Media blast cost

[Challenger in NC]

Just my thoughts here. If your blaster is using Aluminum Oxide then a lot of your cost is in the media--Aluminum Oxide isn't as cheap as most other blasting media. Sand can be rough on sheet metal panels by creating heat and possibly warping the flat panels unless the blaster knows what he is doing. Sand can also leave behind imbedded remnants of silica that can effect top coats. Have you looked into soda blasting? I saw a video on you tube (sic) that showed a car body being blasted with a soda/water combo. No dust and a biodegradable media. Worked pretty good as well. I stripped my '70 Challenger with aircraft grade paint stripper with plastic sheets on the floor. Just did one panel at a time when it was convenient for me. Worked OK for me.

Thanks. Trying to gather all the costs of doing it myself plus the hassle factor.

[anlauto]

In my opinion, the "hassle factor" of sand blasting is about $5K

[Challenger in NC]

In my opinion, the "hassle factor" of sand blasting is about $5K

Probably so, some things are worth letting other people deal with.

[3D]

The price sounds like its in line.
I was just quoted $650.00 to do the roof structure and the back half of my 70 Cuda (no quarters on the car). This was using water and crushed glass.
I got a price last summer to do the entire bottom of my car with sandblasting it was $200.00, car on a rotisserie.
I've been doing small pieces lately with a portable unit, 60 Gal 5hp compressor (rated @11.7 @ 40 psi & 10.2 @ 90 psi), crushed glass, fine and course silica sand. the crushed glass works the best but it plugs the nozzle up consistently as some pieces are bigger than others. Course silica is what I've been using the most @ $12.00 a bag.
My compressor isn't big enough to keep up and is getting old so i thinking of replacing it with a 80 gal.
Something else I've been using alot is is Evap-o-rust, works awesome for smaller pieces. a little pricy at $12.00 a liter!
Once it warms up here I'll probably do the roof structure, inner wheel wells and tail panel here at home, then ill take it in for the bottom.
I've included some pictures.

[Challenger in NC]

The price sounds like its in line.
I was just quoted $650.00 to do the roof structure and the back half of my 70 Cuda (no quarters on the car). This was using water and crushed glass.
I got a price last summer to do the entire bottom of my car with sandblasting it was $200.00, car on a rotisserie.
I've been doing small pieces lately with a portable unit, 60 Gal 5hp compressor (rated @11.7 @ 40 psi & 10.2 @ 90 psi), crushed glass, fine and course silica sand. the crushed glass works the best but it plugs the nozzle up consistently as some pieces are bigger than others. Course silica is what I've been using the most @ $12.00 a bag.
My compressor isn't big enough to keep up and is getting old so i thinking of replacing it with a 80 gal.
Something else I've been using alot is is Evap-o-rust, works awesome for smaller pieces. a little pricy at $12.00 a liter!
Once it warms up here I'll probably do the roof structure, inner wheel wells and tail panel here at home, then ill take it in for the bottom.
I've included some pictures.

Pieces look nice.
I have a  pressure pot unit but I couldn't get it to work although I didn't mess with it for more than 30 minutes. I will most likely take it to the blasters. The car has a ton of undercoating on the underside to remove. I will also make sure that he blows out all of the trapped media

[3D]

Took me a while to figure it out too!
On mine there are three ball valves,
1) main air supply. Keep fully open.
2) nozzle air supply. keep fully open.
3) media discharge, open a little as required. CLOSE WHEN NOT USING as it fills the air line with media and then plugs.

Good luck!

[Challenger in NC]

Took me a while to figure it out too!
On mine there are three ball valves,
1) main air supply. Keep fully open.
2) nozzle air supply. keep fully open.
3) media discharge, open a little as required. CLOSE WHEN NOT USING as it fills the air line with media and then plugs.

Good luck!

Thanks, gonna need it.

[Topcat]

What kind of setup did you use? Compressor size, blaster etc?

Campbell Hausfeld Compressor. 5 HP (really more like 3 HP)
And a Harbor Freight blaster.

[twalker]

I'm with Alan on this one - have done a car myself, never again - what a mess.

[3D]

Question to Topcat,
How long did it take you to do the bottom and how did you finish it? Primer and paint or undercoating?
Thx

[Topcat]

Question to Topcat,
How long did it take you to do the bottom and how did you finish it? Primer and paint or undercoating?
Thx

2 days then epoxy primered 2 coats. Painted after. See my restoration thread.

[Challenger in NC]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I will probably bite the bullet and have someone blast the shell, although I may try to prime it myself, but we can save that for another thread!

[drewcrane]

Yea that price is right, I have done it my self also, it just a huge mess, just trying to recover the used product, and strain all the crap out of , it and the thing still clogs, and they clog all the time, a real PIA,

 the place I used had a product called star brite, and they claim it is a by product of aluminum mining ,and it perfectly round and wont damage the sheet metal, and they charged me $800.00,and the did it on the rotisserie,

  I used play sand on some of the heavier stuff, and it could potentially do alot of damage to thin sheet metal,so yes most here agree have some one do it, it is much easier, and when you drop it off look at the place they are doing it , and you will see why it is better to have them do it.

good luck, have fun

[Challenger in NC]

Yea that price is right, I have done it my self also, it just a huge mess, just trying to recover the used product, and strain all the crap out of , it and the thing still clogs, and they clog all the time, a real PIA,

 the place I used had a product called star brite, and they claim it is a by product of aluminum mining ,and it perfectly round and wont damage the sheet metal, and they charged me $800.00,and the did it on the rotisserie,

  I used play sand on some of the heavier stuff, and it could potentially do alot of damage to thin sheet metal,so yes most here agree have some one do it, it is much easier, and when you drop it off look at the place they are doing it , and you will see why it is better to have them do it.

good luck, have fun

Thanks for the info,  after I get it done, I'll post some pics.

[go-fish]

When I was a kid my Dad bought a sand blaster and we blasted a 70 Challenger on a rotisserie. Guess who got to do the sand recovery? It was a huge PITA and the sand was everywhere in the car.
I have recently been pricing rotisseries and looking for a blaster. I settled on getting it soda blasted and there is a mobile guy that can do it for $1350 - $1800. That will seriously put a dent in the overall paint and body budget. Now I am looking at buying a soda blaster to do the job myself. Eastwood has a professional bodyshop grade soda blaster for ~$700. I could even get a nice compressor and some media for the difference of the mobile blaster's price.
It would be great for side work too.