Media Blast Chassis

[Graham]

I've been quoted £400 to media blast and prime a chassis which I thought was quite reasonable only issue is I can't get it done until 'lock down' is lifted as I don't think transporting a chassis to the blasters would count as an 'essential' journey

So was thinking If i bought a media blast pot for £200 then added £50 worth of crushed garnet I've already got the 'Bonda Primer' and did it myself  I'm £150 in pocket and I'll end up with some more gadgets in the garage 

So upside is its cheaper, I get  blasting pot for free (?) and it will give me somthing to do. 

Downside is I will need to do it in the front garden (100 ft x100ft) so neighbours might not be impressed, its going to make a mess, it might take me a while and most importantly SWMBO might not provide the relevant permits to work.

So question should I just wait and get it done professionally or should I start drafting the apology letters to the neighbours now 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2020 by Graham

[Lebro]

Get drafting that letter

Bob

[Charlie D]

Graham,

Just remember that you will need some form of PPE. Preferably an air fed mask and helmet. Any clothing you wear will have to be destroyed otherwise it will clog up the washing machine to the point where it will have to be written off.

It will take at least 4 times longer to do than you expect it to.
You will run out of media half way through and need to order some more.
After half an hour you will wish you had never started.

On the plus side you will own the kit. But because you have said to yourself “I wish I had never started this” you will never use the kit again.

Well…
That’s what usually happens when I embark on such a project.

Charlie

[YOW500]

plus 1. for Charlie D.   Russell

[stuart]

23 minutes ago, Charlie D said:

Graham,

Just remember that you will need some form of PPE. Preferably an air fed mask and helmet. Any clothing you wear will have to be destroyed otherwise it will clog up the washing machine to the point where it will have to be written off.

It will take at least 4 times longer to do than you expect it to.
You will run out of media half way through and need to order some more.
After half an hour you will wish you had never started.

On the plus side you will own the kit. But because you have said to yourself “I wish I had never started this” you will never use the kit again.

Well…
That’s what usually happens when I embark on such a project.

Charlie

That about sums it up, just because you can doesnt mean you should! I have a blast cabinet and thats messy enough! Years ago I did try something similar with a tent out the back of my old workshop and it wasnt a pleasant experience.

Stuart.

[ed_h]

I blasted my TR6 chassis a few years ago, and didn't really experience much of the mentioned downsides.  When it came time to blast my GT6 chassis recently, I didn't hesitate to do it again.

I just use screened sand on a large tarp, and reclaim most of it.

It does create some airborne dust, so the neighbor issue might be the most serious.

Ed

[Lebro]

For jobs too big for my sand blast cabinet ( like the 4 X TR6 wheels I did recently) I use a sand blast attachment on my power hoser. You need eye protection, & have to be prepared to get covered in wet sand from the blowback, but it does work. I adopt a total loss policy, & do it on the lawn. Sand does it no harm. I use kiln dried sand as it is so much cheaper than any other abrasive.

Bob

[Waldi]

I have neighbours at 100 ft distance, so outsourced it because I did not want to upset the neighbourhood, otherwise, I would definitely have done it myself, like Ed did.

Waldi

[iain]

Wow, its cheaper down here. I had the 4A chassis shot blasted for £80 in January.  Then primed in BondaRust immediately my self.

(Remember Silicosis is a killer.)

Iain

[stuart]

22 minutes ago, iain said:

Wow, its cheaper down here. I had the 4A chassis shot blasted for £80 in January.  Then primed in BondaRust immediately my self.

(Remember Silicosis is a killer.)

Iain

Thats remarkably cheap, I usually pay about £250 to blast and prime.

Stuart.

[iain]

That’s what I thought....and they did a very thorough job. Clean as a whistle.

[PodOne]

Paid £150 for mine blasting up here in Yorkshire with a few other bits and he delivered it home for me. Painted it myself with POR Chassis black on the sound bits straight away and repaired the bits that were rotted out.

£400 sounds expensive.

Andy

[Richard Pope]

18 hours ago, ed_h said:

I blasted my TR6 chassis a few years ago ...

Ed. Ah, that very useful rotisserie used yet again.

 

Graham. Do it and post pictures as I'll be followwing you soon. You also missed the other plus point in that you can sell the equipment afterwards too.

Edited April 24, 2020 by Richard Pope

[len1]

I  have recently attempted to blast the bottom edges of a stag I am restoring, I bought a media pot, and got stuck in. Nightmare....pot cost me £60,,media £40...way to time consuming , after a day of doing..Not a lot...I phoned a fellar who does it mobile  ...£200. Job done in about 3 hours..I did offer to clean up after him,which took the rest of the day ! I have now sold the pot and gave the leftover media to the buyer...never again 

Len

Edited April 27, 2020 by len1

[ed_h]

Something wrong with your equipment or your technique, Len.

I blasted my entire TR6 with an inexpensive pressure pot, likely similar to the one you had. Working on a GT6 body now. 

I didn't try to do the entire body st once, but in sections as I did repair work.  Last week, the entire GT6 firewall only took maybe 20 minutes of actual blasting time.

It is sort of a dirty job, though.

Ed

Edited April 27, 2020 by ed_h

[Richardtr3a]

We have used a company in Ringmer Sussex, called Blastreat. He is very efficient but the workshop is a huge warehouse and all surfaces have dust. The actual paint spray booth has a tent like lining. His own health is not first class and overall I am sure that it is better to leave sandblasting to a specialist. 

This was done a long time ago and no rust on my chassis yet. It was a very worthwhile investment.

Good luck Richard & B.

[little jim]

Garnet isn't a worry silicosis wise apparently, I wore a dust mask with two filter pods to keep the lungs dust/rust free. Made a plastic 'tent' in the garage to limit the spread of the dust/rust and just did a section at a time. Underneath the rust there were plenty of bits to cut out and weld in replacements. POR-15 paint for the final act.

Found that I was average at welding and painting, but  good at filtering dust and rust out of garnet with my sieves, and an ace at sweeping up garnet/dust/rust. 

Same blaster as Ed. had to replace the blaster 'tips' many times.

Edited April 28, 2020 by little jim

[Rodbr]

I found that a either Soda blasting or a combo mix ally oxide on slightly rusted areas worked well for my needs. Limited mess to clean up. No issues with neighbours. I like the idea that you can finish and not have to treat right away for rusting after blasting due to residue from blasting.

 

 

[foster461]

Like Ed I blasted most of my TR3 tub in the driveway, on a blue tarp using a Harbor Freight pressure pot. Following that experience I had a local guy blast the frame. It came back spotless and cost $100. I primed and painted it. Even with the protective gear it is a hot filthy job and the media gets around the PPE and into every orifice of your body.

Stan