8 replies to this topic

[SolarB]

The mini had a full restoration about 10 years ago but has lived outside un-loved for years and the rust has crept in around corners and the usual edges.

The car is very sound, it just needs a full external repaint and to do it properly I want to go back to bare metal.

Underneath and inside are fine, it’s just the outside that needs doing and blasting might be an option rather than many, many hours with a DA sander.

 

Does anyone have experience of this?

 

 

 

[mab01uk]

Some recommend chemical dipping over blasting:-

https://www.theminif...is-mini-cooper/

 

But some (see video below) don't:-

Sandblast or Acid Dip a Bodyshell for a Classic Car Full Repaint....

Edited by mab01uk, Today, 03:48 PM.

[nicklouse]

Seen too many cars rot from the inside out after dipping.

re media blasting find someone that does cars not just anyone. It can create vast amounts of heat if done incorrectly.

[Gaz66]

Mate of mine took his VW camper for acid dipping and it came back in two halves 😁

[SolarB]

Yes, I never did like the idea of chemical dipping anything that has seams where 2 or more pieces of metal are held together tightly.

Blasting seems to be the only alternative to hours with the sander.

[crossthread]

Blasting is what you want, BUT, be sure the guys know what they are doing. 

We once had a mini pickup blasted and the blasters destroyed the car.

Too much pressure and very abrasive blasting medium rippled every panel.

 

 Someone who does garden gates and lorry chassis is NOT who you want .

[Quinlan minor]

There's a very good soda blaster in Knockholt, Kent. I've seen Minis he's blasted and he's very good. 

[weef]

The last two projects i have done have both been blasted using a glass bead media back to bare metal.

The glass bead media leaves a surface that does not require a lot of rubbing down before a priming coat is applied.

If I were you I would have the engine bay and underside blasted, this removes all the unwanted debris and leaves the areas fresh for refinishing, in my opinion a freshly refinished engine bay does lift the project to another level.

Again the underside can be finished with whatever medium you prefer before being overcoated with your choice of topcoat, once more in my opinion lifting the whole appearence.

My last vehicle was cleaned top and bottom and a few more extra bits, all done in one day from leaving to returning to the workshop, this particular project had been sprayed underneath with some sort of stonechip which would have been a nightmare to remove other than by blasting.

It cost in the region of £500 but money well spent in my opinion.

Of coarse its a case of "horses for coarses" you can sand down using your DA cheaper but the blasting gets into all the places the DA cannot.

[RichB]

I used a firm that did glass bead blasting followed by epoxy priming to seal it all. Worked perfectly with no damage. Not in Surrey unfortunately.