soliciting all advice before trying this.

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barnbuoy

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hey all.

i think i have decided to use a soda blaster to remove bottom paint on the thompson.

i can buy a decent preasure type blaster for around 200.00 then the cost of the medium. not sure on price.

i have also considered marine strip(peel away)
probably end up being about the same price give or take a hundred.

the blaster i could write it off to the business and i can and will use it over and over. so thats why i am leaning towards the blaster option.

although, if there are reasons to avoid soda blasting the bottom i will go the other way for sure!

i am just looking for advice, or hints, or things to watch out for,
i am wondering about the differant type of blasters...what to look for there...differant grades of medium??
how well does this work. does it blast off pretty easy?
basically looking to pick your brains...
anything and everything you can tell me is welcomed and appreciated!
 
I had thought the equipment was a whole lot more than $200. From previous postings the concept is great, environmentally it is better but my guess is you are way off on initial cost. Will be an interesting thread to follow, good timing given the weather outside though :(
 
well--they can get quite a bit more expensive...but i'm thinking a smaller preasure type from...can i say this? ...northerntools.
would work fine for the little bit i need.
i'm wondering if the preasure type is better then the gravity type for soda.

i actually have a little 50 dollar plastic gravity feed sears POS cheapie already. doesnt work too well though.
check this out:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_17798_17798
 
I'm too old to try doing bottom jobs myself but I have had my boat in DIY yards and learned that even the dust that sanding generates needs to be collected. The articles I've read on soda blasting have all had the waste collected which is something that is probably easier said than done. Especially if the wind is blowing.
Were I up on blocks next to or near you and your waste got inside my boat or even coated my cockpit and deck, it could have the potential of making me upset and I am a gentle person.
Just something else to think about, good luck.
Mike, Palm Coast, FL
 
Same one at harbor Freight. Gotta have good filter or air dryer. Moisture will clog it up. I thought it was just a portable sand blaster.

Just took a look...it says 40 lb abrasive blaster....on sale now!!!

$84.99
 
I've also got a copy of those Same Pressure Fed Blasters.........

I've put Tons of Sand thru it,......
Loaned it to a freind who Rebuilds Furnuture,+ to a Ski Hill to Sandblast,+ Paint their Chairlift Chairs.....
An Airdryer is a Must,..... Leave it's drain just Cracked is even Better......
 
mike/boat106--
i have the boat on our private 5 acres out in the country.

charlie i'll check that out.

anyone know what kind of finish it leaves??
seriously thinking of NOT repainting...
going to trailer only when shes done.no more wet slip.
possibly a nice wet sand after the sand blast to get a nice finish??.....(i have a nieghbor kid hungry for work)...(and he works cheap)
 
There's no way to control how much paint is being removed like hand sanding. If you try removing all signs of paint, you'll likely be over blasting. I gotta admit I've never tried soda blasting, though.
 
Soda blast will not eat into the gelcoat like even a fine glass bead will. It will end up more of a smooth satin finish but if the bottom prep was done right originally it will have been sanded first and you'll still have those sanding marks. Also it might be possible to wash and filter the remains so that there is a smaller volume of waste to dispense with.
 
Soda blast will not eat into the gelcoat like even a fine glass bead will. It will end up more of a smooth satin finish but if the bottom prep was done right originally it will have been sanded first and you'll still have those sanding marks. Also it might be possible to wash and filter the remains so that there is a smaller volume of waste to dispense with.
 
i have a feeling the bottom was not sanded well with the first coat--where i have been able to water blast some spots down to the gel....
it looks shiney and smooth.

as we speak i am about 5 hours from a week or so off. may get a chance to give it a try.
 
If you are trailering, and the bottom from what you can tell is shiny and smooth, I would go the paint remover route, Pell Away of Pettit and not scuff the bottom of the boat blasting.

That's just me.

Jonathan
 
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