Blast cabinet media for thin sheet metal

[Ag8man]

I'm doing some auto restoration and I've been using glass beads in the blast cabinet. I have recently been told I should be using garnet media.

Obviously, I don't want to go too aggressive for fear of damaging some of the parts, like the glove box lid.

What are others using?

Thanks.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use either glass beads or aluminum oxide. I have two cabinets to keep from switching the media. Biggest concern for sheet metal is to not warp it from heat.

 

[Doubled33]

I use these guys for sheetmetal.

I keep the nozzle moving, don’t hold it too close and I am able to regulate the amount of media on my cabinet so I turn that down as well when working on sheet metal.

I have garnet that I use when I am working on something thicker like steel parts. It does go quicker, but I only have 1 cabinet and have to change the media so that takes time.

Sometimes I will just turn up the amount of glass that is flowing and use that. It is probably more costly that way but oh well it is easier than changing media.

 

[Doubled33]

I should also add that I have some plastic media and it works well, but is way more expensive than beads.

 

[Rockable]

Biggest concern is to keep the pressure turned down to 50 - 60 psi. I usually use 60. Heat doesn't warp the metal, blasting it dead on with high pressure stretches and warps the metal. Keep your blasting media at an angle to the flat areas.

I use aluminum oxide. It removes rust well and lasts a long time. If you put glass beads in and turn the pressure up to say 100, you will shatter the beads and turn them to dust. You will also go through a shitload of glass beads.

 

[Ag8man]

Thanks all. I'm removing multiple layers of paint from this old truck. It is really thick and hard to get off with the glass beads. Also, I've learned that I am creating a lot of dust when I get it off. The rust came off easier than the paint, as it was surface rust, almost like flash rust. I will get some aluminum oxide and turn the pressure down. I have control at the cabinet and so it will be easy.

Thanks again.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you considered having the truck blasted itself by a mobile guy ?

 

[Ag8man]

I am having some parts like the cab and doors dipped, and some have been soda blasted, I'm just doing the small stuff, it gives me something to do while I wait on the others.

 

[Stick-man]

I use these guys for sheetmetal.

I keep the nozzle moving, don’t hold it too close and I am able to regulate the amount of media on my cabinet so I turn that down as well when working on sheet metal.

I have garnet that I use when I am working on something thicker like steel parts. It does go quicker, but I only have 1 cabinet and have to change the media so that takes time.

Sometimes I will just turn up the amount of glass that is flowing and use that. It is probably more costly that way but oh well it is easier than changing media.

I am trying to understand why it is difficult to change media? I just bought a Skat Blast, but haven't even hooked it up yet. It has a dump door, so it looks like it would be pretty easy to switch. Is yours different, or without a dump door? Or is there something I am not thinking about? I never owned one before, just used one at a job when I was a kid.

 

[ZRX61]

I am trying to understand why it is difficult to change media? I just bought a Skat Blast, but haven't even hooked it up yet. It has a dump door, so it looks like it would be pretty easy to switch. Is yours different, or without a dump door? Or is there something I am not thinking about? I never owned one before, just used one at a job when I was a kid.

I keep my stuff in 5 gal buckets. I dump it into a restaurant bus tray from my 960 & then sieve it back into a bucket when I change media.

 

[Doubled33]

I am trying to understand why it is difficult to change media? I just bought a Skat Blast, but haven't even hooked it up yet. It has a dump door, so it looks like it would be pretty easy to switch. Is yours different, or without a dump door? Or is there something I am not thinking about? I never owned one before, just used one at a job when I was a kid.

I have a dump door in mine at the bottom. Most all the media comes out, but there is some in the pick up tube and also the reclaimer.

If I go from say beads to garnet I don’t notice it as much but from garnet to beads I will constantly see garnet come out with the beads for a while. When I use walnut hulls those are the worst to get out of the system.

I have a Uni Hone cabinet with a built in reclaimer. Google it for a picture as I don’t think they make this style anymore.

A P and G cabinet I used when younger seemed easier to change media on.

 

[MBfreak]

When restoring a car in Telford, UK,( 1993) I found a company which heat stripped the entire car.
All loose parts removed. Carbody was then put in an oven that increased the temp over 48 hours to 220 C
Kept there for 6 hours and then cooled down to ambient over 48 hours.
All paint, undercoating, sealant and quite a lot of surface rust fell off. Zero warped panels.
Car was then rust repaired ( it was a MB 220 SEb Cp B 1961, which rust faster than most people can weld).
After which it was undercoated with yellow marine 2 k epoxy paint and finished in 2 k black epoxy.
ola

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'm doing some auto restoration and I've been using glass beads in the blast cabinet. I have recently been told I should be using garnet media.

Assuming the glass beads have been working for you up until now, was there a reason why you were told to use garnet?
If the reason for media blasting is to prepare parts for repainting, it's always best to use the least aggressive media that will do the job.

 

[Ag8man]

Garnet was suggested to reduce dust from blasting. My cabinet vents to the outside, but there is still a considerable amount of dust in the shop.

Also, I asked because the glass beads were not cutting the thick paint as well as I would like.

 

[ZRX61]

Garnet was suggested to reduce dust from blasting. My cabinet vents to the outside, but there is still a considerable amount of dust in the shop.

Also, I asked because the glass beads were not cutting the thick paint as well as I would like.

There's probably another vent on the cabinet, on my TP960 it's on the back. Sticking a piece of foam in the vent will stop the dust coming out, but still allow the vent to work as it should.

 

[Ag8man]

What grit media are you using?

 

[KenC]

Garnet was suggested to reduce dust from blasting. My cabinet vents to the outside, but there is still a considerable amount of dust in the shop

The best solution to dust is negative pressure in the cabinet. The extractor(fan, vacuum,big suction unit like woodworkers use, etc) must move more air that is introduced by blasting. Don't necessarily need to filter, but **** it from the cabinet and discharge outside.