Garnet Blasting Wheels...anyone had it done? - *NOW PAINTED*

[Lucky_Luke]

Hey forumites!

I'm looking to get my rims re-sprayed.

They're cast aluminium but before spraying they need to be cleaned up ... so i was looking to get them blasted...I believe getting them blasted is a much more efficient way then sanding by hand ... lol which would probably take weeks..
However sand blasting is too rough for the aluminium and will leave the surface rather pitted...

I've spoken with a few people and believe bead blasting is a better option but after ringing a few places around town, they're talking about \"garnet blasting\" them which has an apparently similar finish to bead.

Has anyone had any experience with garnet blasting?
Or know of the finish it might leave?
Any one know of any reputable blasters in Adelaide?
or pricing to expect for 4 wheels?


Any help would be great!
Cheers,
L.

[Benny]

It isn't likely that they actually use real garnets as they are semi-precious stones.
As the metal used in wheels is soft, I would use whatever the softest material they can to bead blast your wheels, otherwise they could end up with a hammer like finish on them.

I saw a show on cable where they were overhauling tanks (the ones with the big gun on the front of them) and these hulks looked like beaten up bits of rust, admittedly very large ones.
They put them in this big machine that fired bits of steel at them for about 40 minutes.
They came out all shiny and new looking, but the surface looked like a miniature moon surface - which is OK for a tank, but not for your wheels.

I would suggest you find someone that uses soft plastic beads.

[bruce]

I agree with Benny. Reading Street Machine they featured soda blasting. A nice soft medium which doesn't cut into the metal, but hard enough to remove paints/rust/bog.

[Lucky_Luke]

Thanks guys, yeah i've been doing a bit of research,
the garnet is more of a sand anyway but not as rough as plain quartz sand blasting.
I've also got a few bits of info and vids on soda blasting.. although apparently alot more expensive.. apparently it would give the best results..

check this..



I'll see how we go there isnt many places that advertise soda blasting.. i'll have to do a ring around..

I'll prob get it done after xmas, but will put a few pics up after its done..

Cheers guys.
Luke.

[Benny]

I think anyone could do a can of soda.

[Lucky_Luke]

For those who might be interested in fixing up their wheels -

I finally got my wheels blasted, $20each with garnet, dropped em off this morning and picked them up at lunch time.

I tried using a cheap sandblaster at home borrowed from a mate but besides the mess, my compressor wasn't able to cut enough material off, and was only really taking the clear and most of the paint off but not cutting through to the aluminium. Would be ideal for small jobs but this 2pack paint is tough stuff!

My opinion, just pay someone to with the proper setup, easier and less mess.

Will post some before and after pics soon.

L.

[Alex]

wow I would have expected it to cost alot more than that
I'll keep it in mind for if I ever want some wheels painted

[Ajay]

pics luke!!!

[Lucky_Luke]

Yeah its surprisingly well priced.
the slightly pitted surface is clean as a whistle and should provide a really good base for the epoxy primer to bond to.

heres a few pics ..

**CLickY**






L.

[PUR157]

Looks quality for $20 a pop...

Whats going to happen to them now? any special colours in mind?

[Lucky_Luke]

Yeah i was quite surprized with the finish.

Just got to fix up the gutter rash and then they'll be primed and painted.

No real special colours in my mind, just going back to the original bright hyper silver that they where. Main reason for the clean up was slight corrosion at the base of some of the spokes which the blasting has taken care of and gutter rash(which wasnt me) after blasting they look like new now, cant wait to get the mettallic on them with the clear!



Any suggestions of exact colours/mixes i could use??
I'll only be going by eye otherwise..

L.

[spitty]

G,day Luke. I have a set of NA8 rims to fit on my wifes Laser. I had thought of cleaning them up but for $20 a rim Where did you take them Cheers John

[Lucky_Luke]

Hey John,

I had a bit of trouble finding a reputable place around adelaide and just ended up running with a place i found in wingfield near my office.

Wingfield Abrasive Blasting
53 Plymouth Rd, Wingfield
8243 1618

The guy only needed a days notice, but just give them a call and speak to Graham, he also runs a paint shop there too. The place looks half dodgy but they're friendly enough and did a really nice job.

L.

[Sean]

I agree with Benny. Reading Street Machine they featured soda blasting. A nice soft medium which doesn't cut into the metal, but hard enough to remove paints/rust/bog.

I have a friend who runs a Soda Blasting operation In Heatherbrae (just off the end of the Newcastle/Sydney Freeway on the Newcastle end).

He most types of blasting, including basic Garnet, right through to Soda. He tells me he could blast a car in Soda, leave the glass in, remove the paint and not harm the glass

As you mentioned though the Soda is more expensive, mostly due to the blast media itself being much more expensive, it's also mess abrasive, so if the car is rough/rusty/bogged up, the Soda will take a lot more time, effort and blast media to get the job done, making it an even more expensive proposition.

Cam (the owner) is a car nut himself and has a few nice Old School Falcons in his garage, including a genuine RPO83

I'm sure he'd be happy to look after any NSW mx5ers looking for blasting work, espescially if you mention MX5 Sean LOL.

http://www.bicarb.com.au/

[Uncle Arthur]

So the tyres remained on? or off?