Sandblast yourself, or farm it out?

[ColoCruiserJeff]

I recently acquired a 1966 FJ45LV, and I've been contemplating wether or not to do the sandblasting myself. This is going to be a frame-off body resto, and I'm having the hardest time deciding which way to go...so here it is: YOU GUYS DECIDE!

$1000 for the shop to blast the Frame and Body, inside and out, top and bottom

$800 for a portable sandblaster, and do it myself

I'm thinking I'd like to have the ability to sandblast the smaller items at my leisure, but I don't know if I want to clean-up the mess if I do the frame and body in my own garage.

So, you guys/gals tell me...what would you do? Invest the $1000 in a service, or the $800 for an asset?

-Jeff
ColoCruiserJeff
Colorado Springs, CO
1966 FJ45LV

 

[Kief]

IT is messy. the sand doesn't like moisture, depending on how high quality of a set up you use. Make sure your compressor can handle the volume. You might need a compressor too. If you have a shop blast it you need to keep it out of the weather and prime right away. If you have a blaster you can do a little at a time. There was a thread on this a long time ago, it goes both ways, You might shop around just to be sure. Make sure the shop that does it doesn't blast it too hard which can heat and warp the steel. I don't have this problem with my little pressure pot blaster but a commercial outfit that isn't used to doing sheetmetal may not consider this.
Another thing to consider is the sand will get into places that you don't even know are there. Sometimes you might be better off just blasting the rusty and hard to access areas.

 

[foxfab]

do yourself a favor (and your house, and your dogs, and your wife) have a professional do it. IT is the most thankless and messiest job I have ever done. I will not do it again. ever. period.

 

[Lito]

I just had this done on my lv ( you can check it out here )http://www.dougjenkinscustomhotrods.com/truck_toyota_lc_01.html
I agree with everyone else, farm it out. Make sure you find a place that is very comfortable with old, hard to replace steel. The body on the LV is pretty stout, but if they aren't careful and warp it, you've opened a big ole can of worms. I shopped it to 3 shops before finding one that I felt comfortable with. The type of media they use is also very important, some is more forgiving than others. I spent a month of evenings and weekends sanding and grinding, making little progress and in 2 days they had it shiny and clean. Good luck.

 

[kellyo]

For $200 difference and not having to clean up get the pro to do it. $1,000 seems pretty reasonable to me.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

what about doing an acid dip?

Has anyone done this?

 

[wesintl]

do yourself a favor (and your house, and your dogs, and your wife) have a professional do it. IT is the most thankless and messiest job I have ever done. I will not do it again. ever. period.

x2

 

[AATLAS1X]

I have said this before and I will say it again. Dont use sand on any body panel!!! Use it on frames and rad supports. most use sand cause its cheap. Dont be cheap!

If no rust use walnut it will leave behind a clean smooth surface. This will allow you to see all spot welds clearly and make doing body work 10x easier.


Sand creates heat and takes away metal and warps s***!.

 

[notagp_afj55]

Dieselcruiseread is going thru the same delima on his 70 FJ55 body
in the FJ55 section just below this one. You might want to read his
resto thread on it as he had the very same question about his body

Its called: Biodiesel piggy #2 buildup

in the iron pig preservation society section

 

[bcraider]

I'd have to say get it done by a professional too. I just did bumpers and a few small things, but I gave up and paid for the rest of stuff to be done.

 

[SteveH]

I'm interested in what kind of sandblaster $800 will buy, but the pros are so good and fast, I'd recommend letting someone else do it. You can always get a small sandblaster (Harbor Freight) and use it for little brackets and such. Sandblasting small stuff is fun, but an entire frame or body would be incredibly time consuming and filthy-messy.

Steve

 

[rapovt]

I just finished sandblasting my 55. I have an 8 hp compressor, a $600 pressure blaster and an Arc one hood. The hood is the key. it has a battery powered blower mounted on your belt that sucks through 3 filters. i have particlate and niosh filters for painting. It also has tearoffs. I just blasted for 3 hours and did not get a bit of dust. I use black beauty #63 that is real fine. It gives a real smooth finish. I can do a fender on both sides in about 20 minutes.
I have now done 4 rigs

 

[merbesfield]

i would say that it is a function of how much you want to do it your self along with how professional your tools are. i.e. time and money. if you have the money to have serious professional tools you can do the job properly and fast. but if you have a small compressor, forget about doing it yourself and sub it out. one other thought, silica sand is getting a lot of negative press about it being health hazzard. do the research on google and you will see for yourself.

 

[ColoCruiserJeff]

Thanks to everyone for their advise! I went out this week and bought a $100 workbench top-sandblaster. I'm gonna do the small things like the hinges, bracketry and other little stuff. I'm going to have the frame professionally blasted first, along with the axles. I've got the body off of the rig, and now its "Show Time!" Thanks again!

I'll probably start-up a Resto-Thread on my truck under the FJ45 section, so if you want, be on the look-out over the next week or so. On Mike's website, www.Root45.com, there is a photo gallery of my truck. You can find it under this link: http://www.root45.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=12485

Its labeled "ColoCruiserJeff" THANKS MIKE !!!

I'll keep in touch and good luck with all of the other FJ45 projects out there!!

 

[warrior_1515]

Looks like you have a nice wagon to start a restoration with. Good luck

Dave

 

[AATLAS1X]

I went out this week and bought a $100 workbench top-sandblaster.

Spend $200 and buy the media cabinet from Harbor frieght. I have had mine for 2 years and with glass media it works fast! buy a $40 Home Depot vac to hook to it and your off.

Good luck

 

[ColoCruiserJeff]

I've got a RIGID shop vac that I'll use in the cab. I got the one from Harbor Freight. Just need to get the blasting media. Thanks again you guys & gals!