Soda blasting query ( qty usage )

[stevieturbo]

I'm considering buying some kit...largely DIY use.

First job...will be a complete rear axle so fairly large and will need done outside. So thinking soda might be best as the media can just be dumped as chances of being able to recollect it would be rather difficult.

But price for say a 25kg bag..doesnt seem overly cheap. So how much media do these sorts of things actually use ?

Axle is a few years old and had been blasted and painted with hammerite when originally installed some 15 years ago. But it's a bit rusty looking now and it along with some of the 4-link/panhard bars would also need a blast and re-paint.

If 1 bag would do it..all good. If it would take several bags, then presumably soda is not the best route to take ?
I would intend blasting the axle still built up. It's not a concours affair and with a little care I dont see how any media will ever pose any risk to the internals.

I would also like to do a light blast on the underside of the car around the axle area at the same time to remove years of roadgrime and various other deposits. Preferably without stripping paint...or at least without going crazy on the paint. Soda being softer...maybe a better choice for this ?

Any suggestions ? For handiness of supply, blasting gear will likely just be Sealey.

 

[brightspark]

soda is not going to do it would be preferable to do it with supafine grit blasted on at about 90 psi . even then u would probably need a couple of bags and would be time consuming if only using a 3mm jet and a 14cfm comp which wouldn't keep a constant pressure

 

[frank horton]

soda is just better for panels and delicate stuff.......sounds like a job for sand I'm afraid......can't u build a temp shelter like 8x4's on their sides to keep the sand in 1 area therefore re-usable......I filter the sand I use for at least three times then it's dumped / dug in the garden........I think `I paid about 14 squids for 25klg of kiln dried sand.......have the option of fine, medium and course.......at roughly the same price.......
how about power washing the axle, scrap off the loose paint and then just heavy spray it again.......a good rough up first of course........
just done a 1920's Citroen chassis......overal used about 8 bags of sand, burnt out 2 compressors........hahaha.........now have a road compressor for the job......

good luck.......frank

 

[stevieturbo]

Thanks for the info.

I've a single phase 3HP compressor....but yes I assume it would struggle a little as it does tend to run a lot even with smaller air tools. But I can be patient with it ( to a degree lol...patience is not a strong point )

Soda might be useful for the underside of the car ? being more gentle ?

Or could a basic sand blast setup work for this too, with the air turned down ?

If I was to consider the blast media a waste product not to be recovered....are there any more preferable ? Yard is tarmac but it's got a fair covering of loose stones too.
I could maybe look into creating some sort of closed area with a tarp or something if recovery had to be done. I do already have a basic handheld Sealey blaster, but it's a pull through setup, one of the portable ones and an almost full bag of their black coloured shot blast grit. TBH only ever tried to use it for a couple of small parts...and the mess it was starting to create I decided sod that ! lol

But quite happy to buy one of the big pot type blasters to get this job done and accept the mess. An ability to use a softer media would be good too though, for some alloy parts and as mentioned the vehicle underside without going mental and a full bare metal strip down.
But for now primary concern is the axle and underside of car.

I dont want to just do a rough paint removal and repaint. I want it down to as close to bare metal as possible and to remove as much of the rust as possible. Blasting of some sort makes most sense, as there are a lot of brackets for the 4-link, ARB and coilovers etc that would make paint removal very difficult any other way

 

[fizzy]

Again just use sand - make sure you wear a very good dust mask though.

I use one of these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-...719122?hash=item2a9b374d12:g:5FMAAOSwY~laSgex

You can get plenty of sealed filters.

Just use a clear plastic sheet over each eyepiece or they will be ruined!

 

[fizzy]

I have a 10 gallon pot type and a 3hp 14cfm belt drive compressor - it works - just about well enough. The more air the better but I have managed a complete 110 chassis.

 

[brightspark]

I have a 10 gallon pot type and a 3hp 14cfm belt drive compressor - it works - just about well enough. The more air the better but I have managed a complete 110 chassis.

u should be awarded a medal. I wouldn't even want to do one with a 90cfm compressor and pot with a 6mm jet

 

[stevieturbo]

This is sounding messier than I initially thought ! lol Full gas mask probably makes sense though

A 10 gallon setup....how much media does that hold, and roughly how much work would get done from it ?

Sealey seem to offer a 20gallon setup ? How would their media compare to the sand options ? I've a few Sealey dealers local, so sourcing the stuff will be easy if it will work for me.

SB997 any good ?

