Spot Blasting Seams

[Combehatter]

Sooo.....

Nice sunny day, no camping plans - lets have a crack at the seams......

Got my brand new spot blasting gun out, taped the seams and have at it - however it takes the paint off both sides but just isn't getting into the old seam sealant? The gap is a lot narrower than I thought and the opening on the gun is about 10mm wide.

Any tips? New narrower gun, cutting disk on my dremel (type) thing??

Ta

CH

[bigherb]

You have to rake the old sealant out first.

[Plasticman]

and what medium are you using
mm

[Combehatter]

It's a lot tougher than I envisaged!

Have resorted to the rotary tool and using that to get it out then blasting after, seems to be doing the trick. One seam open and now covered in vatcan. once dry I will re seal, prime and paint.

Looks like a seam a day, gonna take a few weeks!

MM - I'm using 60-80 Ali oxide from Machine mart. Wrong stuff?

[CovKid]

Sadly the seams are a terrible weak point and almost impossible to completely solve (at least long term) without new metal to start with. You can keep it at bay and occasionally stop it completely but sooner or later you'll spot a bubble of paint somewhere....

[Plasticman]

no it will suffice.
there are many different products and also sizes as you need the particals to get right in, i use several different ones as things progress and you also could do with opening the seam a touch but that can lead to tears if you get it wrong , otherwise just keep at it
mm

[Combehatter]

Cheers gents,

They are not terrible by any means, just want to keep on top of them!

[Plasticman]

oh and please please do not go near them with an angle grinder as taking the tops of the steel to get to the bottom of them will ruin your panel. im finding more and more of this now and it can render a panel useless unless you like filler
mm

[Combehatter]

Ha! I did think about it but just went for the really small dremel style cutting disks - it eats them though!