Sandblasting Question.

[detroit iron man]

I was going to sandblast the sheetmetal on my truck. And I was wondering, should I buy a sandblaster and D.I.Y. it,or should I get it professionally done? And if I get it professionally done how much is it gonna cost?

[Big D's 69]

If you do it yourself be careful if you have never done it. It is very easy to warp body panels from the heat that blasting generates.

[gmcjimmy88]

It really depends on whats available in your area. Contact several restoration shop in your area and ask them who they use. If there is only one in the area they might be more expensive. I have never looked into the cost but need to call around this week myself. There are a few options available also. You could do sandbalasting or media blasting. If you can find someone to do it you could also have it dipped but that is more expensive. The plus to dipping is that it strips everything even in the areas you cannot see. Basically if the fluid can get in there it will be bare metal. I am stripping my Exterior panels now but will need to get the inside and underside done. I think it depends on what you want done and how much you are willing to spend. Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

[Darrman]

I am wondering the same myself, I am stripping and primering all the rust spots for now, but am planning to completly strip the body and frame soon. My problem is air power, I have two compessors, a 30 and a 25 tied together and still cant get enough power to run my d.a. sander.

[69bumptruck]

I would say sandblast the undercarriage/firewall/jambs etc.... but do the big body panels by old fashioned sanding. That way you won't warp the panels, but won't kill yourself handsanding everything.

[averagef250]

Pay to have it done. I have a killer sandblast setup with a 280 CFM diesel ingersol compressor (it holds 90 PSI through a 1 1/2" nozzle) and a pressure pot blaster I built that holds 500 pounds of sand at a whack, 50' of hose, 1/2" norbide nozzles and a supplied air respirator. I can strip the paint off a truck from 10' away with this setup. However, I've learned the hard way that it's entirely too easy to warp stuff. I bought 8000 pounds of sand a few months ago for a big blasting project. It was suppose to be fine stuff for use on sheetmetal, but it wasn't. I got it all for $100 and was new, sealed in two big sacks. Boy was that stuff rough on sheetmetal. I blasted a bumpside bed, doors, fenders and hood with it. The bed and fenders turned out nice, but I warped the heck out of the doors and hood and I was trying my hardest to be careful. One door actually warped so bad that the whole thing twisted a good 1/2" and wouldn't even line up with the cab anymore.

Sandblasting is a horrible job. trying to do a big job with a piston air compressor and a harbor frieght blaster makes it worse too. Not to mention the health hazaards of doing it without a proper supplied air respirator. Depending on what media you're using and what you're blasting you can be breathing some of the nastiest stuff you can put in your lungs.

If you decide to farm out the work, make sure you find a sandblast outfit that's familiar with sheetmetal. Most of these places do industrial jobs, but are more than happy to blow holes through and warp your classic sheetmetal. Media and soda blasting is best for car parts, but does cost more. Having parts dipped is astronomical in my area. I could go buy a really nice 2wd bump for the cost of having the body dipped.

[gmcjimmy88]

Good points there. Where are you located I may have to drop my truck off at your door LOL. I know dipping is costly but havent looked into it personally.

[averagef250]

That's pretty much how it works too! Once you have a big blaster everybody wants thier stuff done for nothing. What I usually end up doing is waiting until all my friends get all the parts for thier projects ready to be blasted and every few months we fire it up and have a sandblast party. Everyone chips in for beer, sand, consumables and diesel. We then spend the next few days picking sound out of, well, we won't go there.

[gmcjimmy88]

That's pretty much how it works too! Once you have a big blaster everybody wants thier stuff done for nothing. What I usually end up doing is waiting until all my friends get all the parts for thier projects ready to be blasted and every few months we fire it up and have a sandblast party. Everyone chips in for beer, sand, consumables and diesel. We then spend the next few days picking sound out of, well, we won't go there.

oregon is a little far to travel right now. But I would brink beer. Cheap beer but beer

[hiboy72]

I was planing to do the sandblasting on my truck myself,
now am not sure...
http://picasaweb.google.com/papichulo.reyes

[layedout72]

deffinately blast the firewall. what a PITA that is to strip.

[67fordkc]

Have you considered soda blasting? I am having my cab and box done in the next couple weeks.

[detroit iron man]

Thank Y'all very much for the tips and the suggestions. 67fordkc, that sounds like a good idea, does it pit the metal? I may just go that route.

[FoMoCo]

Take pictures of your parts before you have them blasted. I took mine to a professional who said he had blasted many old cars. He destroyed a hood, doors, door panels, innerfenders, front fenders, rear step-side fenders. I caution you to search for a reputable contractor.

Nick

[67fordkc]

According to what I have read and been told by the guy who is going to do mine, soda blasting will not warp the metal. They say you can leave your chrome and glass in. Here is a web site that talks about it www.sodablasting.com