sand blasting wand attachment for pressure washer?

[35fordcoupe]

I am getting to the point where I want to pull the body off to strip, prep and paint the frame (w/ por 15 or something similar). I was figuring on having to spend hours wire wheeling the frame...I have tested this a little and it does seem like it would take forever. I was planning on pressure washing it to clean the dirt and greese before tackling the rust with a wire wheel.

I was watching Muscle Car this morning and they had an attachment for a pressure washer that allows you to use various types of media to strip rust...it seemed to work pretty well....anyone know where to get one of these or have experience with it?? thanks

[Dave Severson]

Check out the show's website, I'm sure they'll have a link to their advertisers.

[35fordcoupe]

That was a good idea, but I looked at the site and they have no products listed for that episode. I don't think they mentioned specifics about the brand or anything during the show either which I thought was odd.

I did a google search and found a company called ultimate washer. Also it looks like Northern Tool sells a kit for $70...

[Sinister]

I can't remember the name of the site, but if you type "pressure washer sandblaster" in your search it will bring up a few companies that sell them.

I've been planning on getting one myself since seeing that episode, but I tend to procrastinate every once in a while.

[IMagius]

I saw that episode as well, and intitally thoguht it would be a great idea, but where I live, the ditches and storm drains all flow into the local streams and rivers - only the Sewers are treated first before being released intot he environment. The years of grease and oil that are on a frame are going to be flowing right down your driveway and into that river unless you have some sort of containment system for all the water you are using.

[R Pope]

I can't imagine the mess that would make, spraying mud under pressure on a car. Dry sand is enough of a bitch to clean up, but mud? I pass.

[SBC]

Yeah - the main selling point was that the neighbors wouldn't complain about the dust. You all make valid points about cleanup and pollution.

Wouldn't want to do it in a driveway or the front lawn - but back behind the barn would be OK.

[Itoldyouso]

As someone who just did some sandblasting on my T parts, may I offer a suggestion? Take it to a pro sandblaster and let them do it. I probably ended up spending just as much with the paper suit, goggles, face shield, mask, sand, electric, etc, and had a few hundred pounds of sand to clean up when I was done. It went everywhere in a 100 foot radius. Next time I am hauling it to someone else to do.

It might not be a bad idea to rent a 4000 pound pressure washer to get the grease and grime off, because that will save you some money and time at the sandblasters. We had a 4000 pound unit at the marina, and it would remove paint !

Don

[Chicken Legs]

Use the term 'wet sandblasting' with your search. I wet sandblasted my frame and body using sand. It turned out good, what a hell of a mess though. Use some googles (off road type) and prepare to get wet.

[Sniper]

I haven't used the process personally, but have hired a commercial blaster to do the manlifts, at a rental place where I was the shop foreman. The pro's and con's would vary with what your doing and where. It's going to make a mess either wet or dry. Going to get tracked into your home if it's a driveway situation. If done wet, it works very well at keeping the dust down. The water pressure removes the grease and gunk while the media takes care of the rust scale and old paint. But it starts to surface rust in a matter of minutes. Cost wise, no more than if you try it yourself, most likely less. And, if you figure in the clean up process, with disposal of the left overs, hiring it out looks better all the time. We used to have concrete, plaster compound, paint overspray, glazing glue, sealers and an bunch of other stuff stuck to the platforms and railings of the lifts. It would rip that stuff off, and leave a nice surface. I'm all for the process, it will, and can do a great job, but the crappy part of it all, what ends up in your driveway, makes it less desirable. The earlier advise from Itoldyouso, is pretty much right on the money.

[Ed Rodder]

I have used mine several times you will not warp the sheet metal because of the water and it works good. they pump sand at a much lower pressure then the 2500 psi of the pump. I have a 2500psi honda motor one. the sand blaster end I bought at wal-mart for the rediculous amount of about $15.00 didn't ask why they where so cheap when others sell them for over $50.00. also bought the small tube that you use to clean traps and drains for a little money. not sure they still carry them this was about 6 years ago. Ed

[35fordcoupe]

thanks for the feedback everyone...other than the clean up it sounds like it might work fairly well. I can see how blasting a whole frame would leave a lot of sand to clean up, but if I let it dry I should be able to get most of it cleaned up I guess. I have a truck load of sand in the driveway now as it is