Media Blasting Questions

[mmisky87]

My 69 Charger project is going to require a lot of sheet metal and the only potentially outer body panels being saved is going to be the roof, hood, and decklid. I would hate to spend the money for a professional media blast when most of the panels are getting replaced anyways. The frame looks solid with the factory undercoat in place.

I am leaning towards doing blasting in my backyard with glass bead or something similar and strip the few outer body parts to bare metal with a wire wheel, neutralize the metal, and then epoxy prime all parts.

I am looking for suggestions, this is going to be a driver quality that I will hopefully never sell.

Another thought I had was to start replacing/repairing from front to back in different stages by blasting, repairing/replacing and then epoxy priming as I go. Breaking it up into front/floor pan/quarters&trunk pan.

It is a big project, will take lots of time...looking for input from the much wiser

 

[super-bee_ski]

Hi
Welcome aboard and thanks for joining our forum!
I do perform a lot of sand blasting with my "TIP" set-up from Canfield Ohio

BUT:
Check out Forum member "Donny"
He is a professional media blaster and he has more experience than anyone else!

Simply type in "Donny" in the "Gold" banner on top of page where it says: "search"
Then ask him.

Again, thanks for joining the forum!

 

[Mocajava]

Welcome from Alaska. I am in the middle of a '69 Coronet build myself. Have her stripped and goes to media blast next week. Yes there is a lot you can do yourself, I was loaned a pot blaster and stripped areas under the car and inside trunk. BUT...having the right tools and breathing equipment is a must! What I have works ok for small areas and with control and lots of time you can get it done. I was amazed at how much "stuff" I had blown everywhere! It took me hours to get the stuff off driveway and twice that amount to get it out of every crack in the car. DO NOT cheap out on the breathing equipment, I had a normal respirator and was coughing and wheezing for days after a short blasting attempt. The guys that do this for a living have supplied air, experience and the right equipment, they definitely earn there money! I gave up trying to do it myself and am having a portable unit come finish mine the right way. One day of blasting and I will be ready for paint. As Super-bee_ski says, talk to Donny, read his posts on this subject and above all be safe with your work, protect your lungs!

 

[super-bee_ski]

Here you go: http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...similar-forum-as-this-for-the&highlight=donny

Send Donny a "PM" (Private message)
Open URL, click on Donny's name and send him a PM

 

[mmisky87]

Thanks for the advice. I knew air supply is an issue, The potential savings may out weigh the frustration.

 

[snakeoil24]

Pay to have it done! it's not worth doing yourself.

 

[Donny]

Yeah, sounds like a real pain in the *** if you ask me! lol

 

[threewood]

Pay to have it done! it's not worth doing yourself.

Agree. I had to blast a small spot at the cowl / pillar seam. One or two quick blasts to get the surface rust off. There was blast media everywhere! I couldn't imagine doing the whole thing.

 

[morrow_jacob]

I will be another to recommend having it done professionally.

You said the only parts to be potentially saved are the roof, hood and decklid... I'd recommend taking the hood and deck off(along with all the other bolted on parts. Buy a body dolly or build one, and then spend an inordinate amount of time prepping the car for a professional to blast and epoxy. This is the route I took and its been a good choice.

The cost wasnt too outrageous either since I did most of the prep.

Remember that blasting wont take off undercoating so torch and scrape.... torch and scrape.

I will be doing my doors, hood and lid all seperatly from the car until final paint so I didnt get them blasted yet as I will be spending years getting the body ready anyway.

Cheers! Hope this helps

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, I did try and blast mine, bought the eastwood sand blaster kit and everything, set up a pvc tent and got a hood.... I lasted about 8 minutes before I gave up.