The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Sandblasting cost ?

Before I make a million phone calls how much is it to sandblast a complete 51 chevy truck, all parts disassembled already. And an s-10 frame ? Don't have to be exact but how about a ballpark figure ?

My experience around here: Sandblasting here must be done in a booth for enviro reasons. Not all places have a big enough booth. One guy gave me a quote of $1800. Exsqueeze me? Later, a guy blasted my whole bed, frame, wheels for $300. He had a ginormous booth. Went back for some other stuff and he was outa business:( Don't know about Texas. Might be less expensive there?

The large companies in Dallas get around $100/hr with time starting from the time they leave the lot till they return. Independent shops get half that but BE SURE they know how to do an old vehicle. If not I guarantee you will have a warped hood and probably doors and cab back also. Time is completely dependent on how easy or hard the coatings and rust come off. If something has an epoxy coating, paint or primer, the time will at least double.

You might think about sandblasting the heavy steel and soda blasting the sheet steel.

Joe

Sandblasting sheet metal is definitely a bad idea if they sandblast them with the same equipment they use to sandblast frames.
You will end up with warped body parts.
Good luck on your project.
Charlie.

I blasted my own stuff but last year the going rate here by a good reputable guy was 100 per hour. The good part is he has the equipment and get the job done fairly quick. Lets put it another way.... I sold my pressurized blaster and will never blast the big stuff again. Just not worth it and I usually end up using twice the sand..which isn't espensive.

"NORMAL" chassis here go for 150 and if its bad count on $250. Still its money well spent. Stay out of the hot sun!!

I had my complete body and frame sandblasted for $600 by Abernathy in Johnson City.
Warpage of sheet metal should not be an issue if your blaster is experienced.
Old truck sheet metal is a good bit heaver than that stuff that comes out of Detroit today.

abernathy restoration

A little off topic but, I like doing most things myself and researched sandblasting. Seems you need quite a bit of air to get most blasters to be effective. Add to that it must be dry air. Add to that the mess. And I'm guessing a fair amount of noise and I'm thinking I've gone way past the limit of what the neighbors are willing to put up with. Anyone actually done their own?

You are pretty much right on.
Lots of air, lots of dust, lots of noise, a hot job inside the anti dust gear, be sure to wear long sleeves (the bounceback can leave your arms looking like hamburger). If you are in suburbia your neighbours will probably protest. Out in the country thay may not say anything. Also, some areas treat the sand as hazardous waste, even if it wasn't used on leaded paint.

I wouldn't try it for a one time need. The blast box is great for small items.

hey gang i was just trying to get a cost. A friend of mine has a company that does this he offered to do it free , me being a buss. owner myself was trying to get a cost so i could pay him something.thanks for the replies

BIG CHEVY 3600 and Grant Bowker are right on.

I did my frame and axles myself, but that was only because I have a buddy with a huge compressor (pull behind type with a 4 cylinder motor) and a huge pressure pot (holds about 200-250 lbs of sand at once, all of this running thru about a 2 inch O.D. hose.

not a practical set up for anyone to buy for use on one or 2 restos.

plus the noise and mess of it all can only be delt with if the work is done in a large open area outside the city limits. and a helmet with air supply and long sleeves with pants is required. (the silica dust in the sand will really mess you up)

now Im not sure what part of Texas your in, but if your near me and we could fnd some more people with heavy blasting needed, I wouldn't mind asking my buddy if I could use it again. but if you find a place that will do a frame for around $100 like mentioned above, I'd go with that.


-LGringo

I paid to have my cab on the ‘53 done. He charged me $150 for inside and out (off the frame). That was his minimum charge. I did the fenders and doors myself with a portable unit – never again. I did it here at the plant as we have a large compressor and drier on the air. It was messy and very time consuming. I did it outdoors, but the sand managed to get everywhere. We were finding that fine sand in the offices for months afterwards. But you can’t beat the finish when you are done. ALL the rust is gone and you are left with a nice rough surface to prime, which you have to do immediately after.