Sand Blasting

[Fixersteve]

Hi everyone, Merry Christmas to everyone. I have a question about sand blasting.... I want to sand blast all my cast parts, how much should I expect to pay?? Also is it a good idea??
Thanks steve

[Bensdexta]

I got my whole Dexta blasted, exc mudguards which were new. Done by these guys: http://www.blast-cleaning.co.uk/

Sand is 'out' these days. They use plastic beads for paint removal, and various grades of grit for more persistent rust. Taping up all the orifices is vital...

Cost best part of £1000 inc vat IIRC, including phosphate, priming and painting in Empire Blue. Not cheap, but my tractor was in v poor condition and it's a skilled job, and it helps if you can reclaim the vat.

[Mjg1705]

There's Cornwall blasting in sorrier - they might be worth a try or there's one called B.k coatings ltd but there in par - both do shot blasting and would probaly do what your after ! So may be worth a try ?! As their "local"

[Dandy Dave]

I do all my own sandblasting and painting. Covering all open ports is an absolute necessity. Even then you are taking a chance that sand may end up where you don't want it. I usually do not sandblast any motors, transmissions, or other castings with moving internal parts that are together for this reason. I strip the parts and the do the castings by themselves, clean everything well and then reassemble being sure that there isn't any sand left any where. Many times, if the parts are basically Greasey you will need to High Pressure wash, or Steam clean the machine first as sand blasting will not remove grease. I have found that many times it is a better way of prepairing a tractor for paint than sandblasting. If you use oven cleaner, and HP wash, it will take off a lot of grease and old paint and leave the castings paintable. Sand blasting is best for removing rust, and old paint that is not a modern plastic type coating. The newer coatings of paint will not come off with oven cleaner and take much longer to remove by sand blasting than the paint of the past. Dandy Dave!