Surface Preperation Tool reviews

[rcx132]

I've been looking at Surface Preperation Tools like this one: http://www.rust.co.uk/mbx-automotive-metal-blaster-pneumatic-sp-200-phd-/p510939

There's a few companies making them, from £200 (Chinese) to £600 (Snap-on version). There's not a lot of used ones appearing and when they do they sell for almost new cost!

At first I thought they were just glorified angle grinders but apparently not, the bristles are chisel shaped, hardened, tempered and sharpened, the RPM of the tool is optimised, and the bristles belt effectively runs on an air cushion, so the rust/paint is blasted or scraped off rather than rubbed like an angle grinder cup brush does.

I can't see another way to take rust and paint off car parts that can't be removed like body panels. I tried or considered other methods:

• Media blasting - but the grit gets into hubs, bearings and moving parts, plus need to use big tarps to catch the blast media. And worried the potentially abrasive dust ruins tools and engines I have lying around.
• Angle grinder and brush - they just rub the paint leaving a layer behind that's difficult to remove
• Acid gel - I'm worried the fumes will rust everything
• Sand paper - won't get into rust pits
• Grinding back - removes healthy metal
• Professional paint removal (e.g. caustic dip, pro blasting, or heating) - needs the car totally stripped down, plus pricey and no good for removing localised rust, e.g. on patch jobs.

What do people think? Do these tools really work as well as they claim?

 

[richie00boy]

Try a polycarbide wheel on your grinder.

 

[pedrobedro]

Try a polycarbide wheel on your grinder.

I used these on scooter panels and they work well. I think at £200 to £600 you need to be doing a lot of work to recoup your investment. The optimised RPM and running on an air cushion sounds like sales patter.

 

[rcx132]

I'll try the polycarbide wheel, I thought I'd tried them before but will give another go.

The optimised RPM and running on an air cushion sounds like sales patter.

There's a planatory gearbox built into the tool to lower the RPM and increase torque. The bristles are on a belt which can move around, when the belt speeds up centrifugal force forces it out effectively creating the "cushion".

 

[pedrobedro]

There's a planetary gearbox built into the tool to lower the RPM and increase torque. The bristles are on a belt which can move around, when the belt speeds up centrifugal force forces it out effectively creating the "cushion".

Now it sounds like you are trying to sell it to yourself The decal/detail remover is like a toffee wheel you can buy to fit on a drill to do the same job.

 

[rcx132]

Now it sounds like you are trying to sell it to yourself The decal/detail remover is like a toffee wheel you can buy to fit on a drill to do the same job.

I went off the tool after seeing a youtube video showing that same results can be got from a ebay magic stripper like below. But then I spoke to an engineer who said the surface prep tools work differently and that's what he would use. The magic stripper has poor access because it's so big.

 

[Mee]

I find my DA with 60 grit removes paint of any body panel quickly and easily.

 

[rcx132]

I find my DA with 60 grit removes paint of any body panel quickly and easily.

But will it work on seams, corners, and badly pitted metal?

 

[rcx132]

Bought the tool, it just arrived. I'll give it a quick wizz tonight. I have a badly pitted area on my 4x4 chassis that the angle grinder brushes have been failing on, it will be a good test. At over £300 it best work as well as people say! I went for a new one as the used ones go for almost the same price.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

We'll be expecting a detailed write-up......[with pics, we like pics.....]

 

[Swift&Bold]

Apparently, they prep the surface to the correct SP2 spec recommended for application of epoxy primer because of the chip and gouge action rather than the polish and scuff of a grinder.

 

[rcx132]

We'll be expecting a detailed write-up......[with pics, we like pics.....]

I will. I have quite a bit to do with it, removing underseal, tight seams, badly pitted areas. Rust Busters say they use these tools all the time, so let's hope it's good.

Another trick I'm going to try for paint and rust removal is something that Gateros Plating suggested, combining caustic soda with electrolytic cleaning to strip and derust parts that can be removed from the car and can fit into a tank. Gateros reckon that this way the caustic soda can be used cold and removes both paint and rust. So dilute caustic soda, water, plus electrolyte goes into a tank, then you submerge your parts and connect them to a power supply using scrap steel as anodes. It's basically reverse plating, the rust comes off and the current stimulates the caustic soda (or something like that) so it all works without heat and fumes that would otherwise make caustic soda dangerous.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I will. I have quite a bit to do with it, removing underseal, tight seams, badly pitted areas. Rust Busters say they use these tools all the time, so let's hope it's good.

Another trick I'm going to try for paint and rust removal is something that Gateros Plating suggested, combining caustic soda with electrolytic cleaning to strip and derust parts that can be removed from the car and can fit into a tank. Gateros reckon that this way the caustic soda can be used cold and removes both paint and rust. So dilute caustic soda, water, plus electrolyte goes into a tank, then you submerge your parts and connect them to a power supply using scrap steel as anodes. It's basically reverse plating, the rust comes off and the current stimulates the caustic soda (or something like that) so it all works without heat and fumes that would otherwise make caustic soda dangerous.

Lots on here [me included] use electrolysis tanks, do a forum search to see some good set-ups.

 

[rcx132]

Lots on here [me included] use electrolysis tanks, do a forum search to see some good set-ups.

Together with caustic soda?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Together with caustic soda?

I think most just use washing soda, less potential danger and works well. Although iirc a few have advocated caustic soda - a search might confirm or otherwise.

 

[rcx132]

I think washing soda is just an electrolyte, so you get the derusting effect but not the paint stripping effect. I did Google it and couldn't find anyone combining caustic soda with electrolytic cleaning.

 

[Barlidge]

I think someone on here recently tried caustic soda and experienced high current draw.

 

[rcx132]

I messed around with the tool a bit. As expected it's no way near as good as the manufacturers videos show it to be! It is slow and it doesn't get into rust pits! But it is better than angle grinder wire brushing, you can see that there is much more of a striking action going on and you get shiney metal instead of rubbed metal. It's also pretty good at removing underseal. I'm having my doubts whether it's worth the money but I don't want to say for sure until I've used it some more.

I'm about to start a mini restoration of my 4x4 so I'll post some photos and reviews once the tool gets a bit more action. So mixed opinions at the moment. At the end of my project I'll decide whether it's worth keeping, seeing as it cost £350, or sell it, they go for around £200 second hand on ebay so I'd lose £150.

I'll post some photos, but might be a while as I'm still busy stripping down the car and zinc plating the various bracketry, plus I've already had most of the suspension parts blasted so I'll be getting on with painting those soon.

 

[rcx132]

I tried using the tool on my chassis, total fail:

It's going back to the shop...

 

[Mee]

But will it work on seams, corners, and badly pitted metal?

Yes, if used correctly and with a bit of experimenting.