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Restoring 30 year or older automotive parts can be
challenging. Many times the parts are corroded from
chemicals or rust. Removing the old finish can be a
challenge but if you have a compressor and a
sandblaster, you can usually remove the old finish
without any problem.

I use a cabinet bead blaster for smaller parts. The
glass bead will remove the old finish with good
results though it isn’t as aggressive as sand.
Carburetors and more delicate parts clean well in the
cabinet.

For larger items I use a gravity fed sandblast
pressure pot. This forces the sand out at high
velocity through a small opening which will remove
most any finish in short order. This system is for
outside use but works wonders on old wheels, rear
axles, etc. Many people will try to reuse the sand by
capturing it, sifting it to remove impurities, then
returning it to the pot. I have found this to be false
economy and that’s why the area around my shop
resembles the beach.

As with all tools you must protect yourself from
injury. The blast cabinet is nice because it is ready
to use, has a vacuum to remove glass dust particles,
and requires no eye protection. The pressure pot is
more dangerous and does require a minimum of a hood
and a dust mask. Sand contains silica and in a dust
form can be breathed into the lungs and do fatal
damage. Most all manufacturers recommend an external
air supply while blasting.

After the part is clean you need to be ready to prime
& paint the part. If left unprotected many times you
will come out the next day to a new coat of surface
rust. When cleaned and painted properly, those old
parts can look better than new.

Any questions or comments can be directed to
ron@5RRestorations.com or call Ron at 281-346-2417.