Just finished sanblasting four oval stem '71-72 SS wheels. I was told to wash, then dry the rim's before applying Etching Primer. Is this correct, why would I want to apply water to bare metal? I blew out all the remaining sand.

Also, what are the odds of finding a complete matching date coded (11-24-71) set of SS wheels in your local DD parking lot for a 12A built Oshawa Chevelle? Conversations starts or happen for a reason I guess.

Thanks

Eric,
I personally would not recommend washing bare metal with water unless you were nuetralizing an acid cleaning such as metal prepping the parts, always a good idea after sandblasting to make sure all rust was removed prior to painting. I generally wash the parts I've sandblasted or glass beaded with prep sol prior to metal prepping as I feel you can never have the part TOO clean prior to painting. Hope this helps answer your question.
Chris

Chris,
Couldn't agree more, cleaned rims with Prep Sol, talk about dirty. Time for some primer, thanks.

That's one reason I will go out of my way and BS with folks about cars, guns, ATC's and minibikes. You just never know what they have just laying around and want to get rid of.
My last cool score, a lady was dumping a honda scooter. I drag it home for free, spent a few hours and 40 bucks on it and its running great. I throw it on craigslist, a guy is interested and comes over. He's to the point of pulling out cash for it. We are BS'ing about other projects etc. I show him my latest honda ATC70. He tells me he's got 2 trikes and would be willing to trade. Then proceeds to tell me he's got a trail 70 honda. Well he brings the trail 70 and ATC70 over the next day, and I get them both for a 40 dollar scooter! Jim

I found prep sol to do the trick. Water is probably the best solvent ever, in most cases!

Just finished sanblasting four oval stem '71-72 SS wheels. I was told to wash, then dry the rim's before applying Etching Primer. Is this correct, why would I want to apply water to bare metal? I blew out all the remaining sand.

Also, what are the odds of finding a complete matching date coded (11-24-71) set of SS wheels in your local DD parking lot for a 12A built Oshawa Chevelle? Conversations starts or happen for a reason I guess.

Thanks

I would find the technical sheet on the etching primer, and if it doesn't mention putting it over sandblasted metal, then you could call the manufacture.

When something is sandblasted, all you have to do is make sure you have plenty of air pressure, at least 90 psi, however 120 psi will work better to blow it off.

I usually take a pair of those brown cotton gloves you can get for a buck a pair. I will blow under the glove as I wipe the metal this will get all of the sand and dust out of it.

Now, the other thing to watch out for, and it happens fairly frequently, is you might have some moisture in your air hose (line) and it could spritz a little water on the metal.

The water is not a problem but whats in the water is, usually a little rust or whatever but it will contaminate the metal a little bit.

In that case you would need to clean it.

If you have dry air I wouldn't clean the metal at all, just spray it.

One more thing, if you can't get answers on the etching primer, then I would go with another product. Good luck.

Rob

I prime all my stuff immediately after blasting without any additional cleaning other than blowing the dust off. A sand blasted surface is as clean as it's going to get and anything that touches it (hands, rags, etc.) will only risk contaminating it. If I can't paint it right away, I use a phosphoric acid wash to remove any surface rust and then paint.

Tom

Tom,
Sanblasting should clean the entire surface area but why did the white rag I used to wipe the rims off with prep sol almost turn black? Surface of the rims is not perfectly flat, maybe that's why I pulled more stuff out.

Thanks,
Eric