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Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:42 am
by ceejay
Restoration Project Stripping Paint From The Body.

An interesting series, as per subject.... worth the read.
http://tinyurl.com/yzmzhrm
Also an advertorial for soda blasting.Found this while trawling the net
but it's probably not new... there are several parts to this project.
CC

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:12 am
by gerrym
CJ, at the time when this magazine series was current, there was quite a bit of comment in this forum... some of it suggesting that the restorer was obtaining "free" parts or services in exchange for printing infomercials. Anyway, hunt amonst the archives and you will find the threads

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:22 am
by ceejay
Was interested from a personal angle, as I have been looking into soda blasting to do the final stripping of the S2.
There are few methods like soda blasting that is highly effective yet gentle on the items being cleaned, the soda
is also easily disposed of... it's the kind of stuff that keeps the EPA & greenies happy.
Here in OZ, you can buy small S/Blasting machines & they are also available for hire to the DIY folk... like us.

I think S/Blasting is very much the way to go. The soda used for stripping has a different crystal structure
to the domestic stuff, it is actually a bit sharper and is treated to not absorb moisture until the medium has
been consumed (Blasted) then it will absorb water, and is easy to clean up.
CJ

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:42 pm
by gerrym
CJ, Frost Restoration in the UK advertise an Eastwood unit. http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... &subCatID=

As a DIY proposition, the immediate problem doing a car body would be the quantity of dry compressed air need (at least 8CFM). The removal rate quoted for the smallest nozzle (thinking about this from the air seupply requirements) is only 135 sq inches per hour, or less than a square foot.

So if you have the space and can suffer the noise and mess, it would make more sense? to hire in a large commercial sized unit complete with a generator driven compressor.

Then again it depends on your patience and how much time you have.

Let us know

Gerry

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:22 pm
by Elanintheforest
I use a 40cfm compressor which can just keep up on full blast, but it will do a car with a couple of coats of paint in 5 hours. Sounds like a diesel engined jumbo jet parked in the garage...not very neighbour friendly.

Mark

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:18 pm
by alexblack13
gerrym wrote:CJ, at the time when this magazine series was current, there was quite a bit of comment in this forum... some of it suggesting that the restorer was obtaining "free" parts or services in exchange for printing infomercials. Anyway, hunt amongst the archives and you will find the threads



Too true..You want to hear some of them. The people who (eventually!) did the body repairs and the paintwork have lots and lots to say about that particular job.... I'm not going into details.. :roll:

I followed the story month on month only to get towards the end, and the bold Gerry then had someone else finish it (He was def' not up to the job IMHO!)!! He gave it to Spyder to Undo.. err.. sorry, finish his 'work'... In reality he did not do a lot of the work to that car but did spent a lot of time scrounging services various from companies various. OH Joy!!

Expensive name drop or what :?

Alex B.... 8)

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:41 pm
by ceejay
Mmmm, sorry if this has caused any consternation... but if you can look past the advertorial side of things,
there just might be some useful info there.
CJ.

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:46 pm
by alexblack13
Agreed! ...It got me fired up too and I did enjoy the read.

Have fun!

Alex B.... 8)

Re: Restoration Project Elan Plus 2 - Classic Monthly Mag.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:39 pm
by stugilmour
CJ:

In my local area we have a guy who rents time on sand blasting and soda blasting equipment at his yard. This was a great deal for me. Just a bit of hassle to take parts over the yard, but he supplied the hood, compressor, nozzle, medium, racks, clean-up, etc. for about $80 per hour. Great deal for a bunch of small metal bits. Might be something to check out to get around the set-up and clean-up issues at your shop.

I did not end up using the soda blasting equipment myself due to the hassle of bringing the body over. My body shop ended up buying a soda blasting machine and my car was the first victim. He does a lot of Corvette's and other fibreglass resto's, but mine was his first vintage Lotus. I understand he was pleased with the soda results, but he did not take it down as far as I would have expected with the soda equipment; opted to finish with a lot of hand sanding and then build up with high build primer. Happy with the final result for sure, and think he was happy with the process as well. I think my bill covered off a big chunk of his machine costs! :o