what equipment to buy for "Sandblasting"?

[49Jose]

hey everyone my name is Jose i'm 21
i'm new here
and i want to start my project a
1949 Chevy Truck 3/4 ton

i have no experience what so ever don't
know anything about automobiles
but i do love truck and i do like a challenges



isn't she beautiful?

but before i start i want to buy what i'm going to need
to take on, on what it looks like a hard restless awesome
project.

Now the reason:
i want to sandblast the frame chassi
but i want to do it my self
so my question is

What equipment do i need?
what is the cheapest?
Where can i buy?

Please help a beginner (grasshopper) !!

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Jose, welcome to the board !!
Looks like a solid truck you've got to start with.
For sandblasting; first you'll need a place to do it. And a large volume compressor. Northern Tool and Harbor Freight both have cheap sandblast equipment. Be sure to get a full helmet type blasting hood, particulate mask, hearing protection.
Use the search function of this forum, there's plenty of threads about sandblasting at home.

[blackdiesel]

welcome to the board.

when i started this hobby i tried all that business to start with too. we already had the big air compresser, so all we needed was the blaster and the sand. bought the little cheap hf unit. i did sandblast my first frame, but i have had my last 4 or 5 projects blasted in town. they do a much better job than i can and only cost 60 bucks an hour. when you go to do the sheetmetal you can really get in trouble if you dont know what your doing. to much heat and you can warp big peices of sheetmetal nearly beyond repair. in order to get setup to do blasting right you will drop several thousand dollars on good equpt. thats why we hire ours out.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Jose, I agree with blackdiesel. It is tempting to try to do EVERYTHING yourself but having others do a few select things will give you better results AND save you money.

I am not doing a frame-off on my '46 so I will not be sandblasting the frame. In my case, my frame is in very good, pretty clean condition. I will be de-greasing it, sanding it and spraying it with Rustoleum satin black. It will be a weekend driver, not a show car so no need of powder coating, epoxy enamels, etc. You may want to consider doing the same depending on the condition of your frame, your lack of money and experience - just a thought.

However, I DO plan on blasting small parts so I bought a used, not-currently-working sandblast cabinet off CL for $80. But I already have a compressor. If you do not, I would tell you to save for one AFTER you buy a decent set of basic handtools. Only buy cheap Harbor Freight tools for "dumb" tools. A rubber mallet, maybe some pliers, things you will likely use only once. You're young and a car guy, you will be using your tools for a lifetime. Get in the habit of cleaning them and storing them orderly. You'll be a better mechanic for it.

Best to you, keep posting pictures. Don't be timid about asking questions. We were all 21 once, we remember...mostly! : > )

P.S. You're truly a car guy. Yes, she IS beautiful and congratulations.

[ambryatim]

If you are set on doing it yourself and need a sandblaster, go check out the Jan 2010 issue of Classic Trucks.

Harbor Freight has a coupon for a sandblaster for 69.99 PN 34202.

I am going to get one and do the frame but, havent decided about the cab and fenders yet.

[OrrieG]

I'm a paint stripper and DA sander with scotch pad remover guy. #40 for gross removal, #80 for prep for primer. Wire wheel for nooks and crannies. I remember doing stripping at your age with a 1/4" drill and wire wheels. I have a small work bench blaster for cleaning up small parts.

Take the advise on buying good tools. My main set is a Craftsman set I got in 1972. I'm on my third free rachet and have replace a couple of universal joints. Cheap tools will do more damage than good. I have a drawer of all the late night TV tools well intended family and friends have bought me over the years. A lot of the the others, like flaring tools, mic set, etc. I have gotten at auctions or garage sales or inherited from my grandfather and dad. I even have tools that I am sure his blacksmith father made in the early 1900's. All of my saws date from before WWII.

Good luck and welcome there is lots of good knowledge and experience here.

[NONHOG]

1st)

2nd) research the heck out of that sandblasting idea. Consider having it done.
And that comes from a tightwad that hates to farm things out, as you get older its easier to do.
Sandblasting sucks it gets everywhere, not to mention the left over mess.
I dont even use my cabinet that keeps it contained.
I've done my own(sucks), had mobile guys come out and blast a frame(better)
and sent parts out and paid someone and they kept the mess(best)

I know you want to do it yourself but believe me work smart (not hard) save your energy for the funner stuff. Burn out on a project is a real problem, not trying to discourage you just the opposite
want to see your truck get done.

The OrrieG method is a good idea.

Keep us informed !

