Sand Blasting

[mljjones67]

Question for everyone. I want to start sand blasting my truck. What is the best media for sand blasting? I have used sand, it seems to work fine. Anyone used something else thats better?

[mrsnicks]

The media you use depends on how aggressively you want to strip the material you are stripping.

Sand will take of paint, bondo, rust, and metal.. it will also generate heat.

The professional strippers who can afford it and only want to take of paint/rust but no metal and generate little heat use pecan/walnut shells.... glass beads.. etc...


If sand works for you and you know what you are doing go for it. I assume you're talking about the black silica sand, or regular sandbox play sand?

Patrick

[FORDification]

The black oxide sand will work great on thick steel parts, like the frame, brackets, etc, but I'm thinking it'll be a little too aggressive for sheetmetal. I use silica sand, available from my local home improvement supply store, for about $5 per 40-lb bag. It'll work on sheetmetal without worry of distortion, depending on how much pressure your air compressor puts out. If you're using a typical Harbor Freight pressure blaster on the typical single-stage air compressor though, it's not going to put out enough pressure for you to have to worry about generating heat that'll warp body panels. Through MUCH trial and error on my project I've found that using the 3M stripper wheels are much faster and cleaner, and then whatever I can't get with them (inside corners and other tight spots) I can finish up with the sandblaster. You'll find that the factory primer is actually pretty tough stuff, and you'll work the heck out of your air compressor trying to eat through that stuff....with silica sand, anyway. Beach sand is a bit more aggressive, and the black oxide is even better, but be careful using that on body panels.

If you do use silica sand, a GOOD face mask is mandatory...something like what you'd use when painting a car. You do NOT want to get that stuff in your lungs!

[72hiboy4x4]

its worse than you think Keith. A positive pressure air supply is required for sandblasting with silica sand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/silicosis1.shtml

I was going to quote the page, but I was forbidden again.


BTW Oldsmobility came up #3 on google on a 'homebuilt sandblaster' search! Just before Pirate.

[foghorn]

The best place to get sand would be from a snad quarry that screens it fine enough for glass making. If you dont have one in your area then try the local lumber yard is all i can say. But the sand im talking about is like the sand they used in the old style stand up ashtrays in office building before they started going smoke free.

[mljjones67]

I need a better air compressor. anyone have one to recommend? I currently have a craftsman that really wont keep up with the sand blaster or my air sander or die grinder.

[mljjones67]

oh I did find some silica sand at home depot for $6.50 for a 100 lb bag. Not bad price I guess

[mljjones67]

I need a better air compressor. Are the ones at home depot anygood? I am talking about the 2 stage oil filled ones. I have an air sander and my siphon sand blaster I would like to use. Thanks all

[hardtailjohn]

If I'm not mistaken, Keith did a great post on compressors somewhere on here... if you can find it... not sure if the search feature is up and running yet... but he's got some good advice in there..
Personally, I have a Ingersol that's got an 80 gallon tank and puts out 19cfm @ 120psi, and sometimes it has trouble keeping up with the DA.. but for "normal" use, it's more than adequate!
JH

[Big D's 69]

Gotta be real careful of heat and warping. Seen a lot of good panels get warped.

[FORD428CJ]

Soda Blasting is the best way to go. You would have to find someone with a set-up to do it. Takes a ton of air (like 175psi) and a HUGH nozzle. My uncle has this set-up to do it. 671 Detroit running a big Davy compressor. You can leave you glass in and all the trim/rubber and it wont hurt it. It will leave the factory anodizing on the metal with all the markings. Its waaaaay cool. JMHO

[jor]

I need a better air compressor. anyone have one to recommend?

The Garage forum has some discussion on compressors. Also, take a look over at http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tech-help/ . There's quite a bit of discussion on compressors there in the Garage-Tools section.
jor

[mljjones67]

thanks jor

[FormerMarine1981]

Soda Blasting is the best way to go. You would have to find someone with a set-up to do it. Takes a ton of air (like 175psi) and a HUGH nozzle. My uncle has this set-up to do it. 671 Detroit running a big Davy compressor. You can leave you glass in and all the trim/rubber and it wont hurt it. It will leave the factory anodizing on the metal with all the markings. Its waaaaay cool. JMHO

I used one of these in the corps I believe. It mixed it with water though. Took off paint really well but some of the parts I had to clean were really rusted after being bolted into the flight line for years.

[ExplorerNC]

I bought a 68 GTO once that the P/O sand blasted the original hood on himself, and it looked like it was run over by a truck! I have checked out the soda blasting, and it is neat! I watched them demo it on all different materials, even a totally assembled 63 Corvette. Very impressive. He quoted a guy about $1k to do a complete 1970 Chevelle, no disassembly required.