Have any of you tried media blasting? I have some Qs.

[Warpath]

You guys seem the type to have tried media blasting previously. The Mustang crowd are typically young, poor guys who don't take on bigger projects. Anyway, do any of you have experience with it? I have some questions:

1. How much should I expect to pay? I'm going to start looking for a blaster and want to know if I'm getting a good price.
2. I'm assuming I need to take the fenders, doors, hoods, etc. off. True?
3. Will it take off undercoating?
4. What should I do after blasting to keep the surface from flashing over?
5. Will they put it on a rotisery (sp?) or do I have to supply one?
6. Should I repair the rust I see now or wait until its blasted?
7. Any recommendation of a place in S.E. MI?

Google hasn't helped much yet. Thanks.

[Breadfan]

A good shop should have just about everything to do it. I believe blasting will remove everything. Depending on what needs to be removed they just adjust the media to be used.

I had my Spitfires frame and suspension parts blasted and then 2-stage powder coated. I was highly impressed by the results. (Anyone in VA I have a shop I'd recommend.)

When I was picking up parts from them, they did have a car body. Said all they were doing were blasting it. I don't think it was on a rotisserie, the shop may or may not have one.

For my stuff, they had bit huge metal racks they would hange the parts from. The frame was hung using metal wire. Doubt they could do this with a car-body.

The cost probably varies quite a bit. The estimate would take into consideration labor hours, and material costs. Material costs depend on what media they choose to use.

As for coating afterwards, that's a REALLY good quetison.

In most shops they will coat it with oil, or spray it with a liquid that retards rust. But in these cases it's a car that is kept indoors and actively being worked on so the metal work is being done as soon as the blasting is done.

I would like to have my spitfires body tub blasted, so I've thought about this. I was thinking it's best to have a good epoxy sealer primer applied as soon as the blasting is done.

That way what you get back is pure metal and no rust covered in primer. Using the correct sealer means you'll have on the metal the exact same material you would put on it once all the body work was done. As you go over each panel and do repaires, you can grind away or sand down the parts you are working on.

If you're keeping it indoors, you might be OK with a liquid coating. But if this project will sit awhile unprimered or is outdoors, you probably need it primered.

As for #6, don't touch anything - the blasting will take care of it so the less work you do before the more you get for your money. :)

Hopefully others will have more answers.

[magindat]

Forget the rust. The media takes care of that. Wait 'till you get it back and seal up the holes. +1^ get it into some kind of primer. Of course epoxy would be best, but any coating will stop the flash, even spray can primer.

Your media blaster may apply a coating for an additional charge.

[MI2QWK4U]

You guys seem the type to have tried media blasting previously. The Mustang crowd are typically young, poor guys who don't take on bigger projects. Anyway, do any of you have experience with it? I have some questions:

1. How much should I expect to pay? I'm going to start looking for a blaster and want to know if I'm getting a good price.
2. I'm assuming I need to take the fenders, doors, hoods, etc. off. True?
3. Will it take off undercoating?
4. What should I do after blasting to keep the surface from flashing over?
5. Will they put it on a rotisery (sp?) or do I have to supply one?
6. Should I repair the rust I see now or wait until its blasted?
7. Any recommendation of a place in S.E. MI?

Google hasn't helped much yet. Thanks.


I have a couple of places I have used around town. Where are you located in SE Michigan?
How much work do you need done? or are you going to do the entire car? If you want a good job you, or they, can remove the body panels. It takes off undercoating, paint, bondo, rust, you name it! Most shops will prime it if you want after they clean it up. Forget the rust, the blasting will take care of it. Check out the link below, it is to my cardomain page on my 1985 Mustang GT that I had media blasted when I did the motor. I did the entire compartment and the results were stunning. Page two has several before, during and after pictures documenting the media blasting. Like I said, if you want a good shop, I can refer you to a couple in macomb county, near lidios shop in fact.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/504355 (http://www.cardomain.com/ride/504355)

Before.....
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_17_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_24_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_21_full.jpg
After Blasting....
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_22_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_23_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_25_full.jpg
Primed and Painted...
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_28_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_26_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_27_full.jpg
Made all the difference in the world, blasting and painting was worth the effort....
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/504000-504999/504355_8_full.jpg

[Breadfan]

Forget the rust. The media takes care of that. Wait 'till you get it back and seal up the holes. +1^ get it into some kind of primer. Of course epoxy would be best, but any coating will stop the flash, even spray can primer.

Your media blaster may apply a coating for an additional charge.

If it's outdoors spray-can or cheap primers will not offer good enough protection. I know the hard way. :) I did panels on my spitfire by hand and all I had was spray primer, even bought the top of the line spray cans with rust inhibitors claimed on them. Every panel thath as been sprayed has surface rust showing through the primer.

But like I said, it's outdoors which isn't good. Indoors you should be more than fine as magindat mentioned. :)

Just sharing my outdoor experience, next time I get it blasted or sand it myself I'll be spraying with some expensive sealer if I haven't gotten it indoors yet!

[Warpath]

MI2QWK4U - Mt. Clemens is fine. I'd rather traved some than have a hack job. I'll send you a PM.

It will be kept in a garage. But, this project is going to take me quite a while. So, I'll need it covered.