Irish Mini Owners Club

I am looking to purchase a media blaster and am looking at the Sealey SB997 sand blaster with a Soda conversion kit.

I have heard that Soda blasting was much better than Sand or glass as it doesn’t leave pitting of causing warping.

Has anybody experience that can give me advice on type of blasters and the best media.

Sealey SB997
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.a ... results=16

Kit
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.a ... ctid=15672

Can't comment on the kits you have highlighted, just want to clarify a common misconception about soda blasting. Please be aware that soda blasting does NOT remove rust. It is good at gently removing paint etc, but it will leave the rust behind. You will need an abrasive media of some form to remove that. A friend of mine discovered that the hard way after getting some motorcycle tinwork back from soda blasting......

I use crushed glass for my blaster..great job..can't wrap panel as dosent get hot like sand those !

The missconception with media blasters is the home handyman type air compressors (50 - 200 litres) do not shift enough air volume to allow the blasters to work efficiently. I have tired most pressure pots and containers, different media as well, they struggle to take off good quality paint and if they do its very very slow. When I talked to a company specialising in media blasters they told me the volume of air required and its defo not small, try minimum of 1" supply and equlivent to the tow behind comercial air compressors, and no its not pressure related its share volume.

Saying that if you are only doing small jobs I would invest in a chest type setup.

When I blasted my van I had to hire a tow behind compressor and it had a 1" line as Andrew said.One of the major problems I had was that the water in the air was overwhelming the air catch system and it was clogging the pot making a horrible job worse.

Thanks for the replies. I think it would be better if I found a company that could do it for me.

I want to get the car blasted, the A Panels repaired, a couple of small holes filled and re-sprayed.

Can anybody give me a recommendation?

I’m in the Kildare area.

I know of a fella called Shea that did a set of alloys for me some years ago, he's out around the Spawell hotel, up near the M50 roundabout,
Don't know if he's still in business but this was his No. 0872304994