Spot blasting or wire wheel (1 Viewer)

[Varty Yo]

So im just curious what you guys think the best course of action would be for a few trouble areas on a cruiser? Would it be better to just spot sandblast areas or wire wheel them to expose rust etc. At this point i dont feel a body off full resto is in order or gonna happen. If it gets to that point ill go with a new tub more then likely.

Anyone done this? Just wire wheel to expose bondo/rust areas?

 

[45Kevin]

I have a small sand blaster gun and a big compressor, so I spot sand blast.

But a wire wheel and spraying with a rust converter would probably do just as well.

Beating rust is an ongoing never ending issue.

 

[brian]

a wire wheel rarely gets rid of all the rust. it would help you find it and uncover it, but you would still need another method of dealing with it.

 

[thebigredrocker]

I've sure been pleased with parts I've sent to blasting. What a time saver.

That said, I've put in many a night, wire wheeling. I've learned to stay away from chinese cup brushes sold at high foot traffic stores. They grenade quickly. Spend an extra few bucks at a welding supply shop on quality brushes. As you probably know, eye protection is a must when wire wheeling. If you don't have flap disc's I'd recommed a few different grits from your welding supply guy. One of my favorite grinder attachments is the Norton rapid strip blue disc. It'll take more than a wire cup brush but isn't as aggresive as most sandpaper based flap discs
Here's the Norton:

 

[UZJ40]

I spent A LOT of time wire wheeling my but, only to end up sand blasting it later. I wasn't able to get into the corners and crevices like I wanted with the discs. I wish I would have just sandblasted in the first place!

 

[Varty Yo]

Now how big of a pain would it be sandblasting with body still on?

 

[luvdamud]

Now how big of a pain would it be sandblasting with body still on?

To be honest, it depends entirely on where you need to clear out the rust. It should be pretty obvious when you look at a spot to decide if it's easier to blast vs. brush. Sand blasting is normally more accommodative to tight spaces and odd angles than trying to fit a wire wheel in. I think you'll be happier with the results if you just focus on sand blasting.

I don't think you've said yet where you need to clean out rust: frame, tub, engine compartment, or ?

 

[Varty Yo]

Just a couple spots on the body. Frame has been taken care of. Also coated with por15.

 

[Hack]

Spot blast. Less likelihood of ending up with wire in your eye.... Plus it will profile the surface to accept primer/paint.

 

[Varty Yo]

i wear the proper pipe when working at home lol

 

[Hack]

i wear the proper pipe when working at home lol

Having spent the entire afternoon in ophthalmic emergency, having a doctor use a hypodermic needle to pick out the debris from my cornea (I was wearing glasses, but not goggles, while wire wheeling rust/bondo off my 1979 Bronco), it's an experience I wouldn't wish on others....

 

[Varty Yo]

I hear yah man. Eye injuries suuuuck

 

[brian]

Spot blast. Less likelihood of ending up with wire in your eye.....

PPE prevents that

 

[luvdamud]

Proper protection is always a good idea ... here's a pic of a wire wheel injury. Not me, I grabbed it from another thread that I was looking at today. All I can say is OUCH!

 

[Hack]

PPE prevents that

Goggles AND a face shield. Regular safety glasses sent me to the ER...

 

[Hack]

All I can say is OUCH!

View attachment 1364557

Luckily never got one in the finger. Quite a few in the chest and legs though.... Homegrown acupuncture? Modified nipple piercing???

 

[crashn]

When using a wire wheel check to see what RPM's it is rated for. I agree the cheap ones will shoot of the wires. Most cheap wire cups will flare out to look like a wire wheel when used at to high of an RPM. I have seen face shields pierced with wire fragments. Use with caution.

Best of luck with the process.

 

[sggoat]

a wire wheel rarely gets rid of all the rust. it would help you find it and uncover it, but you would still need another method of dealing with it.

X-2--Wire wheel merely polishes the rust

 

[Varty Yo]

Id more use the wire wheel t odig out any filler

 

[120mm]

The only wire wheel I'd recommend for rust removal would be a Rust Thug

It gets into places and destroys rust that other wire wheels cannot.