I am getting ready to blast the bototm of the car what is the best type of media to use appreciate any help..Cube

That depends,

You can use these Walnut Shells (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45190)

Or Plastic (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45189)

Or Dupont Abrasive (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=31701)

Or if you don't mind a lung transplant 30yrs from now you could use screened play sand :eek: I did graemlins/sad.gif

The sand isn't all that bad if you use a respirator or a fresh air system.

I'll let you in on a secret,you'd be better off paying to have it done.

Michael

Cube, I used white sand to do the frame and underbody.It worked ok but was slow going.I just picked up something called black beiuty (sp).I only tried it one a small section of a fender and it seem much more corser than the sand. It was only 7.00 for a 80 lb bag. tongue.gif Got it at the painter supply store. Hope this helps some.Ed

Man, I did this to the front frame of my car a bit ago, and had a big discussion on this board about it, there was alot of good input and suggestions.

here's the link to the topic.

http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=30&t=000260

I just used the sand from home depot, silica sand. Wore goggles and a hooded sweatshirt. My cousin wanted to help so I let him do all the blasting smile.gif we did it outside so the dust wasn't bad at all, actually no dust that I recall. No need for fresh air, or fans or anything special. Just be sure to cover up VERY WELL or you're going to be digging sand out of areas you didn't know you had.

good luck, and i think there are some pictures of the sand blasting on my current projects link below for you to see, I just used a 50lb craftsman wheel around blaster, and a 30gal craftsman compressor. Make sure your air is clean, good filters and no water or oil.

-Jalil

I used black beauty on my frame and star blast on my under body because it is not as course but as far as my frame which i had off the car i would have it done.I could have had it done for less than 200.00 and i probaby had around 150.00 in it when i was through. graemlins/clonk.gif

If using silica sand you need to use a good respirator as long term lung damage can result from the "fines" in the air from the silica. It is fine to use it but do not risk your health for a $30.00 respirator.

If using silica sand you need to use a good respirator as long term lung damage can result from the "fines" in the air from the silica. It is fine to use it but do not risk your health for a $30.00 respirator.
Any respirator under $250 says not for use with silica abrasive,or not for use for abrasive blasting.

Hmmm, I just take a window screen and a pail out to the driveway and use what's laying around. :D

Absolutely useless information, but my machinist guy talked to me about using ice pellets. he heard about it somewhere. Don't know who though smile.gif

]Any respirator under $250 says not for use with silica abrasive,or not for use for abrasive blasting. I'm still paying for splatter painting my trunk. Bad place to work without a respirator or some protection.

Where do you get black beauty from? that sound like the best stuff I do not want use the sand after reading the negative effects noit worth it. Had my frame done for 125 bucks well worth it.cube

I am not familiar with Black Beauty brand, but I would assume that is just Black Magnezium. I used it on my frame- worked great. Cheap as well. I got mine at Menards- same as Home Depot or any of the hardware "superstores". Hope that helps.

Nick

Black Beauty is what they like to use on bridges and weathered outdoor equipment. Use with caution that stuff is coarse but works great.

JTjohnston, you mentioned ice blasting Are you refering to DRY ICE Blasting? We had the local power company DEMO on some of our equipment and boy you better dress warm. I had to help when they came in and on a 90 degree day the shop got real cold fast. There is no mess other than the material that was removed to be cleaned up. Cost at that time $150hr 3hr min.

I used 60/40 black beauty on the 66 just a couple of moths ago. About 7.00 for 100lbs and you can reclaim it quite a few times. What I did was work all my areas inside and under the car with fresh out of the bag sand. Then I took it, recalimed it including sifting it and did detail work on my outside body panels so it would not be so abravise on the panels. Worked great. I highly recommend it. I also used a pressure blaster not a siphon with about 80psi with a 3/32" tip.

HTH,
John Weaver

Absolutely useless information, but my machinist guy talked to me about using ice pellets. he heard about it somewhere. Don't know who though Have a card in my desk somewhere from a company called Polar Blast that does that here in the Houston area... They blast with dry ice pellets, seems ideal.. no blast media left to fall out of places and get in your fresh paint!

Is silica sand OK to use in a blasting cabinet with shop vac hooked up?

Silicosis (the name for the lung disease you get from inhaling silica dust) is very serious and with all the other "safer" blasting media out there it's not worth the risk!!!

Trooper

I bought some "Black Magnum" at Menards. It looks to be finer than sand and has low silicates. Worth a try at $4.99 for 50 lb.