Quick opinion for blast/prime cost

[Challenger in NC]

Guys

I had a local restoration shop quote me a price to strip (sandblast) and seal car in epoxy. The car would then be sanded prior to spraying a 2K primer for bodywork. The quoted labor time was 1 day for blasting, 1 day for sanding and 1 day for paint.

1) My question is "How critical is sanding on the bare metal after sandblasting?". Is this more important for areas that will be finish painted? I'm not going to finish paint the interior and probably not the bottom side either. At this point, the only thing being stripped, sanded and painted is the shell mounted on the rotisserie- no doors, fender, hood, trunk or roof skin at this point.

2) The other issue is that there is cutting, welding and grinding to do after blasting and sealing with epoxy. Does a 2K primer need to be applied directly after the epoxy? I most certainly will be grinding both coatings down to bare metal during panel installation.

3) Cost would be between $2500 and 3K, which includes trailering the car to/from the shop. Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks,
Chris

[anlauto]

The price sounds about right....I've never heard of sanding prior to the epoxy coat....sounds like a waste of time to me.

[Challenger in NC]

The price sounds about right....I've never heard of sanding prior to the epoxy coat....sounds like a waste of time to me.

I had never heard of that either, but I don't do it for a living either. He said it was to knock some of the aggressiveness (high spots) out of the metal prior to coating. I do know that sandblasting will give a good profile to the metal to help with adhesion. I expressed to him that I'd like to minimize the sanding to areas that are more critical, still don't know if its necessary. 

[1 Wild R/T]

Read the P-sheet of most any etching primer, wash primer, epoxy primer... Any of them that are intended to go over blasted metal will tell you you must sand the metal after blasting before primer....   And you'd be surprised how many products that aren't designed to be sprayed on bare metal get sprayed on bare metal..... Read the P-sheet, the product manufacturers didn't write them just to waste paper.....

[plumcrazzy]

I think the amount of time and money are both a little steep. I can't believe the blasting/sanding would take an entire day for each since it is only the body shell.

[twalker]

I think I paid 1400 CAD for my shell to be blasted and epoxied - I supplied the paint.  The etch created by most media blasting is plenty for mechanical adhesion.

Did he say what mix of media he plans to use?

[Challenger in NC]

I think I paid 1400 CAD for my shell to be blasted and epoxied - I supplied the paint.  The etch created by most media blasting is plenty for mechanical adhesion.

Did he say what mix of media he plans to use?

No, he just referred to it as sandblasting. They prefer soda lasting but the car has a lot of heavy undercoating and probably bondo on the quarters and rockers.

[Challenger in NC]

Read the P-sheet of most any etching primer, wash primer, epoxy primer... Any of them that are intended to go over blasted metal will tell you you must sand the metal after blasting before primer....   And you'd be surprised how many products that aren't designed to be sprayed on bare metal get sprayed on bare metal..... Read the P-sheet, the product manufacturers didn't write them just to waste paper.....

SPI states that metal should be sanded with 80 grit prior to using their epoxy but is not necessary if sandblasted, at least that was the response I got. I am not sure if this is universal or not.

[1 Wild R/T]

SPI states that metal should be sanded with 80 grit prior to using their epoxy but is not necessary if sandblasted, at least that was the response I got. I am not sure if this is universal or not.

I just went to SPI's site... They don't address blasting in their "Info Sheets" In their forums there was lots of opinions but SPI themselves don't seem to have an answer... 

[Challenger in NC]

I just went to SPI's site... They don't address blasting in their "Info Sheets" In their forums there was lots of opinions but SPI themselves don't seem to have an answer...

I looked through their forum and also tried to find answers on other sites. I e-mailed SPI and someone named Andy just said "No" with no other explanation.

[js29no]

 

The price sounds about right....I've never heard of sanding prior to the epoxy coat....sounds like a waste of time to me.

  sandblasting ruffs the metal enough for the primer to adhere! done it many times and on comebacks. 

[Challenger in NC]

  sandblasting ruffs the metal enough for the primer to adhere! done it many times and on comebacks.

Thanks. I don't want to take shortcuts but I also have to keep my budget in mind. Hand sanding will cost an additional $600-$800.

[1 Wild R/T]

Thanks. I don't want to take shortcuts but I also have to keep my budget in mind. Hand sanding will cost an additional $600-$800.

Hand sanding consists of a box of 80 grit DA paper & a couple hours of your time...

I'm just trying to tell you the right way, it seems everyone wants a shortcut... Then when there are issue later you wonder why.... BTDT... Do it right & you never have to second guess...

The again I'll just quit wasting my time trying to explain to people who don't listen...

[js29no]

your welcome, any time.  epoxy primer should be scuffed up after 7 days of applying, PPG recommended using grease and wax remover  to wet sand it so it dose not plug up on your sand paper. also you can put body filler over the top of it and it gives a barrier between the metal and filler. 

[jimynick]

2 years ago I paid $1100 to have the whole car blasted and epoxy primed in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. I personally, think the blasting gives a superior surface for adhesion and the grip of it on my car has been first rate.