Sand Blasting = no fun

[wayjon0]

Please feel free to drive over and kick me square in the arse if you ever hear me say "hey, I'll just sand blast the car myself".

 

[rsalway]

I hear you. My biggest problem is my compressor is way too small. Always waiting for it to catch up.

 

[Anonymous]

If you blast your own car and then want to do it again......forget the nut kick'n, you need a straight jacket.

 

[sigtauenus]

+1

$800-1000 is more than worth it to just have it over and done with in an afternoon.

 

[PJ Moran]

I'll admit that sandblasting is little fun, but it ain't that bad.

Yes, you need a big compressor. I have the biggest Craftsman model they had. Even it needed time to get back up.

You also need one of those pressurized pot type blasters, not the siphon type.

With those two things, you can make fairly short work of blasting most anything.

But, you do have to sweep up and recycle your sand (or buy a whole bunch). And, without proper garb, sand gets everywhere. Don't do it on a warm day.

So, if you have a small compressor, or a siphon blaster, or it's warm outside, or you don't have a way to keep the sand off you, then, well, it might be that bad.

Part of the problem with farming this job out is loading the shell onto a trailer in a manner that will travel well and will meet the shop's needs. That's quite an obstacle in itself. If it weren't for that, I would have farmed mine out. Mine was on a flimsy rotisserie, and getting it onto a trailer and surviving the 40 mile trip wasn't in the cards. So I did it myself.

The hardest part was getting the shell clean enough for paint. I initially washed it off with a hose and flash rust ensued (big time), forcing me to do it all over again. The second time, I had to physically wipe down every square inch of the car to get the dust off (air alone won't get it clean).

In hindsight, if I had it to do over, I'd do whatever it took to get the car to the blaster and pay them to blast, clean, and prime it.

 

[buckeyedemon]

it was the worst time of my life. i even planned it out so i would hit late fall when the temps were in the low 60's.

i've seen pics of cars after they get back from the blaster. many times it looks like there was still rust in the pits. i personally wouldn't trust someone else to do the job.

with that said i would do it again on my next build... and hate my life for a couple weekends..

 

[cmayna]

If I lived on a farm or had a properly set up facility to make such a mess, I would consider doing it. But since most of us city dwellers don't have that, we have no choice but to farm it out.

 

[cecil671]

I do live on a farm and did mine.
The words "sand blasting" sound just like "Root canal" to me. :cry
But If I had it to do over ,I guess I would still do it myself. :nk

 

[SELLERSRODSHOP]

all i blast anymore is motorcycle parts. i send the cars out. it's just too hard on my back to stand there all day long running a blaster....

 

[wayjon0]

Well I wimped out, I found a guy that is doing it for what the material was going to cost me to do it myself. I went by his place and looked at a nova he had just finished and it was a very clean car.

I should have it back early next week. That should give me just about enough time to clean to sand out of my garage and replace the arm on my garage door opener. It seems that screw rod and motor don't like glass beads at all. It never crossed my mind to cover the garage door opener while I was covering everything with plastic.

 

[lethal289]

If I lived on a farm or had a properly set up facility to make such a mess, I would consider doing it. But since most of us city dwellers don't have that, we have no choice but to farm it out.

almost two years later, and im still finding sand in my garage. Although lately, its only been when i move something kind of big.

 

[AzPete]

almost two years later, and im still finding sand in my garage. Although lately, its only been when i move something kind of big.

......you gotta move more often. Man, I thought I stayed in one place for a while.....

 

[lethal289]

Im putting down roots Pete. Been here 5 years, not leaving anytime soon.

 

[AzPete]

its only been when i move something kind of big.

.....was referencing this statement........

 

[Dne']

I had a pot blaster from Harborfreight. Like most would say from experience~ Sand goes everywhere, runs the hell out of a compressor, and the hood that you wear fogs up and is hotter than hell! lol I have a fresh air breathing system that has a full hood which was wonderful for sandblasting. I sold the potblaster recently just to get it out of my garage~ I'll just use a little hand held blaster for odd n end blasting. :nta and that's all I have to say about that~