I have found a sandblasting and powder coating company that has a booth big enough to sandblast my bed and put a powder coat primer on it.

The only worry would be if the sandblasting would warp any of the panels my other alternative is to spend the time and just strip and sand it clean.

I already had them do the tailgate and it turned out great. But it is much stronger and less open panels. They have claimed to be able to do the work without damage. But if he is wrong a nice very straight bed is ruined.

Has anyone already done it and is the shape such that it is strong enough.

 

If they actually blast with sand than that would cause some problems. Sheet metal needs to be blasted I think with a lower pressure and a different media other than sand. I'm not sure exactly is best, I know glass beads and walnuts are for softer metals, but I think it could be a matter of just pressure with sand. If they are a sandblasting company they should know what they are doing. Ya, you don't want a screwed up straight panel. A powder coated primer, huh? I've never heard that before. That's pretty cool.

 

Heres some info about a few different blast medias:

Sandblasting Media, Grit Blasting, Abrasive Sandblasting, Abrasive Blasting Media, Abrasive Blast Media

 

I blasted my hood with glass bead on my own, took all 3 coats of different colors off easily with no warpage.
Only thing I can't get past is the factory primer with my gun... But I'm sure they can get or will get to bare steel since they are a company..

 

I will talk to them tomorrow and ask if they use different media for special circumstances. I really need to do the bed floor regardless but I am not worrying about that part.

 

We did NOT blast my bedsides with sand. We did everything else with no issues but hand sanded the bedsides.

Ask if they can media blast. My local shop is going to do all of my trim including drip rail trim which is really thin material.

I you dont mind...would you give me a hint on price that they are charging. Just want to compare.

 

I don't know a whole lot about sand but I have a friend that does it and he has used walnut shells before on thinner metals and it works for him

 

Grinnergetter I will get a price today when I talk to him about the media.

 

I had my entire truck blasted at the beginning of the project, bed, frame, body, even interior. The media used was a garnet/walnut shell mix, but that can be a little risky on long body panels like fenders and hoods. As mentioned previously, a reduction in pressure was probably needed, but also it has a lot to do with technique in blasting.

Regardless of the material used, technique can also have an effect upon the amount of heat that can build up during the blasting process. If the gun is held perpendicular to the surface treated, it's a direct shot that in essence is trying to go through the panel. Since that obviously can't happen (well, unless there's a LOT of rust), and since the material isn't given a good angle to depart the blasted surface, the energy is tranferred by means of increased friction, which translates to heat. As most of us know, heat is risky when applied to body panels.

So, the remedy to this is to apply the media at an angle that still provides for good material removal, but reduces the amount of heat that's allowed to build as some of the energy can be rebounded harmlessly back into the air. Now, that's not to imply that the media doesn't matter....media choice is every bit as important.

If I had my choice, and the money, I probably would have had the entire job done with soda blasting. The chances of warping a panel with soda and the proper technique is reduced considerably from that of using sand and handing the gun to a teenager that thinks he's in a shootout in outer space.

I liked the idea of blasting, as once the bed was done, I immediately took it and had the bed and interior floor and walls done in Line-X bedliner. The etched surface provided great adhesion for the line-x, and pretty much waterproofed the bed and floor of my truck.

Overall, my truck came out unscathed, but there was minor evidence of warping on some panels that had to be addressed during the bodywork portion of the project. I know Buford is no show winner, but it came out good enough for my standards. But then, I've spent months having to vacuum remnants of garnet/walnut shell that keeps falling out of nooks and crannies of the cab...lol. Anyway, that's my $0.02 on the subject.

 

I spoke to them today and they say that with their techniques and mix of grit they will not cause any damage. They have done many of them.

For grinnergetter, the price he quotes is $80 an hour and they thought inside and outside including turning it upside down for the bottome was between 3 and 4 hours. So I am looking at $320. Seems like a good deal compared to sanding and stripping, as long as no damage is done. Because it is a Camper Special the interior of the bed and the bottom are pretty well shaped so I am not worried. I may just end up with the exterior for me to do.

 

i would check out soda blasting, from what i've heard it is a lot better and no need to remove trim. also, you can do in driveway and rinse it away.






into your neighbor's yard of course.