Sandblasting Wheels with Tyres on

[awemawson]

I have two HUGE tractor wheels and tyres, recently acquired, that desperately need re-painting. I'm going to sand blast them. The tyres are 12x36" and fair. I have no easy way to remove the tyres.

So happens a local sand blaster keeps his kit in my yard and he reckons blasting will not damage the tyres, the grit will bounce off - obviously no deliberate aiming at the rubber.

What do others think? Would trying to mask them with gaffer tape do anything?

These beasts are so heavy, I cannot stand them up without the forklift !

 

[rtbcomp]

I've done it loads of times with no problems. Make sure the tyres are inflated at least enough to force the beads against the rim to stop grit getting in, and also make sure the valve caps are in place.

 

[brightspark]

it wont be a problem blasting them with the tires on. ive done hundreds of wheels with them still fitted just make sure there blown up so the grit cant get in the bead the grit will just bounce off the tires without damage

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

Exactly What I Was Thinking - Except I Have No Experience.

M

 

[awemawson]

Thanks chaps - you gave me the confidence to blast them unmasked this morning, and it went very well - well apart from the last side of the second wheel when the sand blaster started playing up - slightly damp grit I suspect not flowing too well.

Now to work out how to mask them to spray them

 

[J.B. Welding]

Thanks chaps - you gave me the confidence to blast them unmasked this morning, and it went very well - well apart from the last side of the second wheel when the sand blaster started playing up - slightly damp grit I suspect not flowing too well.

Now to work out how to mask them to spray them

Hows about some thin card marked with the correct radius then cut out, overlapped and taped on the wheel. Sand any overspray off the tyre on the bits you miss. A bead of grease on the tyre bead will stop the paint sticking, and stop the masking tape sticking too.....think thats called a quandry or sumfink like that.

 

[BrokenBiker]

my missus uncle had a mate blast his tractor wheels on his deere and left the tyres on no problem, just masked them up before spraying and job done

 

[awemawson]

Well what I did was to masking tape round the rim for about 3", and then I cut a 40" diameter hole in a sheet of 3 mm hardboard and propped it against the wheel as I sprayed. It's meant I could realistically only do one side of each wheel today and will repeat on the other side tomorrow.

The blasting gives a very good key for the paint which went on a dream as the wheels were hot to the touch in direct sunlight.