The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Sandblasting??? and other rookie questions

I have seen several previous posts mention avoiding sandblasting entirely. I realize that it can cause large panels to warp, but is it ok to use on smaller items (ie. radiator support, bumber brackets, hardware, etc). I am planning on using a DA sander on the hood and other large panels, but I am curios about how large of a compressor (how much HP? is needed) to purchase...any advise???

Also, I have located a solid hood @ a local boneyard and need someone to verify the 63-66 C10 hoods are the same.

thanks
jf

jf - I'll answer part of yer query - the "hard parts" you mention will be fine, it's just larger sheetmetal parts that warp easily from sandblasting, and smaller pieces ya need to keep a shallow angle and keep movin - I've got a 5hp w/ 100gal tank and it keeps up w/ blasting, but not by much

Bill

JF, choose your media carefully. Sand is extremely abrasive and will heat the metal fast. I put the small lumps of rust in a glass bead cabinet and still had to be careful not to stay on one spot too long. If you have light rust and old paint, you can use soda or plastic media and not worry (much) about heat warping. Glass beads let me see the cast GM part numbers on stuff I could barely identify as a part; is this the level of abrasiveness you need?

The cabinet we've been using is powered by a huge compressor (plumbed through entire shop) and has a pressure regulator on the air inlet valve. We can change pressure and tips for different media, although the cabinet is old and anything finer than glass beads leaks out the corners. :rolleyes: Ear, eye, and respiratory protection is a must.

Yup.. 63=66 hoods are all the same.