Clean inside the frame? (1 Viewer)

[Cresso]

I have my cruiser stripped down to the framerails and would like to give it a good cleaning and shoot it with some paint. The local sandblasting guy wanted $275 to blast the frame . I respectfully declined and now I'm looking for a good way to do it myself. I don't have an air compressor, which rules out blasting it in my garage. I can take a wire wheel to the whole thing, but I have no idea how to get inside the framerails. How can I clean this sufficiently in preparation for the paint?

TIA

 

[dogboy]

if you're hooked on doing it yourself and don't want to pay the man, why not rent a compressor and blasting rig for the weekend.....must be cheaper than paying someone to blast it for you and definitely less maddening than doing it with a wire wheel -- that would be quite an undertaking....

just my 2¢,
-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[Gus]

I second Dogboy, rent a sand blaster if possible; forget about the wire brush (I've tried it), it's not that affective and it's very time consuming. You should be able to get inside the frame with the sand blaster (it helps if the engine/tranny/t-case are removed) I can understand not wanting to drop $$$$$$$$ on getting the frame blasted (I was in the same position), BUT after considering the options, I found that it was the best way to clean up a crusty frame. In the long run I think it would be worth paying the guy for the sand blasting (I have no regrets at all about shelling out the $$$, my frame almost looks new again) . Once the frame has been blasted it's ready for the paint of your choice.

 

[labartonmd]

I'm looking at the same options now for my 'cruiser. For the tub and body parts, my plan is to take it to a strip and dip (aka chemical immersion metal processing) in Tupelo. They charge $350 for anything that can fit in a 9' x 5' basket. Unfortunately, the frame is a bit too long for it. I may call back and see if they can do the frame in two stages by turning it sideways or something. IMHO this is the only way to assure that you've gotten all the nooks and crannies. As for the bucks and PITA factor, I figure I'll save up until I can afford it and then do it once and for all.

I do have an air compressor but remember what a collosal PITA sandblasting was when I tried it several years ago. I doubt that I could get the frame done in one weekend without taking shortcuts. After a few hours of blasting, one gets tired of the whole mess and sweat inside those hoods and you just want to get it over. For me, the temptation to short cut the job is too great. Your patience may be greater. Rent the pressurized BIG Tank blaster and buy the speciallized blast media. Wet play sand will not work. sticking a siphon feed in a pail of media also does not work well and will triple the amount of time required.

 

[Rice]

A second option: There is an attachement for pressure washers to be used as wet sand blaster. Some rental companies keep them in house. It siphons sand into the water stream (at the nozzle) and did a very nice job for me. The finished product develops a little glaze of rust as it dries which (in my case) wipes off with paint thnner.

(Just in case you already have a pressure washer or can borrow one)

Rice

 

[woody]

shop around....I had mine done for ~$100....the $200 I paid included an epoxy primer coat.

 

[sherwood]

Check those places that sell/engrave tombstones. They use sand blasting.
Maybe check your paper, and when the obits are skimpy, the headstone folks will be eager for some business.

Just to break the ice, like many here, you can tell them you plan on being buried in your Land Cruiser.


john

 

[Brog]

I've been using my pressure washer attachment to blast everything.
It doesn't seem to work harden/ heat sheet metal so it doesn't warp it, yet.
It blasts at 1500psi instead of 150psi and there is no dust.
It cost me about $70 but it's worth it. Uses less sand than my blaster too.
Brog

 

[tewlman]

shop it around, you should be able to find a better deal, wire wheel would suck big time and take forever!

 

[Jukelemon]

Brog. What attachment? I assume it is wet sanding then?

 

[Dirt_is_our_friend]

im getting my frame hot dipped then all the holes welded over so i dont have to worry about getting rust back in there and im going to powdercoat the frame i love the gloss black powdercoat (its tough looks great and almost impossible to scratch.) then my same with my axles and then im going to get my rollbar Pc'ed in like chrome with a clear for the blingin factor 8) hot dipping is the ticket for that just off the show-room look man!

 

[Dirt_is_our_friend]

also (learned this after working with my R frame after getting it pc'ed) dont touch it with your bare hands etc cause the oils really stick to it so only wear like surgical gloves or the like if you are going to handle it and also keep it covered with saran wrap etc cause any humidity touching it will cause rust....another thing to think about is a burn off oven...then sand blast and that stuff will just flake off!

 

[red66toy]

[quote author=Velocity link=board=1;threadid=12734;start=msg117233#msg117233 date=1078764258]
im going to get my rollbar Pc'ed in like chrome with a clear for the blingin factor 8) [/quote]

A chrome rollbar?

 

[Dirt_is_our_friend]

not chromed as that affects the metal itself but chrome Pc is just a coating and it wont get discolored etc. which i worry about the thing after i get it done is having my rollcage look all discolored and like junk ya know?

 

[Brog]

[quote author=Jukelemon link=board=1;threadid=12734;start=msg117217#msg117217 date=1078762667]
Brog. What attachment? I assume it is wet sanding then?
[/quote]

Nope. It attaches to the end of a pressure washer very much like the sand pickup on a sand blaster. It draws sand through the tube and out with the agua.
I've looked for them these days but can't find it. I'll see if I can get the manufacturer's name.

Brog

 

[BLKDOG40]

That sounds cool- I'm interested......

Nope. It attaches to the end of a pressure washer very much like the sand pickup on a sand blaster. It draws sand through the tube and out with the agua.
I've looked for them these days but can't find it. I'll see if I can get the manufacturer's name.

 

[Rice]

Here's the general idea:

Pressure washer "sand blast" kit:
http://www.jackssmallengines.com/barens_nozzle_sb.cfm

 

[Dirt_is_our_friend]

HOT-DIPPING is the best i have heard. I have talked to many different shops and they said to make sure your frame or metal peice for optimilly clean you need to hot-dip it. This is coming from shops that do blasting :0 so i am going to do that and not worry about it.......also what colors do people like for there engines? i am going to be dissambling mine and while its apart i figure make it look a lil blingy! what colors do you think? i know i am going to pc the valve cover chrome......its nice cause it doesnt peel like chrome and it handles heat better no discoloration from heat......i really love my PC!

 

[green73]

Just got done this weekend doing the wire wheel thing to a CJ5 frame. IT SUCKED. And after some digging into what we spent, it would have been just as cheap to blast it. On a good note POR-15 "metalready" is some good stuff to help adhere paint. Hell all of their products are good. Their paint stripper actually works, and FAST! Yeah their stuff is spendy but I feel well worth it. 1qt of the silver did the entire frame. Gonna get a 3rd coat in black though. I just hope I can get my Cruiser's frame too look this good one day.

 

[Cresso]

Figured I'd report in and let y'all know there's a happy ending to the story. I shopped around a bit more and found someone to do it for $100. I took it in this morning and now it looks FANTASTIC! Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions!