy has this Sandblaster

And he was wondering what is the best material to use with it. He is doing his whole car and it has rust. He has seen stuff like Medium Glass bead, Aluminum Oxide, walnut shells, etc.

He was just wondering what is the best material for the job, he didn't want stuff that would really mess up the metal.

 

[68rustang]

What kind of blaster is he using? The Harbor Freight 1/8 - 1/4 nozzle ones are more likely to warp metal than the big nozzles the pros use. Glass bead is less likely to damage the metal but also less likely to strip all the rust. I have heard soda is best but know nothing about it.

 

[iskwezm]

we had a car walnut shelled it cam out great but i hear the powder or soda wont harm class or chrome.

 

[mustangdave]

You will need a REALLY good moisture separator or the unit will clog immediately. If he plans on doing a whole car he will also need thousands of lbs. of media; this is not a job that can be done by purchasing by the bag. Usually, a tanker truck full of sand is brought in so the car can be done in one blast, blown out, cleaned, cleaned some more, cleaned some more, and then wiped down and sprayed.

 

[Skymarshal]

I've never heard of blasting an entire car!

Have you looked into hot tanking the car? That will remove every trace of paint, rust, body sealer, bondo, etc. It would probably cost about the same, and would be much quicker and neater.

 

[darkness falls]

Well, he is only doing it on the engine bay, under the car, and trunk. He is going to use a heavy stripper for any doors and hardtop. Also, he has a coat of rust under the roof, like the whole underside of the roof has a layer of powery rust.

I wasn't sure which sandblaster he had, I just posted a pic that looked like it a bit. he is borrowing it, but can get a different one if any one has any ideas.

 

[darkness falls]

I've never heard of blasting an entire car!

Have you looked into hot tanking the car? That will remove every trace of paint, rust, body sealer, bondo, etc. It would probably cost about the same, and would be much quicker and neater.

What do you mean you haven't, I have. Well, where would I go looking for something like that, I know wat the dipping is, but I don't know where to look for a place, and I have heard it cost a lot more, 500-1000

Everything is gone from this pic. and the next one to, the car is all but the shell.

 

[darkness falls]

Wait, after talking to him, I think He is going to do soda blasting, there is a business around here that does it and he thinks that is a better and safer idea then Acid dip which can have very damaging effects to the metal.

Also, he was going to take the car in and have it pulled just to be sure everything is alined, should this be done before the soda?

No body or panel replacement has been done yet, he would like the car cleaned and rust free before he starts body work and welding. Also the car has to be straightend prior to so the panels and floor line up.

 

[68rustang]

I've never heard of blasting an entire car!

Have you looked into hot tanking the car? That will remove every trace of paint, rust, body sealer, bondo, etc. It would probably cost about the same, and would be much quicker and neater.

DO you live under a rock? Blasting a whole car is not unusual. I had my whole car done inside, outside and top to bottom for $450.00. Chemical dipping was much more expensive and much harder to find.

 

[darkness falls]

I found a guy around me that does Soda Blasting, so my friend is going to go with that..

From what people say it is the safest and better way to go.