Frame Sandblasting at Home/Prep for Paint and strengthening?
 

hi guys. well looking for some advise. i finally found an impala frame that came off a 61 and it's in pretty good shape. i'm going to be building a sealed shelter to house it in while it gets worked on and am looking at doing the sand blasting at home. the plan is to rent a blaster and go to work once the frame is all apart and bare.

what i'm wondering is what grit sand should i use for the frame? i know sandblasters can be rented....what about media blasters? i guess in the end the result i want is a bare frame with all the rust gone and weak spots in need of attention revealed.

what is the best route to take?

edit- please see further questions on second page. :thumbsup:

imho, have a pro do it... a frame is a big job and if you want it done perfectly i would clean it yoursel first, finish all the welding and so on.. and then have it blasted and powdercoated professionally..

it will add more to the final value that its done right.. and you can keep your work area clean from sand....

I had my whole frame blasted for $150.

By the time you rent one, get sand, have a good respirator, and full suit, sweat your azz off, waste a day, etc. etc. it's just not worth it.

Have it done.

YUP. What the guys said above. Cheaper and faster to have a pro company do it! :thumbsup:

I also would strongly recommend having the frame blasted by a local shop. I once did a 1960 Cadillac frame (big X-type frame) in my backyard in NY using a pressure pot sand blaster and man, that was no fun. It takes a lot longer than you think it will.

Send it out, the only thing I disagree with is the powder coating. It chips and your screwed. Paint it you canalways touch it up. I'm sure you will hear guys tell you powder doesn't chip, well let me tell you it does.

thanks for the input guys. i didn't think the consensus for having it farmed out would be so strong. the time vs. cost ratio is very valid along with the mess sand would make.

so sending it out.....would it be better to just get it dipped vs. blasted? like i said before i'm hoping for a bare frame with all the areas that need attention revealed.....

Just have it sand blasted. It'll come back looking great.

blasted over dipped. im having mine blasted again in a couple of weeks. it was 300 the first time, but that included a whole bunch of other stuff.

Tim

It only chips if the powdercoating was done halfass, maybe you need to find a powdercoater that doesn't cut corners ,who properly preps and use etching primer before applying color. I've had all sorts of parts done in powdercoat and NEVER had any chipping or peeling issues.

OP, I'm with everyone, don't waste your time and $$ trying to blast it yourself, have a pro do it