sand blasting? full shell respray

[supernovaxe]

really need a sandblaster to finish my shell prep. im respraying the whole shell inside out ,top to bottom so need everything back to bare metal and dont have the money to get it dipped. i will mainly be using the sand blaster on the underside and wheel arches to get rid of underbodysael and genral ****e so i was wondering if anyone has any expierience in this field, what sand blaster to get, glass beads or sand etc. any advice much appriciated :thumb:

[craig green]

The sand/glass etc is known as the blast media.
Though its a great idea & makes light work of stripping back to bare metal, doing a full shell on a hobby level will be messier than you can comprehend, the best means of removing the underseal would be a knotted wire wheel in a grinder. I assume you will have the shell on an A-frame? Getting some primer on the bare metal, pronto would be a concern also.

[Count Vaux Alot]

I have to agree with Craig here 'blast media' would end up in places you didn't know you had. You would need some industrial supply of compressed air or the like to fire the media at enough velocity to get the under seal off (i have done it grinder and wire wheel style twice now and its a pain and a mess but the best way imo for the diy enthusiast )

We use an industrial shot blaster (stainless shot) at work for cleaning cast etc and even some heavy paints take a few minutes to clear so under seal would take a while too.
I know of a place local to my old place of work that specialises in sand blasting on a large scale (mainly commercial vehicle bodies, fire escapes that sort of thing) and they use a huge metal container to contain the blast media and have to wear 'space suits' to stop themselves from dying. I have used them to do my rear beam and roll cage before but i think it would make a mess or a rusty shell as its quite coarse.

[garyc]

You still have to take the underseal off as the media bounces off. from what I have heard its 100-200 to have a shell shotblasted.

[Count Vaux Alot]

You still have to take the underseal off as the media bounces off. from what I have heard its 100-200 to have a shell shotblasted.

Basically what i was getting at - the price sounds about right too.

[Royston]

On top of whats been already said, shot blasting can (if the media is too heavy/pressure) can seriously distort thin panels, like body shells. Talking from personal experience blasting tractor body panels which are much thicker than a novea! usinf copper slag. All the shot will get every where inside box sections, etc.

There is blast media, e.g soda, walnut shells. but at a cost. Shot will not remove underseal, hardened grease. Would need to strip off underseal as suggested, and thoroghly steam clean.

And once stripped would need to be painted immediately, otherwise it will rust....within minutes in a damp atmosphere!, defeating the object

[sr jack]

this make a mess like know other, if you dont have a contained room.
the only good thing i spose is you can get into all the tight to reach places.

[davidfox280585]

underseal heat gun then scraper,
then wirewheel lots of solvent to clean the last bit
blast would make it all hot and gooey and wont come off,
this came from lads on seriesoneturbo forum who nearly all restore there cars

[supernovaxe]

thanks for all feedback, looks like ill just have to crack on with my wire wheels then:roll:... being a perfectionist is hard work, wish i was a 'that'all do' kinda guylol

[Iain]

After doing half the floor with a wire wheel you may find yourself being a 'that'll do' kinda guy lol

[Edd]

as said wire wheel is the way,

took me about three days to do it all, if you try do it too quickly the sealer will just heat up and not come off.

[John]

didn't chris astley have one of his shells baked? half the price of dipping iirc.

[supernovaxe]

have to say its very tempting to dig into the funds and get this baby baked or dipped, but i know for a dip its gonna cost in acces of a grand! thats a lot of money to me so i think its out of the question, anyone got any prices for a bake? i live in slough so for praticality i need a local place within 100 miles???? cheers

[supernovaxe]

just read through chriss astleys build thread again, that is what i want my shell to look like, no mention of prices though??

[Chris Astley]

Speak to a company called Ribble Technology in Preston. Thats who have done several shells for me.