Sandblasting vs. Hand Sanding: Which is the Best Paint-Stripping Technique?
Achieving the perfect paint job on your car goes beyond choosing high-quality paint for the work. You also need to prepare your car frame by stripping old paint and creating a smooth surface for the new coat. There are two common ways of removing old paint from your car: hand sanding and sandblasting. Hand sanding involves the use of sandpaper to strip old car paint. On the other hand, sandblasting involves blasting abrasives such as sand, glass and plastic beads at high speeds to remove paint from the surface of the car.
If you're torn between the two paint removal options, keep reading for a detailed comparison to help you make a choice.
Time Required for the Project
If time is a constraining factor in your paint removal project, you may want to go with sandblasting. The equipment blasts abrasives at high speeds and removes paint within a short period. You can strip the entire car of paint within a few minutes and proceed to other pre-paint preparation tasks.
On the other hand, hand sanding involves manually removing the paint using sandpaper. This can take an hour or more, depending on your speed. Hand sanding also requires a lot of physical energy. This is unlike sandblasting, where you use a machine to blast abrasives on the car.
Quality of Work
The quality of the final paint job on your car highly depends on how well you prepare the surface. If some of the old paint and debris are left behind, your new paint won't go on smoothly. Thus, choose a technique that leaves a smooth surface for the fresh coat of paint. Hand sanding is highly dependent on how much energy and precision you put into the task. If you leave specks of paint behind, the finished product won't be appealing.
On the other hand, sandblasting uses a machine that ensures precision during paint removal. All you have to do is set the equipment to the correct pressure and hold the nozzle properly. In addition to paint removal, sandblasting also smooths out pitted surfaces and eliminates calcium deposits, chrome, and rust. This leaves a smooth and even surface for the fresh paint.
Cost of Paint Removal
These two techniques differ significantly in price. Hand sanding is the cheapest option as all you need to buy is the sandpaper. For DIY sandblasting, you have to rent or buy the sanding equipment together with the abrasive material. If you opt for professional sandblasting, you'll pay for labour and the abrasive materials. However, since the project can be completed within minutes, you won't incur a lot in hourly labour costs.
Final Verdict
Both sandblasting and hand sanding are great options for auto paint removal. For an inexpensive DIY project at home, you can go for hand sanding. However, if you want professional paint-stripping services that will guarantee excellent results, sandblasting is the best technique.