Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

So I was looking into hydroblasting/sandblasting my frame.

Ran into this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVzfKpCTGNA

Here's what's bugging me...

If you hydroblast your frame without stripping everything off..isn't the water just going to get forced in between all the brackets/bolts/nuts/etc ?

And if you are epoxy priming it or such right away ...isn't that going to cause you issues?

Or do you try and forced some air in there to dry it out after blasting? Seems like it would be difficult to actually get in those areas....

Has anyone done this? What has your experience been?

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

I haven't used hydro blasting but I've done a lot of sandblasting. I agree, the water may make for a cleaner operating environment but then you must immediately dry the piece & what about flash rust? I think the old "dirty" way of blasting is still the best.

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

Just use eastwoods after Blast after blasting. It's phosphorus metal etch that will keep it from flash rusting and also promotes excellent surface for primer.

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

Wd40 will protect it until you can get it to a shop to clean and primer it.

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

How do you clean off the WD40?

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

OH GOD NO don't use something like that to protect the metal BEFORE primeing!

Sand blast it and epoxy prime it is the best of the best. If you prime it within a day or so and it's not raining or something like that with a bunch of moisture in the air or if you aren't next to the ocean or something that microscopic rust will be buried under the epoxy.

Of course, if you check around you may find that having it powdercoated for as much as it costs to just sand blast it, or for a few dollars more than the primer and paint cost.

Brian

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

the company that sell the machine ( dustless basting) sells there own rust inhibitor that is applied as the final rinse giving the customer a 72 hour window

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

Interesting.

That makes sense for blasting a clean frame.

What about all the nooks and crannies between brackets and such? Seems like forcing high pressure water in there is a bad idea to me...how would you ever get it clean and dry?


I'm debating pulling all the stock brackets off my frame so I can "do it right".

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

I do agree with you ,but the way you are talking about mediablasting a frame is not doing 100% of the job , 80% is more likly. doing a 100% frame mediablasting in my opinon would require 100% of the frame to be dismantled all rivits cut all crossmembers and brackets taken off till the rails are separated then you can achieve 100% blasting and 100% coating.

and trust me there are a lot of rivits and it takes time to get a frame to that point . and also at this stage it would not matter if you did a dustless blasting or a dry media blasting .

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

That is exactly what I'm mulling over.

The cross members I'm not sure I want to remove.....here in Ontario some people get sticky about frame mods that don't look factory...so if I don't put bolts in that look like the original rivets that may cause questions later on.

The cab brackets and box brackets I'm going to remove. They need repaired anyway so I might as well do them right.

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

I did cut every rivit out ,But I am very lucky to be able to bring home from work the hardware for free (tension control bolts ) and the Electric sheer wrench to install the bolts and nuts , this is the way we rivit steel today out in the field. its faster and stronger then the old original rivit method . the hardware is expensive and the wrench cost about 1,800 USD

On another note about the dustless blasting does not use that much water I would think you could use a cheep propane style plumbing torch to heat those areas to disapate the water that you are concerned with.

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

i went down this road....got good results took some time and material :) i got what i wanted.... so not to bore you look at post #4 and #70... if you like and pictures of your work when you get there
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=722288

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

That is pretty much exactly what I was thinking. Seems much more complete with less chance for rust to creep out of the in between pieces.

I live in a place with humidity and rain after all.

What are you planning to use for hardware to bolt everything back together?

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

allen key pan head stainless with washers & lock nuts where i can.... grade 8s elsewhere

Re: Hydroblasting / Sandblasting frame..this is bugging me
 

Very nice.

I'd love to see some shots of the reassembled frame when it's done.