addìct

For the guys that have done this, what did you use to sandblast? I'm currently looking into baking soda or walnut shells, do I need something more abrasive than that?

Imolavirus@BuehnEngineering

you can go with something a little coarser. i'd say like a number 8 glassbead....takes the finish off but still leaves a smooth finish...or go number 9 if your hesitant at all

mpwolf

Could he just use aircraft stripper and strip the paint, rather than blasting it?

addìct

one of the 2 shops i visited told me he might be able to powdercoat w/o sandblasting at all.

is that possible?

Imolavirus@BuehnEngineering

yeah, simply roughing up the surface enough for adhesion may be enough

Imolavirus@BuehnEngineering

yeah, but i've always found sandplasting to make a more uniform finish.....just my opinion though :/

mpwolf

It probably does, I haven't used either, I was just curious.

addìct

i'm going for a gunmetal mettalic finish.

i've found a handful that require no clearcoat. will it still last as long as a powder that DOES require clearcoat?

Hibiscus Red S4

then you really need to get ALL of the paint off. Whether through sandblasting, or good 'ol fashioned sanding, it must ALL be off and the surface uniform before powdercoating. The powder sticks to the metal by static electricity and then bakes on in an oven. If you can sandblast it, then do it but I'd touch it up with some wetsanding afterwards.