[Sal's '55 Chevy]

welcome to the board i will agree with the guys that say to just have someone else do it it might come out cheaper if you find the right company. My brother and i tryed my truck in one rear fender we took a good while, so he decided to blast his truck by a company and it was worth it and a lot cleaner. Some things you just have to leave it up to the people that do it everyday. By the way check it out the end result of my brothers truck.

[drivea55]

that last post says it all...

some things are worth paying for to save face for other things that are better done at home. I am fortunate to have a blaster at work but still isnt big enough for a cab.

these guys really seem to know their sheet!

nice truck man! can;t wait to see it done.

[loader]

Originally Posted by Sal's '55 Chevy

welcome to the board i will agree with the guys that say to just have someone else do it it might come out cheaper if you find the right company. My brother and i tryed my truck in one rear fender we took a good while, so he decided to blast his truck by a company and it was worth it and a lot cleaner. Some things you just have to leave it up to the people that do it everyday. By the way check it out the end result of my brothers truck.

That was really cool!

[Sal's '55 Chevy]

Originally Posted by loader

That was really cool!

Thanks,
now the best part of it was that they charged him 345 to do the whole truck. And when i say the whole truck i mean it doors, fenders, bed, hinges, grill and etc.

[49Jose]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

1st)

2nd) research the heck out of that sandblasting idea. Consider having it done.
And that comes from a tightwad that hates to farm things out, as you get older its easier to do.
Sandblasting sucks it gets everywhere, not to mention the left over mess.
I dont even use my cabinet that keeps it contained.
I've done my own(sucks), had mobile guys come out and blast a frame(better)
and sent parts out and paid someone and they kept the mess(best)

I know you want to do it yourself but believe me work smart (not hard) save your energy for the funner stuff. Burn out on a project is a real problem, not trying to discourage you just the opposite
want to see your truck get done.

The OrrieG method is a good idea.

Keep us informed !

Your right is better to work smart NONHOG.

and also i came to notice another problem
i live in Los Angeles California so is very
crowed people snitch to much and also to "sandblast" a permit is needed
so i guess sandblast at home is not an option....


Does any one know about a place near Los Angeles
that can do my sandblast??????


or is it possible.
not to sand blast
but to grind and steel brush the whole
frame chassis?????
and then put rust converter, then rust enabler, then epoxy primer????

just a thought here

thanks once again!!

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by 49Jose

or is it possible.
not to sand blast
but to grind and steel brush the whole
frame chassis?????
and then put rust converter, then rust enabler, then epoxy primer????

just a thought here

thanks once again!!

that sounds like A LOT of work!! sandblasting, IMO, will make it much cleaner much faster and much cheaper. it can clean places you couldnt think about wire brushing or grinding. it should cost around 100 dollars to get a frame blasted. thats @ the high end i do believe. i wouldnt set down and strip a frame for 3 or 4 hundred bucks by hand. JMO, of course

[kustombrad]

It cost me $160 to have my frame blasted. It would have taken forever to try and do it myself! You could grind and steel brush, but sandblasting would be nicer and in my opinion the right way to do it. Trucks are a lot of work, so take your time and do it right and don't rush anything...

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by 49Jose

Does any one know about a place near Los Angeles
that can do my sandblast??????

I know of a good place. Its in Santa Fe Springs, good prices and they are the only ones I trust to blast my rides. They blasted my cab inside and out for 250.

Blasting Specialties
2937 Vail Ave, Commerce, CA
(323) 721-5020‎

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Kabwe,
I'm curious, would you trust them to do something flat like the bed on my '46 and not make it wavy as hell?

I ask because I intended to go at my bed with 80 grit but its got SO much paint on it I thought it was filler when I first saw some of it flaking off. After poking at it a bit, I realized it was 64 years of paint and re-paint - not filler at all. I'm sure its all lead paint or lacquer, so probably best if I did consider getting it blasted. Opinion?

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Hi Kabwe,
I'm curious, would you trust them to do something flat like the bed on my '46 and not make it wavy as hell?

I ask because I intended to go at my bed with 80 grit but its got SO much paint on it I thought it was filler when I first saw some of it flaking off. After poking at it a bit, I realized it was 64 years of paint and re-paint - not filler at all. I'm sure its all lead paint or lacquer, so probably best if I did consider getting it blasted. Opinion?

Yeah I would because the majority of their business is car restoration. That's way i deal with them. Here is an article from a lower mag that made me give them a try and I've been going to them ever since. I bookmark everything.lol You never know when someone may ask for something.
http://www.lowridermagazine.com/tech...ing/index.html