I just finished stripping the car down to the bare body and am looking into having it blasted. I hear different stories of what damage sand blasting can do. People tell me soda blast is the way to go. Anyone know the pros and cons. Any advise is good. Thanks

I looked into soda blasting and the general concensus I got was to not do it. I guess there is adhesive issues with the paint. The more research I did, the more I decided on going with sand blasting, however I wanted to make sure they know what they are doing. I found a guy that does cars and really knows the ins and outs of it. They turn the PSI down, so the body does not wrap, Plus they shoot it at a certain angle, so its not dead on the panels. I have his name and # if u want it, just pm me.

Rumor has it that:

Sand blasting builds heat and warps large body panels.
Media blasting removes paint, etc, but not so much rust, and its so gentle, it doesn't scuff the metal enough to give paint a "tooth" to stick to.
Soda blasting is much like media blasting, but leaves a residue that has to be contended with.

To get to the state that you want, which is probably no paint, filler, or rust, you need a combination of media/soda blasting and sand blasting.

It seems that in any case, you (and I) need someone doing the work that knows what they're doing, not someone just trying to make a buck.

I was reading SPI's website last night about their epoxy primer which I plan to use on my El Camino. In the instructions for application, they have the following:

"Precautions:
NEVER use SPI Epoxy over a Soda Blasted vehicle, Acid
Etch/Wash Primer, Rust Converter or other Metal
Treatments. NEVER!"

Sounds like there must be a chemical problem.- Tom

All really good info guys. I spoke to a sandblasting guy near me and said I don't have to worry about warping any panels. Also said the only panels he will not do is the roof and the trunk, I guess is because those pieces will be damaged during blasting. One thing I did like about the guy is that he was honest about those 2 pieces that he will not do.

All really good info guys. I spoke to a sandblasting guy near me and said I don't have to worry about warping any panels. Also said the only panels he will not do is the roof and the trunk, I guess is because those pieces will be damaged during blasting. One thing I did like about the guy is that he was honest about those 2 pieces that he will not do.

Thats whats they all say. My guy was only to do around the perimeter of doors and the structuring under the trunk lid. Any where he hit the skins now has a divot, I could eat cereal in the bowls I got.
I have seen media results first hand and they were very good no distortion, and was planning on going that direction until my sandblaster friend conned be into saving a buck.

Dam, that must have really made you angry, that would make me want to kick some ass. I was thinking about taking the doors from my 67 chevelle to get sand blasted this weekend. These doors are in really good condition. I better get my DA out and get working

i always get the inside of the car, underneath, core support, inner fender and such sand blasted and then the whole outside sand blasted. i get about 2-3 cars a year dons this way. it has always worked out real nice for me. no warping at all

A local guy ruined all the body panels on his Chevelle with a sand blaster. Take a 1/8" x 1" x 8" piece of cold rolled steel and do a good sand blast on one side. Check it with a straight edge. You can even warp metal that thick. I have my doubts that anyone can sand blast a quarter panel to bare metal without warping it some. There are safer ways of stripping.

I do Soda Blasting and have been doing it for about 3 years now. Baking Soda, when done right will remove paint and body filler and will not harm the panels. To remove rust I use Duponts Star Blast. They make 3 gradea. Fine, medium and course. I never use the coarse. After the car is Soda Blasted it needs to be washed in a 50% solution of water and Vinegar. This will remove the coating left by the Baking Soda. I have done over 150 autos and have not had anyone have a problem with the paint. It is by far the better choice between Soda Blasting and Sand blasting. If you have any questions, give me a call. 706-207-6004

Sand blasting does NOT warp the panels by the generation of heat. The those tiny little sand particles act like hammers and stretch the metal out.

Witnessed a local guy sandblast his 67 GTO, turned that car into a giant paperweight, not a single panel was straight after wards.

IMO, the only sheetmetal that should be touched with sand is the interior panels like the floor and door shells(not the door skins)...Eric

I sent my body off to be Soda Blasted. After you wash with vinegar and water, what do you do with areas that have rusty areas or pitting? Do you etch these areas or try to sand down before expoxy primer?

The guy who blasted my body used coal slag, i never heard of it before until then but he did all my panels and the roof and did not warp anything. As he explained it, the coal slag has very sharp edges which removes paint faster and with less media coming out of the gun at one time. I was skeptical until i saw him blast a corvette body with the stuff, i was impressed.