Soda blasting question

[sarahlou]

Hi everyone,

I just started stripping the 6 layers of paint from my aluminium van. After finishing a 1 litre can of stripper as a test run I have worked out that I am going to need 29 to 32 litres of paint stripper at a cost of approximately $300 - $350 in paint stripper. 

And so I have started turning my mind to getting it professionally soda blasted. The aluminium underneath the paint is in good condition and is quite bright and reflective. The top 1/4 of my van will have a highly polished mirror-like finish and the bottom 3/4 will be painted.

My question is : Will the soda blasting dull my shiny aluminium?  I'm worried that it won't be shiny anymore! Will i be able to get it back to a highly polished finish or will it b so dull that it would just need to be painted? Hopefully someone might be able to offer some insight.


Sarah

[DC3Td]

Gday Sarah.Soda blasting or any other type of media providing its as 'soft' shouldn`t pose a problem provided that the paint is reasonably soft also.(my teardrop was 2pac painted over aircraft aluminium) Much harder to rid than yours.Most of us use "Purple" brand ali polish which gives a beautiful finish particularly if machine buffed.However expect to pay about '5 digits'! You could try coating the painted areas you need to rid of by applying paint stripper & covering in cling wrap.It holds the stripper in a confined area,heats it up allowing a more consentrated application & when the wrap is removed should be able to hose off or use plastic scraper. Goggles & rubber gloves a must use.

[akeepsake]

Hey Sarah send a message to your local member Murray He is a nice chap and with all the time on his hands would be able to point you in the right direction as he just stripped his Harris van so he is a expert on stripping .... Glad he's retired!!!
Ps any tell tale signs of a mural ( would be up front if there was??) interesting how the top is shinier than the Botton another tick for Applebee!

[sarahlou]

Thanks Andrew and DC3T! Andrew, there's no mural