Shot/bead/sand blasting.

[Patbretagne]

In UK, aparently, it is now the only way to go about a tractor restore is to shotblast the whole chebang and then prime and repair, anything less is de-rigeur. Certainly it gets back to bare metel which gives a very good key for future paint coats, but is it neccessary?

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on shot/sand/bead blasting and it's benefits.

As a sidenote, we blasted the beams in our house when we were restoring it, they were nearly 1/4 inch thick in 160 years of paint. Very efficient, but we still find bits of black sand coming out of cracks 4 years later. The other day Noëlle started up her electric piano and there was a bass note stuck that vibrated the house and black bits jumped out of everywhere.
Thanks Pat

[Carm]

I personally like the glass bead blasting. I clean the part, then do an initial blast. I then will use chemical stripper if necessary then clean and reblast. I like to start with fresh metal, I think it is the best for repainting. Now for a simple touch up, I will just scuff nad paint. I use the blaster at work for most things and it uses fine beads, a medium is probably better for the heavier castings and such, but since we have fine beads, thats what I use!

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

There are many different ways to accomplish a job, depending on your talents and what you want. My sugestion is not to sand blast an assembled item. the dust gets into many places (seals, beaings, etc.) that you don't want it, no matter how well you attempt to protect it. I assume bead blasting does not have such a severe problem.

[George Willer]

Pat,

I prefer to send my tractors out for sandblasting so I don't have the health risk or the sand mess to clean up. I do have plywood dummies to bolt on everywhere anything has been removed to keep the sand out.

I do clean off the crud as much as possible to make the blasting easier. Accumulated grease doesn't blast very well.

For small parts I have a home made blasting cabinet here in the shop that I use a lot. It's difficult, but I have done parts as large as the radiator base in it.

The very first Cub I restored was completely stripped with paint remover. Never again!

[Carm]

Actually John, thost darn beads get everywhere you don't want them as well!

[Patbretagne]

For small parts I have a home made blasting cabinet here in the shop that I use a lot. It's difficult, but I have done parts as large as the radiator base in it.(

George, could you give us an idea how this goes? A ply box lined with rubber?, How do you see?, that is if you do see etc, compressor size?...
I'd be very interested to make something up myself.
A full blown sand blasting setup needs a diesel rotovane compressor with a large output and the blaster, helmet etc which is dear to buy, but useful to have around.
Thanks Pat

[George Willer]

Pat,

The cabinet is quite simple to build and has been in use for maybe 10 years. It isn't especially pretty. Maybe my camera and I can get together and make up a construction article if there's enough interest and the days get long enough.

[Carm]

A construction diagram would be nice!

[Patbretagne]

Thanks George, I get the idea, but as Carm says and if your camera and you have time, it would be great to have an article on the cabinet, what and how, thanks again
Pat

[Jack fowler]

Patbretagne


Vous vivez dans une belle région de la France. J'étais dans votre beau pays il y a un an et je n'oublierai jamais la bonté du peuple de la France.

Merci, famille Fowler

[Patbretagne]

Hi Fowler Family,
You are right, personally, and perhaps I am biased, I think that Finistère where we are situated takes a lot of beating, we don't have the mountans, the plains the rivers, we have the mist the rain and the sun, but yes you are right, it aint harf good!
I cannot claim to be French, I am Anglosaxon d'origine but Français/Breton by adoption, my wife pure Breton.
Bonté your right!
Next time your over here, you must visit our collection and some others in the reagion, like Yaume who often posts.
Good to hear from you, keep in touch,
pat

[Jim Becker]

A construction diagram would be nice!

TP Tools has a booklet on do it yourself blasting cabinets

http://www.tptools.com/dept.asp?dept_id=12&dept_focus=53&from_header=yes

[Carm]

Thanks Jim, I'll check it out.

[Patbretagne]

Yes thanks Jim that's given me an idea too, I'll be cheching out in France,
Pat

[dyt4000]

Patbretagne


Vous vivez dans une belle région de la France. J'étais dans votre beau pays il y a un an et je n'oublierai jamais la bonté du peuple de la France.

Merci, famille Fowler

TRANSLATION:

You live in a beautiful area of France. I was in your beautiful country one year ago and I will never forget the kindness of the people of France.

Thank you, Fowler family

Naturellement, je ne sais pas parler français, près il y a d'abondance des sites Web qui traduiront des langauges multiples à anglais ou à français !