Media Blasting Paint from 1970 Air Cleaner..........

[CamarosRus]

I'm attempting to restore a 1970/71 Z28 Air Cleaner.....
Using 100 Grit Garnet Sand (in a cabinet) the Black Paint & Gray Primer
is coming off quite slowly.....I am suprised as I would have thought the
original mfg would have used a cheap lacquer, but apparently not.........

Has anybody else been down this road before ????

I am thinking to Epoxy Prime the Bare metal and Finish with Single
Stage (Hardened/2k) Black GLOSS Gun Paint

[JRSully]

100 Grit should go through that factory paint pretty quick, check the nozzle tip on the blaster gu. These wear out pretty fast, and if worn out, will not concentrate the media correctly. Obviously make sure your getting enough psi to the nozzle as well and that the water/moisture separator is working.

[CamarosRus]

JRSully, I have fwded your suggestion/thought to my contact who operates the company
where I'm fortunate enough to use his machines to clean/blast my parts........

It was taking way to long to remove the air cleaner paint and "Something" must be wrong
with the machine/cabinet set up..............

[ban617]

Air pressure , suction line plugged partially or nozzle worn out

[ban617]

One other thing could it have been powder coated , that usually comes off slower blasting..

[thehornworks]

I use glass bead and crushed glass every day . Factory come off easy with good equipment.

[CamarosRus]

I am using someone elses equipment to blast my parts & this old GM Air Cleaner

I am not wanting to insult or pixx my contact off..........but I agree with you'll
that something is wrong and I only can HOPE that it gets fixed.....

[Too Many Projects]

With gray primer under the black, I doubt it's original paint. I've never seen anything but a thin coat of black on original parts under the hood and interior.
I'm with Gary and use crushed glass at LOW pressure ~ 40# and original paint disappears easily and the glass doesn't remove metal. It will leave a slight texture for the epoxy to bite into.

[SS427]

Air cleaners typically have the thinnest of black paint on anything under the hood. They were very thin coats at best and when I have blasted them it is similar to blowing old dust off of something. In other words it takes no effort whatsoever and a standard lid will generally take me about 2 minutes to blow the paint off of both sides. Never have I found primer on any engine parts. Most of them were dipped in lacquer and not sprayed. The air cleaner being one exception. The dipped parts take a little more effort but there is still no primer on them.

[L78_Nova]

How old is the blasting media. Fresh media makes a very noticeable difference.

[CamarosRus]

The Struggle Continues.....Owner of machine replaced badly worn nozzle/tip

This made quite a bit of difference, but this Black then Gray Primer not
coming off fast............but I'm almost done.........I only have access to blast
cabinet during limited hours.......

This Air Cleaner has been sitting for 25 years off of car before I bought it.........so I suppose it could have been epoxy primed back in the 80's or 90's ???????

I am using NEW 100 grit Red Garnet Sand.............

[JRSully]

With a new tip and fresh grit, that primer will come off for sure. DO NOT concentrate the blast in one are for an extended period, you can warp the metal if it gets too hot/too thin

[Too Many Projects]

Primed and painted inside is definitely not original. Aftermarket part ? Condition looks too nice to have warranted a repaint years ago. What did it look like before you felt it needed paint ?

[CamarosRus]

Sully, I'm moving the gun/tip in a sweeping motion and the TWO coats of Black and Primer are coming off........just not real fast.....anyway Im almost done with paint removal.......Now have to finesse flared ends of snorkels before I give to my painter for
??? primer and Single Stage GLOSS Black.......

Too Many Projects, This Air Cleaner is definitely original as the metal is crinkled in the distributor relief area. Black Paint was Chipped, Scratched etc......This area cleaner (or one like it) is for my LEGENDS 70 R/S Z28 so needs to be better than NOS.............

[SuperNovaSS]

Better than NOS?

Jason

[JRSully]

Looks Good Chuck, I'd say your almost there. Don't leave it bare metal too long, it could flash rust pretty quick if left in a moist environment

[70post]

That is not surprising if the primer is an epoxy....or even just a thicker coating of a non-catalyzed primer.

[thehornworks]

When you blast the paint gets hot and can soften up. Keep moving and come back to areas that need more.Soft paint doesn't come off as well.