Which type of blasting to remove rust

ntgar

Hello everyone,

Im thinking of getting a tractor soda, sand, or glass blasted, don't know which one would be best to remove rust, just wondering has anyone any idea which is best I know sand can be aggressive and tear through rubber and destroy seals so not to pushed on going down this route.

Anyone every had there tractor blasted?
Any tips much appreciated.

Stavros Murphy

Soda blasting would be the kindest to the machine - which is not saying that much. I'm deeply predjudiced against sand blasting, I just think it is cack - unless it is done on absolute bare metal stripped machines by which I mean every cable, bearing, hose, pin, bushing and bolt removed to leave just the painted/corroded castings in their pre-build up state, which is usually cost-prohibitive on personal projets. Sand is an aggressive abrasive - it doesn't mix well with moving parts, IMO.

BTW, I have a similar view on pressure washing - if you like your machine, don't. It drives moisture in under high pressure to places that don't like or want moisture and ruins seals, rubber and electrics. Bad ju-ju for machinery, but everyone does it.. Glass blasting is much the same as sand..

There's a chemical called aircraft remover which strips paint - it's dull, it's slow, but it is the best way to remove paint. Doesn't touch rust though..which leaves you with blasting, so like everyone else, you'll need to get it blasted regardless of the pros and cons. Smaller assemblies can be vapour blasted, which is the dogs whatsits, but cabinet based, so no-go for a whole machine.

Long story short, get it blasted with whichever media you can most easily hire - if there's someone local who does one or the other, go there, it's all much of a muchness. Crap, but somtimes neccessary.

CJhaughey

Soda blasting has an advantage which is the chemical reaction between the soda and the steel stops flash rust after its been blasted.
Often in high humidity weather (like now) sandblasted parts can develop surface rust after just a few hours.

ace86

Sandblasting can be a tough on metal depending how bad it is and can leave the metal pitted aftewards,or holes if its too weak and like one poster said you would want to paint it or prime it nearly straight away bcos it starts oxidising again.
Soda blasting is not as severe I used it myself a yr or 2 ago its takes off alot of seam sealer and paint and primer but doesnt dig into the metal as sand blasting would do.
I have no experience of glass blasting but its ment to be something similiar to soda but a better from what i'm told.