Hi all,

OK, I've been convinced that stripping the paint off my Baja shell is best done without using a wire brush (5 hours so far and only the front quater panels and part of the under bonnet area are done - I'm filthy and my hands feel numb!)

I would like to have the paint removed by blasting, but should I be getting someone to bead blast the shell or can it be sand blasted?

Has anyone here had any experience with either forms of blasting (good or bad)?

I can find plenty of sandblasters in my area (anyone used any of them in the past?), but no one appears to bead blast. Does anyone know of a business that does? I would be quite happy to ship the 'shell to Brisbane if necessary...

Thanks

R

Sand blasting is a rough process which commonly leads to warped panels if not done very carefully. As most operators are not that careful, bead blasting is a much safer option.

Bead blasting is a gentler process which uses, you guessed it, plastic beads rather than sand. Bead blasting is much gentler on the panels and won't damage them, but it won't remove rust, just paint.

You have to be very careful about who sandblasts your car as they can really stuff it up big time. I used a guy called Red in Slacks Creek that does an excellent job. He is very busy ALL the time so if you want his details, let me know and I will give them to you. You can then phone him to see how long before he could do it.:thumb

When they use sand it heats up, that is why if they concentrate too long on one area it could distort the panel, I would think that on a bug sand blasting would be OK. I used a sand blaster on my kombi and there was no distortion.
I guess it depends on how good the operator is.

A lot on this site have used paint stripper, I cant comment on it cause I havent used it.
The reason I didnt use it is it strips everything including the sealer in the joints,

Cheers
Dave

hmmm, thanks ppl!

The reason I asked this question (apart from deciding that stripping the car with a wire wheel was too hard!) is that I have rung around many of the blasters in my area and no-one offers bead blasting. Some of them claimed that there would be no problem with sandblasting the car whilst others refused to do it due to the risk of panel warping.

One of the guys I spoke to claims that he has sandblasted heaps of classic vehicles with no problems - he won't touch the Jap stuff though (too flimsy). He told me that he has 3 Classic V8's (Camaro, Chev and a Monaro)that he has restored and he sandblasted them with no issues....

Still, I think I would like to investigate the possibility of bead blasting the shell. Yogie, could you give me Red's details please? I'll give him a call and then make a decision....

Thanks

R

Don't sandbast any external panels!! It removes the factory phosphate coating and 'upsets' the surface microstructure of teh metal, which makes it more suceptible to rust - in several years' time. Get media/plastic/walnut husk blasting instead. Try asking at an airport...

try I think moray field smash repairs. They have a booth bigger enough for a kombi and just did the raffle bug for the VWDCQ. did a really good job.

BiX, do you know if they bead or sand blasted it?

R

Metal Prep is the company and Red owns it. They are just off Queens Road Slacks Creek (Kingston) and his number is 3808 6276.

I can't speak highly enough of him.

There was a crowd in Loganholme I spoke with (Chetwynd Street I think). They do bead blasting if you wanted to call in there when you come up to see Red.

Yogie

Thanks Yogie,

I'll give Red a call and see what he can do for me. I'll let you know how I go.

Thanks again,

R

Sorry wrong guy. It was DJ mechanical that did the blasting and Morayfield who did the body work and painting.

They (DJ) also do vw repair and service, restorations and are a certified engineer. They add says bead blasting booth.

Located at caboolture, 07 5428 0122

Cheers, Caboolture is a little further than I wanted to go, but I will keep it in mind if nothing else works out.

Thanks anyway.

R

correct me if i'm wrong...but i was under the impression that it doesnt matter who u take it to to get blasted...its more so the media that they use....sand blasting and bead blasting are the same thing....same machine....just different users blast with different media...at work i have sandblasted every single part on my vw that fits in there....from the wheel rims to the ashtray, glove box, carby....and they all come out 100% we use glass beads at work....u can get walnuts, fine metal, medium metal and course metal....glass, plastic...sand....

if u need sumfin blasted u just gotta see what media they use....

jonno

so could you do bead blasting yourself if you wanted? my Dad has a good sized air compressor and all the equipment to sandblast.

