The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Harbour Frieght soda blasters

I'm thinking about buying one of these to blast the inside of the bed of my truck. The narrative says it is good for "pistons and removing paint from wood" so I am somewhat reluctant to purchase it and am considering the good old fashion sand blaster. As it is the inside of the bed, and rear frame would a sand blaster hurt it? Oh yeah, where do you buy the soda? Do they have it at HF? Sorry for the rookie paint questions, but I am now retired and no longer have the funds I would normally have to get someone to paint my truck. Besides, it's only the inside of the bed, what could possibly go wrong right!

yes soda blasting is good for paint removal, it's commonly used for graffiti removal - soda residue is also good for preventing paint from sticking well, some/most paint mfgrs won't honor the warranty if they know you used it your money would be better spent on some liquid paint remover, a scraper, and good air or electric sanding equipment that could be useful for a lot of future jobs

Bill

If you use soda blasting to remove auto paint (it will not remove rust), it is recommended to wash thoroughly with soap and water and then wash with an acid solution (I have seen 20% vinegar and water), and then rinse with water.

Harbor Freight used to sell blasting soda, they might still be selling it?

Unwashed soda will cause paint failures, as will unwashed oil residue, unwashed silicone contamination, and un-removed rust. Of course, paint manufacturers will not warranty any paint failure due to contamination.

I have painted many soda-blasted (and carefully washed) parts. However, I find that chemical paint removal and then rust-removal media blasting is most effective and most efficient in time and money.

Also, considering the cost of non-silica blast media (my preference), I looked for a local media blaster to remove rust from frames and sheet-metal parts that will not fit in my blast cabinet. It took me three years to find a blaster, but it sure saved me time, and money, and mess.

Pete, you may be retired and money tighter but for me its a no brainer. Like Tim, if it don't go in my bead blasting cabinet it goes to a sand blaster. (I sold my sand blasting outfit,glad it did). Most blasters around here furnish the sand and charge about 120 bucks and hour. For what you need an hour should do it a professonal blaster. There is guy here who charges $135 an hour and furnishes the sand and actually comes out to your house.

You'll be waaay head of things to let someone knock it out for you. Good luck and let us know how you come out.

Thanks Alvin, I'll check out Craigslist. HF is having a sale in sandblasters. It's funny how a simple project takes on a life of its own!

Every project takes a life of its own.

Pete, bought my set up from Tractor Supply. Most are all about the same. Since I don't have REALLY DRY air I spent more time unclogging it than blasting on some days. I paid $225 for it and sold it for a $100 after I did my panel frame. Heck, at $4 or better for the good true blasting sand which is also sized, you can soak some money in sand along depending on how bad something is.
I'd think the inside of your bed would come off pretty easy.
Good luck.