Best Grit for Sandbalsting Frame Rails

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Charmeiser, May 6, 2025.

  1. Charmeiser

    Charmeiser Bobtail Member

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    1st up on the 378 resto project is dealing with surface rust and getting her good on the before doing anything else. What grit sand should I use? Is 80 grit good enough? I used it as a deck hand to get rid of rust while working the Lake Boats. Due to budgetary restraints its all they'd let us have it it worked very well, if not slowly. But I didn't know if anyone else had a second opinion? Also how many bags shoukd I get?


    Side tangent: Going back to my first big boy job where I was a deckhand Merchant Marine on the lakeboats. Basically doing the equivalent work of a US Navy Bo'sin's Mate. Fightin' rust!
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
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  3. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Walnuts!
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  4. ducnut

    ducnut Road Train Member

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    Join one of the many FB blasting groups. Members will come up with stuff I didn’t even know existed.
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  5. 1034-CAT

    1034-CAT Bobtail Member

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    BLACK BEAUTY, Not the Ones you chase with a Whiskey!
     
    Charmeiser Thanks this.
  6. '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    There are various grits of Black Beauty.
    Medium grit could be used but you may need larger nozzle on your blasting gun.
    Keep in mind you have to sand the blasted prior to priming..Fine grit will knock down heavy rust and leave a smoother surface. You want to get a mirror finish on that frame?
     
    W923 Thanks this.
  7. Jabuol

    Jabuol Bobtail Member

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    Walnut shells.
     
  8. W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    We use black diamond by us mineral
    It’s crushed coal slag
    20-40 is not going to go through a nozzle small enough to be supported by an average shop compressor
    30-60 will work great
    The surface will be rough but nothing that epoxy primer and decent paint won’t take care of
    40-80 works great on sheet metal and aluminum but we find it hard to feed….it seems susceptible to bridging in the pot
    Also will be slow going on heavy rust or thick paint
     
    wore out and D.Tibbitt Thank this.
  9. 1034-CAT

    1034-CAT Bobtail Member

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    What W923 said is good solid advice in detail.
     
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