Shot Blasting Donor Parts
Been a bit tardy on the posting so here goes:
12/04.2007
As you can see from the pictures of the completed rear axles in an earlier post, my donor parts were in pretty shoddy shape, agricultural doesn't cover it. This isn't really surprising, given that they have spent the best part of 15 years under a Sierra and then the last couple outside in Tigers Sierra graveyard.
Some serious reconditioning was required. I vaguely thought about attempting it myself with a wire brush and a degreasant. However sense prevailed and I contacted a local restoring company who do shot blasting at very reasonable prices.
The basic process is, you take along your rusty components and they are placed in a cabinet. An air blaster is then used to fire an abrasive particle substance such as glass beads or iron grit to scour the surface clean. It is very effective. The company I used is called MRP on 01462 814244. The contact is Martin and the blasting premises is based near Baldock.
I had the differential, front and rear hubs and carriers, brake drum back plates and the drive shafts blasted and primed for £40. The primer used is a zinc phosphate primer, the parts he painted for free, as Martin explained it was important to have a base coat that protects the exposed steel. Zinc is commonly used as it forms a barrier between the metal to be protected. It reacts with the air forming a variety of zinc compounds that further protect the zinc (and metal underneath it) from further oxidation, similar to the protection afforded by the oxidation layers of aluminium and stainless steel.
12/04.2007
As you can see from the pictures of the completed rear axles in an earlier post, my donor parts were in pretty shoddy shape, agricultural doesn't cover it. This isn't really surprising, given that they have spent the best part of 15 years under a Sierra and then the last couple outside in Tigers Sierra graveyard.
Some serious reconditioning was required. I vaguely thought about attempting it myself with a wire brush and a degreasant. However sense prevailed and I contacted a local restoring company who do shot blasting at very reasonable prices.
The basic process is, you take along your rusty components and they are placed in a cabinet. An air blaster is then used to fire an abrasive particle substance such as glass beads or iron grit to scour the surface clean. It is very effective. The company I used is called MRP on 01462 814244. The contact is Martin and the blasting premises is based near Baldock.
I had the differential, front and rear hubs and carriers, brake drum back plates and the drive shafts blasted and primed for £40. The primer used is a zinc phosphate primer, the parts he painted for free, as Martin explained it was important to have a base coat that protects the exposed steel. Zinc is commonly used as it forms a barrier between the metal to be protected. It reacts with the air forming a variety of zinc compounds that further protect the zinc (and metal underneath it) from further oxidation, similar to the protection afforded by the oxidation layers of aluminium and stainless steel.
posted by Charlie at
7:54 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home