Soda Blasting

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Jan 5, 2006 | 01:24 PM

dboncio99

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From: Portland OR

Soda Blasting

OK, Even thogh I am still working my way through the interior and electrical problems of my 81, I am looking at paint as the next step when I get it back together. I am not doing a frame off resto but I have gutted the interior and am trying to get most things back to functional and fairly stock. Back to my questions..

I cannot find a paint code anywhere on the vehicle, no codes on thje door and also has anyone ever had one of these SODA BLASTED to strip the paint? I have heard this is a good process and does not leave a bad gel coat to be redone. It won't hurt glass or rubber etc. Any experience with this?

Jan 5, 2006 | 03:58 PM

vetteboy1976kr

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From: cincinnati oh

Your paint code should be on a metal tag in the drivers door jam (by the cowl).

I haven't had mine soda blasted yet, but I have talked to other vette owners who have. It costs about $600 to do the whole car. Most of these guys had the car gutted (no interior,engine, trans) when they did it because it is messy. But, it save manual stripping. If you have the $$, I would do it. If not, get out the razor blades and sandpaper. Also find someone who has done a vette before.

Jan 5, 2006 | 04:03 PM

dboncio99

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From: Portland OR

OK, THanks! This guy has done it before, he says he tapes up everything but I am sure it can be a messy proposition, just wish I 'd heard of it before redoing her interior! Cost is about 400-600 to have done. The paint guy I have talked to really likes the result also.

Jan 5, 2006 | 04:13 PM

Jerry.Everett

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I had my wife's 75' Rdsr done this way when I did the restoration on it. It cost >$600. I wouldn't do it again. For $75. worth of Captain Lee's Spray and Strip you get the same results. Took me a day to do the 70' I'm working on with stripper and I didn't have the bother of trailering the car and waiting a week.

Jan 5, 2006 | 04:56 PM

Muddywaters

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From: Salinas Ca.

I tried Soda on my allum. intake and valve covers...couldn't get it to do a thing for me...ummm

Jan 5, 2006 | 05:13 PM

MIKER

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 1999

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From: Tolar Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by dboncio99

....and also has anyone ever had one of these SODA BLASTED to strip the paint? I have heard this is a good process and does not leave a bad gel coat to be redone. It won't hurt glass or rubber etc. Any experience with this?

I tried to use a soda blaster on my '80 this past summer. The results were not good. The paint seemed to be harder than the fiberglass so as soon as the soda would get through the paint, it would immediately start erroding into the fiberlass leaving a very undesirable finish. I stopped using the soda blaster after doing both doors. A LOT of priming and sanding was required to salvage the doors.

The soda blaster worked fairly well on the urethane bumpers but would would still damage the surface if you moved too slowly.

However, it worked GREAT on the '70 Mach 1 and '66 Galaxie 500 convertible that we did. Another bonus is that the soda will dissolve when washed with water so you don't have to worry about the powder blowing out of the various cracks and crevaces when spraying paint.

Perhaps an experienced soda blast operator could do a Vette without damage but I couldn't make it work.

Jan 5, 2006 | 06:02 PM

Roadster71

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From: Oxford CT

Have it dry media blasted. This is a small plastic media about the size of a kernal of rice. Had my 71 stripped this way and it came out great!
The problem with chemical stripping is it may get absorbed by the fiberglass and perk out after the car is painted.