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

Body, Paint, Interior and Trim questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, -alex, miata, zombie, Andrew

Post Reply
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

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

Postby Lucky_Luke » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:24 am

Hey forumites! :D

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.
Last edited by Lucky_Luke on Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:55 am, edited 2 times in total.
Top
User avatar
Benny
Speed Racer
Posts: 2607
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Gorgeous Sydney
Contact:
Contact Benny

Postby Benny » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:52 am

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.
Image
ALWAYS RUNNING, SP with Bilstein Coil Overs and Doof Doof sound. Member of the Fat Bastards Racing Team
Top
User avatar
bruce
Speed Racer
Posts: 7771
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NA8 - Turbo
Location: Victoria
Contact:
Contact bruce

Postby bruce » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:30 pm

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.
Top
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

Postby Lucky_Luke » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:15 pm

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..

Image

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.
Top
User avatar
Benny
Speed Racer
Posts: 2607
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Gorgeous Sydney
Contact:
Contact Benny

Postby Benny » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:59 pm

I think anyone could do a can of soda. :mrgreen:
Image
ALWAYS RUNNING, SP with Bilstein Coil Overs and Doof Doof sound. Member of the Fat Bastards Racing Team
Top
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

Postby Lucky_Luke » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:21 pm

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.
Top
User avatar
Alex
Racing Driver
Posts: 1654
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:54 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Sydney

Postby Alex » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:36 pm

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
Image
Red NB8A - BD rollbar - Hardtop
Top
User avatar
Ajay
Racing Driver
Posts: 901
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:07 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Western Sydney, NSW
Contact:
Contact Ajay

Postby Ajay » Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:55 pm

pics luke!!!
Image
Top
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

Postby Lucky_Luke » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:43 am

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**

Image
Image
Image


L.
Top
User avatar
PUR157
Racing Driver
Posts: 967
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:26 pm
Vehicle: Clubman
Location: Sydney, Capital of Australia
Contact:
Contact PUR157

Postby PUR157 » Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:22 pm

Looks quality for $20 a pop...

Whats going to happen to them now? any special colours in mind?
Oneness of Man and Machine
Image
Top
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

Postby Lucky_Luke » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:27 am

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! :D

Image

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

L.
Top
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

Postby Lucky_Luke » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:39 am

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.
Top
User avatar
Sean
Racing Driver
Posts: 1755
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: NSW
Contact:
Contact Sean

Re:

Postby Sean » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:45 pm

bruce wrote: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 :shock:

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 8)

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/
When results speak for themselves - don't interrupt.
Top
User avatar
Uncle Arthur
Dodgy Award Benefactor
Posts: 1802
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Doesn't matter where I'm from-it's that your daughter is with me that's the biggest concern :D
Contact:
Contact Uncle Arthur

Postby Uncle Arthur » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:22 pm

So the tyres remained on? or off?
Founder of the QLD Chapter of the Honourable Brothers of Dodgy.

Benefactor of the Perpetual Dodgy award - Inaugural year 2007.
Top
User avatar
Lucky_Luke
Fast Driver
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:45 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Adelaide
Contact:
Contact Lucky_Luke

Postby Lucky_Luke » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:38 am

I Left the tyres on, just got the faces blasted, i had the tyres off not long ago and and inspected to inside which is perfect.

The guy whos painting them asked me to leave them on, but in hindsight i probably should have got them off.
I'm still considering it before painting, which will make it easier to fix the gutter rash. We'll see i'm still giving them sand atm.

He thinks he can mask them perfectly but i'd be more concerned about the tyre guys scratching the wheels up after trying to put the tyres on.

L.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “MX5 Body, Paint, Interior & Trim”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 6 guests