Blasting, dipping.. Paint Removal!

[ed_the_robot]

Having started to tear into our project truck:





My thougts are already turning to paint. Well, removing every spec of it, above and below.

So does anyone have experience, had a van or camper blasted, or dipped? Roughly how much did it cost?

I understand some of the pros and cons, but i'd be interested in hearing first hand whats good

[Plasticman]

excluding your own time so to speak, what sort of budget have you for paint removal/painting and welding
mm

[ed_the_robot]

Was hoping you'd reply metalmick8y.

I'd like to budget whatever it'll cost to get all paint removed as I feel it's the only way I'm going to get a long lasting truck, she's going to be busy when she's eventually finished.

Body repairs and welding I want to carry out myself but I've got no equipment to remove the paint, aside from brute force, effort and soul destroying time with a compressor that I know won't be up to much blasting at it!

Could I expect £1000 to cover blasting a barebones shell with chassis rails attached? I've seen a 2k figure for dipping.

Ta fella

[Plasticman]

blasting,,, you could if you had a guy that knew what he was doing but very very easy to distort panels,also you will omnly blast what you can see, so it would do the exposed stuff but all the little area and not so little where the rot lurks then you wont get that, hence the chem dip , its fierce but depends on your stomache and how thorough a job you want to do ,
personaly i would only do it if it was a van that had merit (not knocking yours)that is to say it was scarce or to be a show type of for a very long term keeper etc,also with the dip it really does remove all the nastys and i would not attempt it without the ability to have tig/gas available as mig is not the tool for a lot of the letting in work that would be required
you have to consider the insides of the lockers and such,
me i would find a firm that would blast with a lighter medium, husks/crushed shell there are so many variables, ive not used dry ice on bodies so thats worth exploring
mm

[huggy76]

Firstly let me start by saying I have had neither blasting done or dipped my van.

But have often wondered if you have a vehicle dipped surely unless it is re-dipped in paint again as per factory you will never recoat all the painted areas?

If my thoughts are correct it can only make it worse in the long run as you will never be able to spray everywhere i.e. any box sections.

[Plasticman]

They are dipped after and when you done done your Steel repairs thehg do it again swam processs almost as OE
mm

[ed_the_robot]

Cheers guys. Metalmick8y, what do you mean by the term letting in? :p

I am planning on using mig to install replacement metal. Biggest pig jobs I can see are the cab steps, passenger side sill under the locker door and a few other areas of rot in corners between several panels.

I'd consider gas though. I've got a gas set but currently have no bottles. I've seen arguments against using gas on panels due to warping from excess heat.. Guess it's possible if you've got the skills! I've always appreciated gas welding though, more artisan than wielding a mig gun haha!

So back to paint. The body is covered in one extra, poorly applied layer of red, over the original paint. The underside is black underseal, maybe wax oil or something... I'd love to motor the project along by getting rid of it all so I can get stuck into the metal work.

Dipping really does sound the most tempting. The truck is going to need to be robust against rust in the future and will be a long term investment to us. We're going to have to budget for kitting out the back with tea/coffe making equipment, fridges, electric, counters etc, canvas back too. Spending as much on the trucks body itself seems wise to me

[Plasticman]

have a look at most of my builds , where p[ossible butt join stuff, in other words you let a new piece of metal into a space where the roit was, this way thetre is no seam and you cannot just add a patch over a hole, well you can but its not the correct way. so with a mig its doable justr but loads of work and more grinding, as for heat well yes you can get distortion but as you said if you know what your doinbg you dont much get bothered by it, i use gas for the majority of the work and where i do use mig it is 100% better than gas, each way for its purpose. i wouldnt go to the expense of your proposal, as a closer inspection may show its not so bad, detail pickies would be good

[ed_the_robot]

Ahh cheers fella, good explanation!

Yea I can see how a butt weld is easier with gas. Smaller weld bead and more control I suppose! Can imagine mig quite happily making a mess of a butt joint if you are not careful.

Have you got a link to any of your projects, love to see your work matey

Maybe it's not bad enough to warrant such extreme paint removal after all!

[Plasticman]

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=93497" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=110336" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=114490" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
theres more, ive no idea how to find them quickish but should give you an idea, basically for what it would cost to dip etc you could spend the money and get it welded right ???
mm

[ed_the_robot]

Blooming heck! Haha! Nice work there mm.

I've got noway near the rust to contend with, some pudding, especially the rear quarter where a prang has been bodged. But it's fairly solid compared to what you have taken on!

I did welding and fabrication for 2 years before I started out at work, which involves computers and not a speck of anything else! So I'm itching to get stuck in

Your welds around the windscreen of the first van are ace.. Lovely stuff

[ed_the_robot]

God, just realised, that's kev the revs van! Wow.. Never knew it once looked so poorly!

[Plasticman]

Nor did he

[scottbott]

my father in law had his healey 100/4 dipped prior restoration,luckily it emerged from the tank not as bad as feared,did a great job,would love to get the van done if I had loads of money,the father in laws mate had his triumph TR5 dipped and there was lots of bits missing when it came out of the tank and has not been restored yet,that was 5 years ago,he has not summoned the will to do it

[dbz864]

I could get you an approx. price to have it dipped and coated and galvanised when you've finished welding, a place I know have just done a jag coupe (just dipped at mo), a split as well .they did me 3 doors on a westy bay came out mint ,for free as well, from memory I could have it blasted in and out for £350 which includes a drink for me, .tho don't quote me on them figures as I may be wrong.be mindfull if you dip it, itl remove all the sealer so id imagine galvanising is the only way to go after