If its any help(as this is a long list of responses)
I have been rebuilding and restoring dubs for the last 10 years.
Every shell and pan i do i take to my sandblaster.I found one that was familiar with working with cars.
They all have come back perfect.Bare metal,all rust blown out,and all the imperfections are there ready for you to attack them.
From gaurds to engine tin.
Its not actually sand that you would build a sand castle out of either.
Its a very fine type of metal shaving/shot.
Sorta like looking at fine glitter.If that makes any sense?
I have tried stripper,wouldnt wish that on my enemies tho.
If you go to a blasters,just look at his work he has around the place.
I wouldnt do it any other way these days.
Just my opinion.I'm a qualified paint n panel and have never had a conmplaint yet.

Hi

Has anyone tried dipping a shell.

Steve

Have been involved with cars that have had this done - it's good in theory, but it removes any/all paint/primer/rust protection inside all the box sections of the shell (eg: sills)- which, unless you replace (next to impossible), leads to the car rusting from the inside out...

Steve, and others in Sydney, Redistrip at Bankstown Airport did a perfect media (walnut husk) blast on a '89 Falcon shell for me a few years ago.. They leave the factory phosphate surface rust protection in place and don't 'upset' the surface of the steel. It's ready to prime...

Dipping a shell allows the stripper to get in areas that you can't get to. The stripper drys and is stuck there until water is introduced to the area and this causes the stripper to migrate and start stripping your nice new paint job from the inside. VW's are generally spot welded together so there are plenty of places where it would be difficult to remove all the stripper. I think it's also corrosive.

ADAM...

I am a panelbeater by trade and i wasn't sure about sandblasting. I now blast for a living. We use garnet (sand) and we use a regulator to lower the pressure, which minimises panel distortion. It all depends how good your blaster is.

yeah, great, get a bad blaster and your car is toast...:cry

As with everything, see work the blaster has done before you let him loose on your car.

Cheers
Dave

I've just recieved an extimate from a business for $450 to bead blast the body and doors on my Baja - this price in the mid range of the other quotes that I recieved from businesses that only offered sandblasting, so I feel that it is quite reasonable.

A friend of mine explained to me that I should avoid sandblasting as he had a single cab Kombi ute sandblasted - it then took him weeks to get all the left over sand out of the body. He tells me (and it makes sense) that if the sand had been left there it would have caused rust in the future as sand holds moisture. This is less likely if the vehicle is bead blasted as the media is different and less likely to hold moisture....

I'm planning on taking before and after pics and posting them on my web site if anyone is interested.... it will be done in a couple of weeks....

R

....White. Yeah, I know, boring (or so my wife keeps telling me ), but it is a Baja which will be used off road, so I don't want a paint job that is going to be difficult to look after/show stone chips and scratches.

I'm still open to suggestions though, it may just convince me to change my mind....

R

Hey Ratty,
these guys down the coast or up towards Brisvegas?
After BuggyBrad finishs the metal works to my shell, I want to get it clean to see all the dents etc, then get the panel work done.
At the moment, I am probably looking at DJ's Mech, but would also like to see how well yours gets done. The reason I have that much rust to cut out is from the sand blasting the last owner had done (yes, I know its the sand blasting as I found the sand).
Cheers
penguin

[Edited on 27-10-2004 by penguin]

Penguin, they are in Logan - It's the business that Yogie gave the number for in the above posts. Looking forward to seeing what they can do!

R

Hi guys,

Did a lil research and talked to a few ppl and found out that there is a way to sandblast a car and avoid the distortions and warping that it causes. Wet Blasting - sand blasting with water, keeps everything cooled and prevents the damage. Apparently there is someone here on the Sunny Coast who does it.

Neway... just thought i'd add my 2c worth

Ciao
Kat

Do they put your bug into an oversized clothes drier afterwards?

Possibly, im sure if they are VW people they'll lovingly give your VW a blow dry for you!

CIao
Kat

Interesting...I've not heard of this before... I wonder how you would get the wet sand out of the cracks and crevices around the vehicle - apparently it is a big job removing the dry sand....

Anyone had any experience with this?

R