Topic: RE: How much to sandblast a 1976 CB750 gas tank?

[chewbacca5000]

How much should I expect to pay to have the exterior top and bottom sandblasted for 1976 CB750 tank?  Tank has been repainted and has decals.  Also, how much should just the inside be?

Thanks!

[Old Scrambler]

Sandblast NO ..........unless at very low pressure. It builds heat and warps steel.

Bead blast, soda blast......at moderate 35 - 50 lbs pressure.  Soda blast the inside and then treat with a rust inhibiter.......or immediately line with Red Kote.

[chewbacca5000]

Sandblast NO ..........unless at very low pressure. It builds heat and warps steel.

Bead blast, soda blast......at moderate 35 - 50 lbs pressure.  Soda blast the inside and then treat with a rust inhibiter.......or immediately line with Red Kote.

Thanks, I will avoid sandblasting.  How much should bead /soda blasting run?

[Teatimetim]

you can get a low cost soda blaster from harbor freight for around $40.  Gravity fed, should do the trick if you want to really go low cost. 

[chewbacca5000]

you can get a low cost soda blaster from harbor freight for around $40.  Gravity fed, should do the trick if you want to really go low cost.

I had a 10 lbs soda blaster and it would work for a few seconds then I would have to flip the tank upside down and mess with it.  I just think it is a poor design requiring 12.5 cfm.  I only got a small 2.5 26 gallon compressor. 

I want something that can strip a tank in an hour or so not all day.  Needs to be able to address rust too.

After spending the last few days stripping 5 tanks I just want someone else to do this stuff so I can get back to fun stuff - painting.

[cgswss]

As I'm sure you know by now, soda blasting takes a lot more time then sandblasting.  Also soda blasting is normality a "total loss" procedure, where bead blasting can be done in a blasting cabinet an the media reused many times.

I'm guessing someone that does bead blasting could do the outside of the tank in less then an hour.  Most places I know of charge from $60 to $100 an hour, so I'm guessing you would be paying around $60

For the inside, I would just get a Caswell gas tank sealing kit and forget blasting. I have used a few of these now and highly recommend them.

[chewbacca5000]

As I'm sure you know by now, soda blasting takes a lot more time then sandblasting.  Also soda blasting is normality a "total loss" procedure, where bead blasting can be done in a blasting cabinet an the media reused many times.

I'm guessing someone that does bead blasting could do the outside of the tank in less then an hour.  Most places I know of charge from $60 to $100 an hour, so I'm guessing you would be paying around $60

For the inside, I would just get a Caswell gas tank sealing kit and forget blasting. I have used a few of these now and highly recommend them.

Much Thanks!

[ekpent]

Take it your not into using a good quality chemical paint stripper ??

[Cut]

+1 for bead blasting.  For the inside of the tank (pending how bad she is), consider buying a pack of bee-bees, coat them in PB Blaster and add  1/4 gallon of two cycle fuel/oil mixture and dance the Cha' Cha' with them in your tank.  Two cycle fuel mixture is tad heavier than gasoline and will assist in raising the crud that the bee-bees dislodged to the top of the oil mixture once the shaking has concluded. +2 to my father for this two dollar cheap trick.

[fishslayeryo]

Take it your not into using a good quality chemical paint stripper ??

Just did 2 tanks with aircraft remover, maybe an hour a tank to get them down to clean bare metal.

[jamesb]

if you have a tractor supply in your area they sell a blasting material called black diamond.it is crushed glass i believe  it comes in different sizes my son and i think the 40/80 is the best. i have used it on tanks and have never had any problems.they also sell the gun that you use with it i paid 15.00 for the gun and 8.00 for 50lbs of the abrasive material the gun looks just like a paint gun.the best thing is it the cheapest blasting abrasive around.

[lone*X]

No one sands anymore?  Sand paper is cheap and available everywhere.   If you want fast and cheap, go to the dollar store and buy a can of the cheapest ($1) oven cleaner they have.   Paint will blister right off.  That's why the label says to avoid getting it on painted surfaces.   Never understood why people pay high prices for chemical strippers.

As for the inside, there are many methods that are probably better than trying to media blast it.   How do you direct the media to the inside top of the tank?  You just want to clean the bottom and parts of the sides?  Three gallons of vinegar and top off with water to brim full for a couple of days.  Less than $2 a gallon if you shop around.  Gets every nook, cranny, and the inside top.  You don't even need to remove the petcock to use vinegar.  It will not hurt the plastic strainer or the gaskets.   Just don't pour it out in the yard, kills grass and weeds.  Environmentally neutral.  Pour it on the fence line to kill weeds or flush it down the john.

[chewbacca5000]

Wow thanks to everyone all great responses!  No I really don't care for the chemical strippers too much, but have used them on these tanks.  These tanks had several layers of paint and old glazing material.  No fun at all.  Also used sandpaper, 3m wheel w drill, wire brush.  It all works but too several hours each to get all the junk off.

