Soda Blasting

[fine69]

I'm still working on the body-on resto as time permits. I picked up one of thse Eastwood blasters that converts between abrasive blasting and bicarbonate of soda blast media. Converting to to the soda setting, I was able to remove paint from nooks and crannies that I couldn't reach very well using sandpaper.

I wouldn't do a whole car using this method - as it blasts about a quarter-size at a time - I used about half of a 25 lb bag of Armex XL soda blast media to do the jam/pillars and louvers. It would probably take 5-6 bags to do a whole car. At $40 a bag, costs can add up quickly.

It removes paint quickly and does not etch metal (it removed a couple layers of paint from the trim tag perfectly). The process was easy and actually pretty fun -- but What a mess! My driveway looked like a winter wonderland - but the cool thing is that the stuff dissolved with water and I was able hose-down driveway and get it cleaned-up in a relatively short time.

I then thoroughly cleaned the fiberglass with a water/vinegar solution -- and then follow-up with soap and water... and then rinsed, rinsed, rinsed.

Here are some pics....

 

[Mac]

According to my friend 67HEAVEN, full strip only takes 4 bags but that's with a larger blaster designed for soda.

Chapter 11 - Paint Removal

-Mac

 

[fine69]

According to my friend 67HEAVEN, full strip only takes 4 bags but that's with a larger blaster designed for soda.

Chapter 11 - Paint Removal

-Mac

That makes sense for the larger blasters.

Although the one I have is also for soda, it is by no means an industrial/commercial type of unit. It's good for the hobbyist. etc.

 

[Mac]

That makes sense for the larger blasters.

Although the one I have is also for soda, it is by no means an industrial/commercial type of unit. It's good for the hobbyist. etc.

It still looks like a better way to go than sandpaper!

-Mac

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Just curious here, your trim tag appears to say E14 (Dec 14) but your sig says Dec 20. Why the 6 day difference?

 

[fine69]

Just curious here, your trim tag appears to say E14 (Dec 14) but your sig says Dec 20. Why the 6 day difference?

Mikey -- hmmm good question. I got the Dec 20th date from OEM Glass (http://www.oemglass.net/date_coding.html) - they decoded the info from my original windshield when they replaced it. I can't remember the name of the gentleman with whom I spoke with back then, but he seemed extremely knowledgeable.

You think it's safe to say at the least, it's Dec 1968? To be honest, I'm not much into the numbers game and should remove that info on my signature... I just thought it was kind of cool to get that info.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

The glass guy probably used one of the reverse engineered date decoders that unfortunately are known to have some serious errors in them.

The trim tag date of E14 is a much better reference as it represents the actual date the tag was attached to the body as it went down the assembly line. Barring unusual circumstances, the car was finished the next day or day after that.

 

[fine69]

The glass guy probably used one of the reverse engineered date decoders that unfortunately are known to have some serious errors in them.

The trim tag date of E14 is a much better reference as it represents the actual date the tag was attached to the body as it went down the assembly line. Barring unusual circumstances, the car was finished the next day or day after that.

Ah - very cool. Thanks for the helpful info, Mikey!