soda blast or chemical strip?

[Peter J.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Dick,
Now that you dragged yourself out of retirement I can see where time is a problem with customers cars when you are in business. But from a do it yourselfer perspective, $700.00, is a lot of money for something I can do my self. Granted you will spend a hundred on stripper and other misc supplies. I can use the 600.00 on other stuff.
And one question, is there a problem with left over or hidden dust?

[Jim D.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Since it sounded interesting, I did a Google search on it. Seems that there are problems associated with soda blasting. Makes a terrible mess, gets everywhere,ruins any electrical devices it gets into and kills any grass in the area. Also leaves a residue and has to be scrubbed with water (like chemical stripper does as well) to remove it or you'll have paint adhesion problems. Some of these won't be a problem if you take your body to a shop to have it done but everyone recommends NOT doing it at your house or in your driveway.

[Stewart A.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Jim I have had 3 cars done by Soda and believe me it's the only way. Yes it's a mess and don't do it on your manicured lawns but like anything preparation is a good thing. I do it in my lane way and just hose it down after a sweep up. After the car has been stripped I wash it with soap and prep wash and it's ready. Oh the interior needs a good vac after it. But it's the only way. I get lots of engine bays done for race motors we build and they come out shmik !! Stewy

[Stewart A.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

I often find when using a 3 '' razor blade 5 things happen. First is when paint seems to have more adhesion in certain spots and can take a while to get it off, hard to get to spots are annoying (door jams, engine bay,trunk) when getting fatigued from busting your chops the edge of the blade can dig in and cause a few hours of filling and Corvettes are rather round and not very flat which can get tricky with a straight blade. Pay the money Soda is the go !! Stewy

[Jim M.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Mike, I live in a small town so when I was ready to strip the paint on my 69, my choices were limited to either using Captiain Lee's chemical strip or hauling the car in pieces about a hundred miles away. I chose to try the chemical stripping and it turned out just fine other then it was an ugly job. I had three layers of paint to strip so it took more then one coat of stripper and sometimes three coats, but it all came off. I did small areas at a time and would do a little each day over a couple week period. I rinsed it well after each application and actually let the car sit for quite a few months prior to taking it to the paint shop.

[Dick W.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Dick,
Now that you dragged yourself out of retirement I can see where time is a problem with customers cars when you are in business. But from a do it yourselfer perspective, $700.00, is a lot of money for something I can do my self. Granted you will spend a hundred on stripper and other misc supplies. I can use the 600.00 on other stuff.
And one question, is there a problem with left over or hidden dust?

The nice thing about soda vs media blasting is that you can wash the residue away with water. While I have never had problems with chemical stripping, I do know several that have. If ALL the stripper is not cleaned out of hidden areas, it can and will come back and bite you after you have painted your car

[Mike G.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

i live in atlanta. we have a guy here that does the blasting for $900. i bring him the body. he will take the car down to the original primer. no for mess for me

[Glenn D.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

My convertible was stripped with Captain Lee's. Didn't any any problems.

[Mike M.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Soda as far as I'm concerned is the only way. I would only use for a body off restoration when everything is removed from the car wiring heater vents ect. I used a company that mostly blasts fiber-glass boats and new what they were doing with glass. A few friends have also used them and were very happy.

[Rod K.]

Re: soda blast or chemical strip?

Mike, have you tried Nu-Tech Refinishing in Jefferson, GA? Just off I-85 a few miles north of Lawrenceville. 706-367-8107, nutechservice@alltel.net, www.nutechsodablasting.com.