Tips For Using Sodium Bicarbonate To Strip The Paint From Those Auto Body Panels
Posted on: 26 December 2015
When you need to strip paint from a large body panel or an entire car, you might decide that sandblasting is your best choice. It's efficient, effective and affordable. In fact, if you want something gentle to strip the paint, you should consider using sodium bicarbonate as your blasting material. It's a gentle powder instead of granules like many other materials.
What Exactly Is Sodium Bicarbonate?
Sodium bicarbonate is a common household product that is more widely referred to as baking soda.
Why Use Sodium Bicarbonate for Blasting?
If you're looking for something that isn't going to leave pits behind on the surface of the body panel, this is a great way to go. While other blasting materials may be effective, they might also increase the amount of body work you have to do after you strip the paint. Sodium bicarbonate turns to a fine powder consistency when it reaches the surface, so it's gentle. It holds up well to the pressure of the blaster as well.
Sodium bicarbonate is also great for the environment. Unlike some blasting materials, sodium bicarbonate won't build up in the soil. Additionally, it's not hazardous to the water. Just remember to wear a dust mask when you use it, because the fine consistency it breaks down to could irritate your delicate lung tissue.
Since it is such a mild abrasive, you also save in your preparation time. There's no need to protect things like windows when you use sodium bicarbonate, because it isn't abrasive enough to break glass panels.
What Kinds Of Materials Benefit From Sodium Bicarbonate Blasting?
Sodium bicarbonate is a great choice for some surfaces. You'll find that it's an ideal option in places where you're dealing with surface materials that need special handling or that can be easily damaged. In the case of auto body panels, it saves you from the filler that would be required due to the small pits from heavier blasting materials. On metals like stainless steel and copper, it even helps to shine the surface.
You may think that sandblasting isn't a viable option for your project because you don't want to damage the body panels. With sodium bicarbonate, you get the best of both worlds. If you're not comfortable doing the blasting yourself, consider hiring a contractor like Powder Coating Specialties to do it for you. He or she can help you determine if the sodium bicarbonate is the best material, and will do the blasting for you as well.
Share