Best Media Blasting Abrasive?

[cudadude013]

I just talked to a friend who had his roof media blasted at a shop and apparently they used the wrong media and it warped so bad the whole roof sank down. I'm new to media blasting and just wanted to get some advice on what is the best abrasive to use for rust removal and for paint removal.

I've heard ground glass works well for rust removal and poly plastic for paint removal. Do you guys have any suggestions or advice on choosing or pros and cons of each? Thanks

[4Cruizn]

Check this link.  These guys blasted my convertible and it turned out great! 


http://www.usol.com/~cindyfarmer/MediaTypes.htm

[cudadude013]

Thanks,
I think I will use plastic media to remove the paint. Has anyone had good luck using ground glass to remove rust?
And is media blasting a "do it yourself job" or would it be better to use a professional service?

[matt63]

Sand is great for the rust as plastic bead will not remove rust.  For whole cars, I would leave it to the pros as it is a big job.  Around here, they will use a combination of plastic and sand.  Sand will warp the larger panels if not used very carefully.  I know from personal experience with a blaster who said he knew what he was doing.  Sand imparts stresses on the panel due to the metal deformation which can cause panel warpage.  Blasting a whole car can be $$$.  I wouldn't think that $3000 was out of line these days.

[71bigblock]

Sand is great for the rust as plastic bead will not remove rust.  For whole cars, I would leave it to the pros as it is a big job.  Around here, they will use a combination of plastic and sand.  Sand will warp the larger panels if not used very carefully.  I know from personal experience with a blaster who said he knew what he was doing.  Sand imparts stresses on the panel due to the metal deformation which can cause panel warpage.  Blasting a whole car can be $$$.  I wouldn't think that $3000 was out of line these days.

I called a local guy to me and said that to plastic blast a whole car will cost 800-1200 bucks.  I thought that was very reasonable.   

[Lunchbox]

Im sand blasting my car now. The big problem with the warping is the sand can cause excessive heat build up warping the panels. I sandblasted my whole front end worked really good. For roof and doors and large flat areas I won't use the sand. If you plan of using glass beads it will be  I made a blasting booth and it contains the sand so I can reuse it but the sand breaks down pretty fast.

Lunch

[matt63]

I called a local guy to me and said that to plastic blast a whole car will cost 800-1200 bucks.  I thought that was very reasonable.   

That's not bad if they clean the car up.  The bead get's everywhere. Bead won't remove the rust though.

[gkring]

I just dropped off a hood and fender at a local media blaster to test his skills before sending the whole car. He uses aluminum oxide and says a car inside and out, top and bottom would run about $1200. he has done 30 to 40 cars so far but mostly does industrial stripping and powdercoating. All the plastic media blaster I have got quotes so far want $2500 to do a rostisserrie job. The guy I am trying says plastic media costs 4 to 5 times as much as the alum oxide and is much slower, therefore the much higher prices. i should have the hood back tomorrow, we'll see how it looks.

Greg
Arlington, Tx
70 barracuda
70 challenger vert

[Stacked440]

I use black magnum, which is coal slag.  Doesn't eat metal and takes everything else off in a jiffy, nice stuff.

[cudadude013]

Cool so the black magnum takes care of the rust and the paint? Good deal. Are there any downfalls to the product? Has anyone else used it?

[matt63]

I just dropped off a hood and fender at a local media blaster to test his skills before sending the whole car. He uses aluminum oxide and says a car inside and out, top and bottom would run about $1200.

we used to use aluminum oxide to remove tungsten carbide coatings!  I would think it is at least as aggressive as sand.

[moparmaniac59]

Another type that's becomming quite popular is soda blasting.   That would be baking soda!!    It is also enviromentally friendly. A fella in my car club used to be a Navy pilot, left the Navy and worked as a commercial airline pilot, got fed up with the union crap and the airline industry and bought a portable soda blasting rig. His main customer base is private yachts and small boats. It works great on hulls. But back to how it works, It is AMAZING. I watched this guy in action at a car club get together demo where he blasted frame and various body panels from a 1968 Plymouth Fury. It makes quick work of paint removal, even mutiple layers and leaves a smooth finish like a baby's butt. All it takes is a little vinegar mix washdown to neutralize. And using it outside, all it takes is a sprinkling of a little lime to keep the grass from dying. The one area where it doesn't do so good is on heavy rust removal. I don't know why, but the blasting rig owner explained about a type of explosive action that occurs when the baking soda strikes the paint at a high velocity and basically disinegrates it, but it doesn't do the same thing when it comes in contact with heavy rust (light rust OK). It's worth looking into and more and more places are now doing soda blasting. The big advantage is the smooth finish it leaves!!  

                                                                   Matt B.

[MoparCar]

A couple shops I've talked to in the Denver area use a product called StarBlast made by Dupont. Anyone have experience with this?

$800-$1200 quotes, whole car if no running gear or suspension. I'll have mine completely disassemblied either on or ready for the rotisserie when I get it blasted. Also, somone on this or another site mentioned not to have Rally Hoods blasted because they are slightly thinner steel or they will delaminate(?) Sorry I can't remember the specifics.

[fishn4cuda]

OMG!  I'm getting whole cars done inside and out for $450 to $500. Includes every panel. I usually have them Media blasted the with potasium sulphate (looks like baking powder) on the out side and sandblast the undercarriage, engine comp, and trunk floor. The potasim won't cut rust, but a good pro can clean the rust out with the right abbrasive without warpage.

[Stacked440]

So far I haven't had any downsides to Black magnum.  Soda blasting i've heard takes forever because it isn't very abrasive.  I've only soda blasted delicate little pieces, not whole cars.