Has Any One use microbille on clear coat?

Perry · 12-10-2007, 09:15 AM

Has anyone used a sand blaster with microbille to take off clear coat ?
microbille are very small plastic balls
perry

HowieE · 12-10-2007, 12:28 PM

Interesting question.

My first reaction would be the bead blast would leave a matt finish that might be harded to polish out than the original clear coat removal by polish.

InsideOut · 12-10-2007, 12:40 PM

I've seen a trailer that was blasted with walnut shells...it left a very nice matte finsh. It would be suitable for re-clearcoating, but not polishing without some extra effort. But then polishing is a lot of effort to begin with...

Shari

**CanoeStream** · 12-10-2007, 01:02 PM

Beads, walnut shell particles & soda have been discussed here. I believe one member documented success with soda and using somebody who had worked with aircraft. Even without producing heat buildup there is a significant problem with permanent warp developing from any type of blasting. I am imagining some mechanism of burnishing altering the dimension of one face, thus producing the permanent warp.

My input isn't the important part of these threads. They were just easy for me to find with our search function:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f4/p...oval-6285.html
Paint
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f310...tml#post308722

I've personally used walnut shells on several samples of aluminum. The finish is very matte and I believe that alone would concern most owners. And yes, the warping was very noticeable!

Fyrzowt · 12-10-2007, 04:17 PM

Rice hulls are used for blasting in the log home restoration process, but these may also warp aluminum. I would lean toward chemical strippers.

Rollerboy · 12-10-2007, 04:30 PM

you may want to see if there is a dry ice blaster near you in the yellow pages no heat and it will remove the clearcoat....check it out !

Aerowood · 12-10-2007, 04:42 PM

I've blasted alot of aluminum in my career with many different medias, such as walnut shells, silica glass beads, coal slag, play sand, soda, etc. and the results very depending on what you are trying to accomplish. I have never seen 2024-T3 distort if done by a competent person. Don't dwell on one spot, watch your air pressure and nozzle size. Blasting will remove alclad quickly and will leave a very dull finish. It is mostly used in the avaition industry to remove corrosion, and this it does well. I know that experiments were tried using dry ice beads but I do not how it worked out. If I were prepping an Airstream for painting I would most likely blast it, But to remove just clearcoat I would use a chemical stripper. Blasting just would not be worth the extra effort protecting the areas not needing blasted like windows and such.