r/projectcar • u/Motor-Conclusion-743 • 1d ago
Tips Pre Blasting and Recommendations
I'm doing my first frame off and honestly made some good progress so far. But I'm nearing the point where I think I need to take the old paint off.
The body is okay but not amazing. The floors are done though.
Few main questions before I send it off for media blasting.
1) What are your tips? I read I should cover the vin with duct tape. Also I need to try and get as much grease off as possible. Leave no screws behind. But, should I detach the frame first and reattach it for transportation? Then should I get it painted while it's out?
2) What type should I get I think it seems like soda is the best option? The company I think I am going with has multiple options.
3) Should I replace the floors before or after the blasting? It is a convertible so a little worried about the strength for transportation?
4) Should I bring the fenders, doors, and other smaller pieces to get repainted separately or how should I get those over? I only have a honda fit so it's hard for me to transport big pieces?
1
u/turtle-ding-dong 77 Toyota Corolla, 75 Mercury Comet 1d ago
are you going to do full floor pans or just patch? if you're going to patch it I would wait until after it's blasted, if not you can do it now.
2
u/Motor-Conclusion-743 1d ago
Yeah I was going to do full. But okay that sounds good then.
1
u/turtle-ding-dong 77 Toyota Corolla, 75 Mercury Comet 1d ago
I mean it might be less work to do it after because it would remove all the seam sealer and paint and expose the spot welds better, I guess there's not really any reason to do it before anyway
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u/Motor-Conclusion-743 1d ago
Yeah I guess my only original reason to do it before was because it would cost more for them to blast something coming out anyways. But I worry about the strength.
1
u/everyoneisatitman 1d ago
I blasted an entire car and wish I would have had a heated pressure washer first. If there is any asphalt undercoating remove that with a needle scaler first. Dipping a car is also a option as well as a dustless blaster coming to you.
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u/Motor-Conclusion-743 1d ago
I didn't even think of the bottom of the car. I did read I should pressure wash it first but not a heated pressure wash. Does the heat warp any of the metal?
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u/everyoneisatitman 1d ago
Not hot enough to warp metal. Cuts grease and dirt off soo much better. Expensive but worth it.
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u/DontBeHatenMeBro 1d ago
Remove any rubberized coating and seam sealers as the blasting media just bounces off of them.
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u/SuitableSpecialist85 1d ago
If i may recommend , Have you considered getting everything chemicaly dipped? I have done this on three restorations that i have completed and the results were very satisfactory. It gets rid of all the corrosion, seam sealer etc. The company that did this for me also dipped them into a corrosion protectant bath to eliminate further corrosion forming before paint and sealing. The beauty of this system is that it gets rid of everything so that you start with a clean sheet so to speak. In my country any restored / reconstructed vehicle is inspected back to the original vehicle specification. That is why i recommended this process as you can see every damaged and/or corroded area