Sand blasting new paint need help

[runningred92]

Ok so I am thinking I want to sand blast my truck and repaint it. The paint on my ex is in too bad of shape to buff out. I have had the ex for 2 years but the guy that had it before me only used the truck every now and then so it pretty much just sat in the elements with never getting washed or anything. Anyways I have never done sand blasting before I assume thats better than sanding the whole thing. Has anyone done this before and if so how should I go about doing this? I have read some threads on here about sand blasting bumpers and grills and wheels but not the whole truck.Like should I take all the glass out or just cover them just like I was going to paint. I dont know if I am ready fore this taking doors off sand blasting the door jambs and stuff. Any suggestions or if you know of a link that I am just not finding would be great. Thanks.

 

[Turdle]

Ok so I am thinking I want to sand blast my truck and repaint it. The paint on my ex is in too bad of shape to buff out. I have had the ex for 2 years but the guy that had it before me only used the truck every now and then so it pretty much just sat in the elements with never getting washed or anything. Anyways I have never done sand blasting before I assume thats better than sanding the whole thing. Has anyone done this before and if so how should I go about doing this? I have read some threads on here about sand blasting bumpers and grills and wheels but not the whole truck.Like should I take all the glass out or just cover them just like I was going to paint. I dont know if I am ready fore this taking doors off sand blasting the door jambs and stuff. Any suggestions or if you know of a link that I am just not finding would be great. Thanks.

You need to take it completely apart. Completely.

Then to a professional media blaster who specializes in soda blasting.

 

[runningred92]

So what you are saying is its not going to be a DIY project. I was expecting about a week to do and just renting a sand blaster and compressor and doing it myself.

 

[Turdle]

So what you are saying is its not going to be a DIY project. I was expecting about a week to do and just renting a sand blaster and compressor and doing it myself.

First of all, you do not blast with sand, unless you have an excellent helmet with a respirator. Air compressors do not supply "breathing" air.

http://www.manleybros.com/safety2.htm

You must choose the correct media. For body work most use walnut shells. They do not cut too well, and need about 100 cfm thru a huge air compressor.

Other media will cause too much heat and ruin sheetmetal.


That is why I suggested soda, as it is less dangerous and cleanup is a breeze.

EIther way, the stuff will find it's way into every crack and crevice. You need to dis assemble the truck completely as it may ruin your engine, and get into all the wire connections, among other problems.


Plan on about a half a ton,maybe a full ton of blast media to do a truck.

 

[runningred92]

Gotcha so if I do decide to try this myself I can get the right equipment from a local rental shop along with a compressor. But from what I am gathering from your posts it is not a good idea to do this myself. But I can pull everything off and prep the truck then get it hauled to a professional. I think doing it myself without any help or anyone I can rely on to show me the right way. Thanks for your responses.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

another reason why you dont sandblast your entire truck is you will warp the crap out of it. sandblasting creates heat. heat will warp sheet metal. as well as, you will end up having to sand the truck because sand blasting leaves to rough of a surface for primer to cover. if you have to do small spots to remove rust, that is fine, but not the whole truck. also, if you do have a spot near chrome, plastic, or glass, you should mask that over with a few layers of duct tape. also, you can sand the paint that is on the truck as it is. i have done trucks with clear coat missing in a lot of spots, or even some spots that are checked or cracking (when i mean paint cracking, i mean just the paint and not body work. it will look like a small bird has walk over the paint job.). you will just need to prime those spots over. also, you dont need to prime the entire truck. just the spots that you have body work on, or as mentioned, spots were clear coat has worn away, or if there has been spots that are cracking

 

[runningred92]

Ok so really the only spots that need to be bare metal are obviously the rust spots as well as where I do some body work. The rest of the truck needs the clear coat sanded off if there is any left on the truck and just rough up the paint with a fine grit sand paper to help hold the first layer of paint.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

blast the rust, have bare metal for any bodywork (you dont need to sand blast that), and your final sanding should be 320 or 400 so the paint will have something to bite into.

 

[runningred92]

Awesome thanks for your help! New project for me to do. I am thinking of painting it flat black and then doing the trim pieces in a semi gloss or even taking off all the trim filling the holes and leaving it off. Any suggestions on this?