MV Sandblaster in Northern Illinois/Southern WI

[SFCKUNERT]

I’m searching for a reputable sandblaster in the Northern Illinois/ Southern Wisconsin area who can do my tub/fenders and frame.

I’m stationed at Ft. Sheridan, IL near Highland Park but have a trailer to transport my parts.

Somebody you have used and would recommend is preferred.

Do they offer discounts for more parts, repeat customers?

This is my first restoration so this part is somewhat new to me. I have a 26 Gallon compressor but don’t think it’s big enough to handle the necessary pressure of blasting these parts myself.

[wesk]

The frame will tolerate sand blasting but you should specify media blasting for the sheet metal. Glass bead or similar.

It is not really a pressure issue. It is a volume issue both in tank capacity and flow rates. This usually dictates the need for a large 60 gallon or larger tank, a two stage compressor capable of more than 15 up to 180 CuFt/min.

Here's a nozzle air press/flow requirements chart that might help:

[oilleaker1]

Glass beads are aluminum oxide and is very similar to silica sand in it's stripping or cutting ability. It will warp panels just like sand. Soda blasting works nice but you have to kill it with a vinegar water solution or your paint will not stick to the surface. Plastic media or Plastigrit is the best for stripping without warping. To rid yourself of rust, you need a media as hard as the rust. Plastigrit and soda will not take rust. You definitely need a blaster that knows what's good or bad. The finer the media, and the lower the pressure used, the better to preserve your sheet metal. Some people will sand the flats that are easy to get to first, and then have a good sandblaster get the rest for them. If you are wondering, I run a blast shop. Even I have learned things that aren't in the books. Sandblasting the curved and reinforced parts of the body will not hurt it. It's the flat areas that you must be careful in. The higher pressure and coarser sand are what you do not want! Cars made after about 75-78 are not a good blast candidate. Metal that is soft and can dent with your finger pressure will warp with just air pressure. Especially with a undersupport that has open areas where it can form to the edges of those openings. Enjoy! John

[BullRun]

I would recommend farming it out if for anything just to avoid the frustration of doing it yourself. You really need the big air compressors to properly maintain air flow.


The blasting service we use at work has all kind of specialty tools and media for getting inside frames that are boxed in etc. Best of all they are dirt cheap and fast considering the amount of work involved.