Thread: water/sand blasting

Tweet

I saw on one of the post on one of the forums that someone talked about an item to use a pressure washer and sand to blast away rust.
Does anyone remember who it was and where do you buy them?
Thanks,
Wade

I've seen this process used on boats, where they use a sand/water mix under high pressure to blast off antifouling paint off of the bottom of the boat to prepare it for new paint, but never on a car. The concept is that pure sand would eat away the bottom too severely, but the water keeps that from happening. Wouldn't the water instantly rust the metal? I know even regular sandblasted steel rusts almost instantly from just humidity.


Don

water + sand = instant rust . the water will take the sodium into cracks and crevises. i blast cars here at the shop and would never think about this or paint a car that was done this way.

I have seen this process of sand plus water used to clean high-pressure casting dies for zinc parts. It works great for something as massive and rugged as a die. I agree with Shine--to use this process on sheet metal would be sheer folley.

I know of someone personally who used a 4000psi pressure washer with a sand injector and sand blasted a frame. He told me that he used a vinegar/water 50/50 mix brushed right on to the metal to neutralize it. The frame was then coated with POR 15. The benefit of using a pressure washer as a sand blaster would be that the water would keep the metal from building the heat normally generated with sand blasting, plus you dont have all the air borne dust/rust/silicone to deal with. To each their own, but it looks like a win, win to me.

Anytime water and steel meet you have instant rust . Vinegar is great on windows with a 50/50 mix. So if you can get it on a frame before moisture arrives you are a lucky person..

metal does not warp from heat generated by sand. it warps from the peening of the metal by the sand. 4k lbs of pressure with sand will warp metal easy.