 

[brightspark]

I've blasted hundreds of wheels. steel using grit and ally wheels using sand from 18 years old to 62 and I'm in the best of health its called using an air fed helmet open blasting and blast cabinet with a good woodchip extracta for smaller parts

 

[stevieturbo]

I currently have the cheaper/smaller version of this portable one, I presume it would be useless for a biggish job ? TBH I bought it several years ago and only tried it once briefly. Initially the gun didnt even work, internal drillings must have been messed up as it barely moved any air so it sat for years til I bought a new gun for it. Then it did work...created such a mess I gave up on that test lol.

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuild...rogroup=1346&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16

Or just step up for this ?

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuild...rogroup=1346&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16

 

[stevieturbo]

So you supply your neighbours air fed respirators when you're open blasting?

Not everyone lives 6 miles from the nearest house, and If my neighbour started open blasting in his garden using sand I'd cut the airline to his mask and fart down it, then melt his compressor head.

I have seen some concerns online about silica/sand. Not interested in that when I can source branded blast media which I presume would be regarded as safer ?
TBH, no idea where I'd even get suitable sand locally anyway....unless it's the stuff builders yards sell. But that's usually anything but dry.

 

[fizzy]

I currently have the cheaper/smaller version of this portable one, I presume it would be useless for a biggish job ? TBH I bought it several years ago and only tried it once briefly. Initially the gun didnt even work, internal drillings must have been messed up as it barely moved any air so it sat for years til I bought a new gun for it. Then it did work...created such a mess I gave up on that test lol.

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuild...rogroup=1346&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16

Or just step up for this ?

http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuild...rogroup=1346&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16

The 2nd one is the boy to have - but look on fleabay they much cheaper! Think I paid about £120 for mine - and yes 20 gallon the one to go for.

 

[fizzy]

I have seen some concerns online about silica/sand. Not interested in that when I can source branded blast media which I presume would be regarded as safer ?
TBH, no idea where I'd even get suitable sand locally anyway....unless it's the stuff builders yards sell. But that's usually anything but dry.

Tesco often have sand for kiddies play areas. Bone dry as it is in the store.
If you want proper stuff again look at Ebay or visit your local blasters and see if you can buy a few sacks off them.
Whatever you do invest in a household sieve - prevents loads of clogging!

 

[frank horton]

just ask for "KILN dried sand" normally used to fill in the cracks when laying those small paving blocks........here, there's fine, med and course.......depending on the gap/style used in the blocks........
it's always stored inside.......our merchant keeps it next to the plaster pallet.......just ask........Frank

 

[stevieturbo]

The 2nd one is the boy to have - but look on fleabay they much cheaper! Think I paid about £120 for mine - and yes 20 gallon the one to go for.

Local Sealey dealer will be far cheaper than list price anyway, and as I'm in Northern Ireland...most ebay sellers either avoid or charge a fortune for large items. Prices will usually be similar to ebay prices anyway. Will get it arranged

 

[fizzy]

Local Sealey dealer will be far cheaper than list price anyway, and as I'm in Northern Ireland...most ebay sellers either avoid or charge a fortune for large items. Prices will usually be similar to ebay prices anyway. Will get it arranged

They also sell them in machine mart.

 

[fizzy]

u should be awarded a medal. I wouldn't even want to do one with a 90cfm compressor and pot with a 6mm jet

It wasn't so bad - just don't ask me to do garden gates!

I will have my trailer to do soon. Next door to us is a car body shop - they said I can borrow their compressor - 25cfm with a huge tank - should make life a bit easier. I will do it outside on the weekend - I will use sand as then I don't need to clean it up! We are right by the docks and beach so nobody will notice!

 

[Screwdriver]

Best solution would be to rig up a power washer and wet blast it. Fiddly thing to set up and get right but there's a ton of YouTube material out there on how to do it and it's a darned site safer to sand blast with a slurry.

My understanding is that the process is also a lot more effective.

 

[brightspark]

Best solution would be to rig up a power washer and wet blast it. Fiddly thing to set up and get right but there's a ton of YouTube material out there on how to do it and it's a darned site safer to sand blast with a slurry.

My understanding is that the process is also a lot more effective.

ive seen a row of houses wet sandblasted and its not a pretty sight filth and wet sand everywhere and slow. I did my house dry and its 2 semi knocked in to one there wasn't a lot of mess to sweep up and it didn't take long

 

[fizzy]

Best solution would be to rig up a power washer and wet blast it. Fiddly thing to set up and get right but there's a ton of YouTube material out there on how to do it and it's a darned site safer to sand blast with a slurry.

My understanding is that the process is also a lot more effective.

The trouble with wet blasting is the speed in which stuff rusts afterwards.