Media-blasting Wheels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Penfield NY
Media-blasting Wheels
My wheels need repainting so I would like to get them media-blasted or sandblasted or whatever. What kind of business do I look up that does this? Regular body shops or what?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: New Hartford Iowa
Sometimes auto parts machine shops or rebuilders have a glass bead blasting cabinet. You can do an internet search under "metal finishing" and find someone that can do sandblasting. Sandblasting leaves a bit rougher surface so I prefer glass bead.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
Steel wheels can be sand blasted and while the finish may have a somewhat rougher finish they will look just fine once painted. Blasting with glass beads is even more gentle on them and will produce a smoother finish. Soda blasting will remove the paint, but not the rust, if there is any. Beware you need to clean them properly after soda blasting or the paint could just 'flake' off. Just type in media blasting, or sand blasting. Most local bodyshops will have the ability to sand blast them. Other places specialize in blasting of all sorts. If you have a diesel shop, or trucking machine shop in your area they will certainly have a blasting cabinet. If you have an air compressor, you might consider buying a Harbor Freight Blasting Cabinet for $179 (on sale). It might not be that much more than having them done ....then you have the blaster for other restoration work.
Good luck,
Mark G
Good luck,
Mark G
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 567
Likes: 5
From: bradenton fl
i had my wheels blasted at a local head stone/grave stone company. Ask that they use a finer sand. Paid less then 1/2 what i was quoted from paint shops. Came out great. Local painter told me about it. I was like WHAT?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
Mark g
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,321
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From: Western NY
You also have to be careful when you're getting ready to paint/coat the wheels that you get the tiny crack between the centers and outer rims, on the front side, covered with whatever finish you're using. If they were sandblasted really thouroughly, that area is bare, and although it's a real pain to fog paint down in there, they'll rust if you don't....
