Tips For Sandblasting Your Auto Parts Clean
If you have some very dirty car parts you're trying to clean, you may find that some of them are just too difficult to clean with detergents. This is where sandblasting can come in handy. Sandblasting allows you to get those parts clean that detergent just can't help. An example of a part you'd be better off sandblasting clean would be a wheel damaged by brake dust and road salt. If you plan on sandblasting some of your car's parts, you want to follow some of the tips below:
Be safe
The first thing you want to do is make sure you're being safe. Sandblasting causes microscopic dust to come into the air. This dust can get in your eyes and lungs. This is why you want to make sure you wear protective gear, such as safety goggles and a breathing mask when you're sandblasting. You also want to wear long clothing and gloves to protect your skin.
Use a blasting cabinet
When you sandblast auto parts, or anything, you want a way to contain the sand. Otherwise, it'll just blow all over everything. This can ruin the paint on anything in your garage and damage other items, such as delicate machinery.
You want a cabinet large enough to fit the parts you're sandblasting and leave you extra room to work. The cabinet needs to have a glass, or plastic, window so you can see what you're doing. It also needs holes for your arms and the hose. You can purchase a cabinet, or make one yourself, if your crafty at making things.
Sandblast carefully
When you're sandblasting auto parts, you want to be careful. Keep in mind that keeping the sand blasting on one area can cause extreme pitting and can completely damage certain parts. You want to be sure you keep the blasting gun moving over the part at all times. Don't stop on one area for more than a second. You want to blast on the lowest setting possible that does the job.
Stop after a few moments and check the auto part. You want to blast it clean, but not pit into the actual metal of the part. Once you're done blasting the part clean, you want to blow the sand off of it. At this point, you should see that the part looks clean again. Sandblasting is a great alternative when cleaning detergents just won't do the job.
Tip: Some parts shouldn't be cleaned by sandblasting, such as those with plastic or rubber parts or pieces where blasting can prevent them from working properly or fitting tightly. Talk to your local sandblasting company, such as Powder Coating Specialties, for more information.