sand blasting tractors

Mcred · Oct 17, 2010

Hello I am restoring my 560 diesel and would like to have a nice paint job when its done and was woundering if sand blasting it is a good or bad idea? thanks for any help.

sgtbull · Oct 18, 2010

You'll probably get several different opinions on this, but here is mine, based on 26 yrs of restoring tractors.
Sandblasting is a great method for cleaning most parts. Fragile parts, made of pot metal, almuminum or other soft materials should not be blasted with a sand media. Too abrasive and can destroy them.
Assemblies should not be blasted. Sand seemst get everywhere, despite your best attempts at sealing things up. Sand + bearings = disaster.
I blast components, then thoroughly clean them before phosphate coating or priming. I do not blast entire tractors or assemblies.
Silica sand is inexpensive, but carries with it health hazards. A positive pressure hood should be worn and care taken not ot inhale the dust. (Silicosis)
Sandblasting is quick, effective, and efficient, but an inexperienced blaster can distort sheet metal to the point of ruining it. Many a hood has been destroyed that way, as have aluminum and brass serial tags.
IF yoiu intend to completely disassemble and clean AFTER you blast, I suppose blasting a complete tractor is an option...
Just my opinion.

gene bender · Oct 18, 2010

I sand blast when doing a CUB,A,B orC. doing as 560D would take a lot of taping off removing parts ect a lot depends on the condition like how much greasy stuff is thererusty sheet metal. Rims and cast centers are best sandblasted to get them real smooth ect.

El Toro · Oct 18, 2010

There's a man that post's on the Case forum uses soda blasting. His name is Mark, but uses the name Dutchman when posting. As been mentioned sand will warp your sheet metal, I don't think soda blasting would. Hal

sflem849 · Oct 18, 2010

(quoted from post at 05:26:58 10/18/10) There's a man that post's on the Case forum uses soda blasting. His name is Mark, but uses the name Dutchman when posting. As been mentioned sand will warp your sheet metal, I don't think soda blasting would. Hal

It "shouldn't" warp sheet metal. I use the quotes bc I am sure if you were a moron you could wreck anything if you tried hard enough. The local barn painter guy does it and says it is the best thing ever. The antique car guys use it all the time bc their tin is thinner and there is a lot more of it. Not to mention you would notice warped tin a lot easier on a finely painted car.

Roger46 · Oct 18, 2010

I see pictures in magazines of people sandblasting whole tractors. This is just my personal opinion, but I can't imagine doing that and using the tractor afterwords. There are so many places sand can get in and cause problems later. I only sandblast parts, not assemblies. I think it is crazy to sandblast hydraulics, engines, diesel parts, etc. When I restored my Farmall MD, I had sandblasted many of the transmission parts after taking them off like the cover, axle housings, etc. I assembled the whole tractor and decided to sandblast the main transmission/final drive assy. I thought I had all the holes taped up, but forgot the one on the brakes. It was amazing to me how much sand was inside the brake housing that had to be cleaned out. I carefully sandblast sheetmetal parts with the finest sand I can buy. I once sandblasted my son's covers for his house electric heating panels. They became like pretzels and were basically unusable. Roger

sand blasting tractors

Mcred

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sgtbull

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gene bender

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El Toro

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sflem849

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Roger46

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