Sandblasting?????

[D.W.]

So I got my first project home,a 1930 Model A roadster,& ive been stripping away some surface rust.Mostly sanding but using a small speedblaster w/ playground sand to get in the tight areas ya struggle to reach w/ sandpaper.Works great.It has however,been suggested to me that using actual sand instead of a plastic media will "impregnate" the steel w/ silica making the surface difficult to paint.Old wives tale? I'm using a 33 gal. home compressor that struggles to keep up so it's puttin out at around 50-60 psi.If this "silica impregnation" is horse shit then i'd like to keep using sand cause it works great w/ no pitting at the low pressure. let fly w/ the sand or spring for the plastic?

[krooser]

I guess I've got a lot of stuff "silica inpregnated" over the years....first I've heard of it! Wait a minute...Come to think of it I used to date a girl...here name was "Sandy"...what a weird coincidence!

[D.W.]

ouch!!!!!!!

[Tman]

Just be carefull and dont warp the shit outta the steel. At your PSI, you should be fine.

[fab32]

Like Tman said, be careful not to warp the panels. Keep the pressure down, keep the nozzle moving don't concentrate the blast in one area, don't get too close with the nozzle and blast at an angle instead for straight on.
There is such a thing as silica impregnation, but if the area is properly prepped after blasting you should be OK. There are probably a billion (McDonalds numbers) cars out there that have been blasted and suffering no ill effects.

Frank

[Henry Floored]

Take care to protect yourself properly and wear breathing protection for sure. That fine silica dust can play hell with your lungs. Do it safely D.W.

[desertratrodder]

Definitely wear a breathing mask. Silica lung will kill you.
Just make sure you get all the sand out of the nooks and crannies. Maybe doesnt apply to a Model A, but I had a 65 Ranchero I bought from a guy that was all blasted.
The sand filled the rockers and frame and any other area. It holds water too. What was supposed to be a good car turned out to be a rusted out POS.
Sand will always appear from nowhere when you are painting too.