Repairing dents and scratchesRepairing dents and scratches

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Repairing dents and scratches

I have three teenage children, so our second car is constantly getting scratched and dents. I can't take it in every week to get repaired so I need to have a good relationship with my local auto body repairer. They know me really well, and they give me some little decant pots so I can at least do some small repairs at home to make sure the car body doesn't get damaged while I'm waiting to get into the auto painters. This blog is all about avoiding car damage when there isn't time to get small dents and scratches repaired.

Understanding Sandblasting for Auto Body Paintwork

9 September 2020
 Categories: , Blog

Auto body paintwork is one of the most sensitive projects when you are restoring your car. It is the difference between results that restore your car to its factory look or mess its image for good. Generally, poor paintwork will manifest in several ways including bubbling, peeling and flaking as time goes. On the other hand, a good paint job delivers a consistent, smooth and glossy finish on your vehicle with additional benefits such as superior resistance to UV radiation. Usually, the only way you can such good results is by laying a good foundation for the restorative paint. That is where sandblasting comes in. Read the following piece to learn more.

Sandblasting

Sandblasting refers to a process of propelling a jet of abrasive material over a certain surface. The abrasive materials work down impurities and other imperfections to smooth a rough surface or create specific patterns on a smooth surface. The objective is to create a surface suitable for the paint to settle and form a good protective coating on your vehicle.

Sandblasting Process Factors

You have the option of a water- or air-driven sandblasting process. Water-driven sandblasting involves using water to drive or push the abrasive element over the target surface. The water controls friction and reduces the deterioration of the surface you are working on. Secondly, air-driven sandblasting uses compressed air to propel the abrasives. It is the best option when you are working on automotive metal surfaces because there is no build-up or intrusion of moisture on the work surface.

Primary Components

When you are looking for a vendor offering sandblasting services, find someone with the right set of equipment to carry out the job. The primary components of the set up include:

  • Blast cabinets: The surface you are working on sits in the sandblasting cabinet. The cabinet is the chamber where the interaction between the abrasive and the metal surface happens.
  • Air source: This specialized equipment holding compressed air is necessary for blasting the abrasive against the metal surface. In this case, insist on compressed air rather than compressed liquids to manage the problems that arise from metals interacting with moisture or liquids.
  • Dust collector: The process of sandblasting generates friction and lots of dust as the materials rub against each other. There is a need to manage this dust so that it does not pollute the environment or find its way to other workspaces. The dust collector confines the dust after collecting it from the blast, making the whole process sustainable.