Sand and media blasting?

[cave weta]

Ive searched this forum and no one has made mention of it yet

I have a 18 cu/ft compressor and a sandblasting gun that will blast rust and paint off small parts
but I have never experimented with other media like salt, sugar, soda, glass beads....


My project is a GB500 motor that is now 25 years old and the clear coating is yellowed and flaking
all over. should I resort to paint stripper and waterblaster or is there a media that will remove the varnish
yet not destroy the shiny alloy underneath?

[Paul in NZ]

I'd try chemical first.....

[bogan]

Look into soda blasting, for some reason I think it is the best blasting option, not sure why though!

[F5 Dave]

Because any sand or reused media will cause corrosion double quick time. Does anyone do Vapour or soda blasting in NZ?

[CookMySock]

Bogan is right. Avoid chemical.

[cs363]

Does anyone do Vapour or soda blasting in NZ?

Yeah, there's shitloads of people doing it: http://www.google.co.nz/search?q=sod...w=1680&bih=935

Had some stuff done by one of the local guys (to me), quite impressed with the finish.

(Edit: Wasn't taking clear coat off though, just to clarify!)

[Laava]

Paint stripper is the shit for getting the old clear coat off. Then youy need to wash it with soapy water to make sure there are no remnants. Are you going to re-clear coat? This is where it will get tricky. You will have to have a uniform finish, ie light blasting or a linished finish. I assume you are going to dismantle the motor? There are few options when it comes to clear coat, it is not like paint and you should speak to a pro who has experience with it.

[unstuck]

Try running some baking soda through your sand blasting gun, maybe try a smaller ceramic tip in the gun, presuming its a quality gun that takes ceramics.

[carburator]

Soda blasting is interesting, Ive had two cars stripped this way
sure the media get's into every corner and even hard packs itself
in places but for total paint removal its better than chemical

i also use soda in a cabinet as well, for parts recovery its great
as i work in restoration of stuff.. only thing is you need a very good
water trap on your system else the gun and media turns to mush..

[cave weta]

Soda blasting is interesting, Ive had two cars stripped this way
sure the media get's into every corner and even hard packs itself
in places but for total paint removal its better than chemical

i also use soda in a cabinet as well, for parts recovery its great
as i work in restoration of stuff.. only thing is you need a very good
water trap on your system else the gun and media turns to mush..

Brilliant Carby! thanks. where do I get the soda from and what size bags are they?

[carburator]

that might have been glass bead but still thats a 50 year old part ( ok crap photo )
back to brand new as if its just been cast..

25kg bags normally and i only throw a bakebean can into the cabinet
( suction recycle unit ) problem with uber light media to much and it
clogs so better to run a small amount till it loses its abrasive then throw
in another can..

think its AH stock size syntech in auckland is good to deal with..

[pete-blen]

I have just striped a Montesa Cota frame/arm with a wire
cup brush on a 115mm disc grinder... took about 3 or 4 hours..
got 99% of the paint off..was a few little areas around
brackets I had to dry sand...
Use a twirl knot cup brush , stronger