Soda Blasting cannot remove rust as soda is very soft and does not have the abrasive qualities of silica or other hard abrasives. Remove the paint with the soda... and then hit the rust areas directly with a regular blast media. Be sure to cover your motor exceptionally well, or you will end it with blast media in the rear main, as I did! See photo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/77623993@N00/1262992204/in/photostream/
Also, when you re-paint, prime with a good epoxy enamel primer to provide an air-tight seal over the repaired rust area. I did my "Michigan" van 4 years ago, and NO rust has returned. Good luck! Jack R. 84 Westy Wolfie.
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Jim Felder Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 4:16 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Soda blasting question I want to finally address some bubbly paint and light rust where a body panel was welded in place way back before I got the westy. The rust has not gotten any worse in the last seven years, but I want to finally get around to taking care of it. I could take care of it with an angle grinder. I thought about sending it out to have it sandblasted. The other day I saw a soda blaster. Do the actually remove paint (seems like a great way to clean up a part, but will it take out rust?)? If anyone has any experience with any of these methods on Vanagon seams, I'd like to know. Jim |
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