DIY Media Blasting

[JonnyAlpha]

I need to media blast my Subframe and Engine Bay on my classic Mini project.

So I have a Karcher K2.2M and an old Snapon 2.5HP 50Ltr Compressor and I was wondering whether it would be worth buying either a wet blasting adaptor for my Karcher, not the Karcher ones at £79 but a cheap copy such as this one. Or this one for Poland at £20.50.

Or a dry blasting kit for the compressor such as this or one of these

Anyone had any experience with the above?

If the idea is sound what media should I get?

I am looking at quotes for media blasting to balance up the pro's and cons.

Thanks for reading

 

[brightspark]

tbh your on a hiding to nothing with both. the wet one will be messy as hell and slow and the air one is too small and not much cop its only a suction gun

 

[brightspark]

itsa messy business even with larger gear unless u can contain the grit . ive just blasted a steel cabinet outside and had to use the airfed helmet and the draws I did were done in my cabinet with pressure fed pot and a decent extracta

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Sounds like it would be flogging a dead horse then, looks like i'll get it done by someone else or do it by hand!! TBH I don't know what its gonna be like until it comes out? Might be pleasantly surprised - but I doubt it!!

 

[mike 109444]

There are mobile blasting companies that come to you, assuming you have the area for them to work in. No experience of that but have tried wet blasting and you will need VERY dry sand (kiln dried) and wet gear clothing !

 

[brightspark]

There are mobile blasting companies that come to you, assuming you have the area for them to work in. No experience of that but have tried wet blasting and you will need VERY dry sand (kiln dried) and wet gear clothing !

don't be buying it from wickes then I just got 6 bags and 2 were damp

 

[optima21]

another slow option is to use wire brushes in a drill, but it may be a painful experience as the wires get everywhere when they snap off and stick in you and your clothing

 

[Jan]

don't be buying it from wickes then I just got 6 bags and 2 were damp

It's now October and I bought 5 bags of KDS from Wickes last week while they were on offer. At least the first one is dry as a bone and goes through my cheap (Aldi) sand blaster attachment to remove corrosion and paint.

 

[bricol]

I found a couple of local guys, one via a local paint guy, who for the cash price of blasting something, more than save me that amount in time, effort, annoyance to neighbours if I was to do it myself. And they do a better job, with proper gear to do it with.

I do small bits with spot blasters and a pot blaster. I do have a pressure pot version too, but only used it to mainly cover every nearly horizontal surface in my garage with glass media when removing surface rust from the bottom of my integrale as it wasn't too transportable at the time.

Also persuaded a mobile guy to come blast the inner wheel arches and rear subframe on the same car 12 years ago - he spent more time setting up than doing the job and was apologetic about the cost relative to time spent - but again, the saving my time etc. And 12 years later, the paint and underseal is still stuck very well to those peoperly prepared areas.

I do use a wire brush in a grinder, but find it can remove the rust colour, and then polish it over - attack it with an implement and the rust is made visible again. Doesn't leave a particularly good surface for paint either, although I guess etch primer would help there..

 

[mike 109444]

It's now October and I bought 5 bags of KDS from Wickes last week while they were on offer. At least the first one is dry as a bone and goes through my cheap (Aldi) sand blaster attachment to remove corrosion and paint.

Might want to get an old wheely bin maybe

 

[mike 109444]

Once a fortnight there are loads left in the street Just wait till they are empty though

 

[maz0]

Wet blasting works if your pressure washer has the power for it. I think those cheap ebay ones need about 8 lpm minimum. Also you will want to either mix in some anti flash rust soloution to your water source or spray it on after if you dont plan on going straight to drying/primer.

 

[hareng]

Had one of these or similar 16 years ago, tried it then gave it away. Ok for detailing, anything more than 1" square painted forget it unless got 1/2hr.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/sb5-spotblast-gun/

If its a one off pay some one to do it.

 

[Maxakarudy]

I had my MGB GT blasted for £400, I have got my own kit, but it ain't worth the pain.
Martin

 

[brightspark]

I had my MGB GT blasted for £400, I have got my own kit, but it ain't worth the pain.
Martin

depends on how big your gear is and have the room to do it without fannying on setting up and cleaning up after u my mobile comp and decent pot cost less than that

 

[Maxakarudy]

depends on how big your gear is and have the room to do it without fannying on setting up and cleaning up after u my mobile comp and decent pot cost less than that

You forgot PPE and grit and where can you blast for free without causing a nuisance?
Most folk wouldn't get your kit for less than £400, you very fortunate at least, it really would cost a couple of grand for a decent setup.
A mini would cost less than £400, I would only have the underside and engine bay done anyway.

Brightspark do you do it for a living, what would you charge?

 

[brightspark]

You forgot PPE and grit and where can you blast for free without causing a nuisance?
Most folk wouldn't get your kit for less than £400, you very fortunate at least, it really would cost a couple of grand for a decent setup.
A mini would cost less than £400, I would only have the underside and engine bay done anyway.

Brightspark do you do it for a living, what would you charge?

no I used to have a part time business doing car wheels and motorcycle frames ect along with bead blasting engine parts .sold all the gear and re built more .have loads of room and only one neighbour who never asks what I'm doing even though he can see

 

[Gareth J]

I went to look at a mates setup the other day, he has an oversized road compressor, a sealed, well lit bay with massive extraction that has the outlet water spray filtered. Grit is fed up into a hopper via augers .... You get the picture.

It's such a horrible job, those that do it for a living get set up to minimise the terribleness as much as possible. I'd take it to someone else every time.

 

[brightspark]

I went to look at a mates setup the other day, he has an oversized road compressor, a sealed, well lit bay with massive extraction that has the outlet water spray filtered. Grit is fed up into a hopper via augers .... You get the picture.

It's such a horrible job, those that do it for a living get set up to minimise the terribleness as much as possible.

a pair of wellies gloves overalls and a blast helmet and run airline to helmet with a cooler in summer for cool air what more do u need made good money at it as no one else local was doing it . now every man and his dog doing it