As for the inside I use sand gravel and degreaser shake for 20 to 30 minutes and use a pressure washer works great.  Hoping a sandblaster would do the same thing as a pressure washer.  The pressure washer pushed the sand back and for kinda like the ocean in your tank.  Ever see the rocks along lake ontario and you know what I mean.  So this is similar to cuts idea and work pretty good.

jamesb I might try the tractor supply gun if I think my air compressor can handle it.  What kind of cfm's is your compressor putting out?

Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.

[seanbarney41]

buy a cheap da sander, it will run ok with your compressor. it will get slow sometimes, 60- 80grit will whip the paint right off (probably no good for the bottom), plus then you are ready for body filler...

[chewbacca5000]

buy a cheap da sander, it will run ok with your compressor. it will get slow sometimes, 60- 80grit will whip the paint right off (probably no good for the bottom), plus then you are ready for body filler...

I may have to borrow one from my dad and give this a try.  Sounds like this is doable. Thanks for the tip!

[chewbacca5000]

We'll I know I said no to sandblasting, but I just wanted to get these tanks done.  I was so sick of stripping and when I was done there was more sanding from corrosion and bits of paint left over.  I want a clean slate with 40 years of rattle can gone.

So I took them to cnysandblasting and had them done with his Godzilla size air compressor.  This is a tow behind monster that puts out an astonishing 185 CFM!!!  I had more than a few reservations, but after much hemming and hawing he took the worst tank with the biggest tank and blasted it and all was well.

He did the one tank with 1/4" of old paint and touch up the 2 others underneath getting rid of all the corrosion.  So I am a happy camper.  I will post some pictures tomorrow.

[chewbacca5000]

Just a couple pics that show the finish on the tank after sandblasting.  The texture came out a nice matt finish.  Paint should stick to this like there is no tomorrow.  Everyone says do not do this, but like alot of things ie. dent remova or metal workingl it depends on the skill and experience of the operator.

Hope this helps someone.  I would suggest finding a junk tank and see how it goes before giving "just anyone" your baby.

Enjoy!

[lucky]

How much should I expect to pay to have the exterior top and bottom sandblasted for 1976 CB750 tank?  Tank has been repainted and has decals.  Also, how much should just the inside be?

Thanks!

Why not just buy one can of paint and EPOXY remover and have enough money left over to take your friend out to dinner.

You could have in done in a couple hours.

[72500john]

if you have any old fashioned radiator shops in town have them throw your tank in their boil tanks for a while. it will clean it good.

[Retro Rocket]

if you have any old fashioned radiator shops in town have them throw your tank in their boil tanks for a while. it will clean it good.

+1, cleans out everything inside as well....

[scottly]

Three gallons of vinegar and top off with water to brim full for a couple of days.  Less than $2 a gallon if you shop around.  Gets every nook, cranny, and the inside top.  You don't even need to remove the petcock to use vinegar.  It will not hurt the plastic strainer or the gaskets. 

Ask coma13(?) about leaving vinegar in the tank with the petcock installed..

[chewbacca5000]

How much should I expect to pay to have the exterior top and bottom sandblasted for 1976 CB750 tank?  Tank has been repainted and has decals.  Also, how much should just the inside be?

Thanks!

Never heard of Epoxy remover.  I will be sure to read up on this.  Thanks for the tip.

Why not just buy one can of paint and EPOXY remover and have enough money left over to take your friend out to dinner.

You could have in done in a couple hours.

[chewbacca5000]

if you have any old fashioned radiator shops in town have them throw your tank in their boil tanks for a while. it will clean it good.

I wish I had an old fashioned radiator shop.  I took a tank to get RedKote and they just use a pressure washer to knock out the lose rust.  They did not even do the liner correctly they left blank spots.  Had to take it bad 3 times.  That's why I fill it with sand and degreaser shake it till my arms are ready to fall off, powerwash, rinse 1 pt denatured alcolhol swish, dump reapeat a second time.  Sundry.

[bollingball]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318461_200318461

First get a decent air supply. This is a good entry level one the T30 is there smallest commercial grade and easy to rebuild pump.if I had to do it over again I would go for the 80gal tank. With this one I can take a tank down in 30 min on soda without over heating. It is all in the right tools. It is easy to build a space to reclaim your soda or what ever you are using. Just sift it and go again after awhile it will start to wear down and you will have to get new media.
Ken

[chewbacca5000]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318461_200318461

First get a decent air supply. This is a good entry level one the T30 is there smallest commercial grade and easy to rebuild pump.if I had to do it over again I would go for the 80gal tank. With this one I can take a tank down in 30 min on soda without over heating. It is all in the right tools. It is easy to build a space to reclaim your soda or what ever you are using. Just sift it and go again after awhile it will start to wear down and you will have to get new media.
Ken

Thank's Ken!  This is very helpful information 14.7 CFM at 175 PSI seems like more than enough power for most jobs.  If you get a chance can you post a pic of your sandblasting setup?