repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

[jstiene]

Hello

So I am taking my trailer to have it repainted. It is a 20yr old bass tracker trailer. So I have called two places to get quotes,etc. One place (who does trailers as a standard business) states that they will sand blast the trailer. The other guy does car repairs for me, and will rather just sand it down rather than sandblast. He did say he would use a very hard paint. The trailer place said sandblasting basically allows them to do a much fast job, rather than sanding.

My question is does it matter which way it is done in terms of outcome once it is done? I actually might get it done cheaper from the guy who would be sanding it, as it is his own private shop and may charge less labor than the trailer repair place. I am hoping someone with more knowledge can provide some input...

Lastly, there is mainly surface rust. there are two spots where the side orange lights mount to the trailer has a little deeper rust problem;

any advise is very much appreciated.

Happy New Year!
Joe

 

[ultra353]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

Well sandblasting will probably be more $$ but, it will get it right down to bare metal in many areas where just sanding can`t and the new primer and paint will have a better place to "grab" and as long as its done right it will probably last longer. On the other hand if the trailer is in decent shape as you suggested, with just light surface rust I would save the $$ and have it just sanded down, leaving the factory primer bonded to the frame and reprime and paint . I have done many trailers this way and they have come great and lasted several years.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

Sandblasting hands down.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

DEFINITELY sand blast it..... MUCH 'gooder'

 

[jeeperman]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

Just make sure the trailer is not rusting from the inside out.
Sandblasting while open up holes you never new existed, if they exist.

 

[oldman570]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

Just make sure the trailer is not rusting from the inside out.
Sandblasting while open up holes you never new existed, if they exist.

The sand blasting would be my choice as any bad steel would show up so it could be repaired before painting. Otherwise just sand if you plan on getting rid of the trailor shortly. A good paint job after sandblasting should last several years when done correctly, may cost more but how long do you want the trailor to last. Just sanding will not get rust out of any pitted areas, but they can be treated with Rust Stop before being primed.

Your choice is what you will have to decide,

Oldman570

 

[90stingray]

Blast. Blast. Blast. Shop around... there are people that need and want the work and should do it fairly cheap. Also, its usually negotiable ... I paid $120 to have my trailer blasted as it sat. I pulled the wheels, put it jack stands, etc... Goodluck. Keep us posted.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[JDA1975]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

could also rent a sandblaster for like 25 bucks half day, and get it prepped yourself, but I have found some shops will charge more for the paint on an already prepped job because you're essentially saying I want this done, but I am gonna do your work for you so you don't make as much money! depends on the shop and whether it is a friend or not. They are in it to make money and the DIYer that does half the job for them is the enemy!

 

[sublauxation]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

Maybe I just did a crappy job but I had mine sand blasted then painted it. It looked very pretty for a year. I'm now on 2 years of rust inhibiting primer and a rattle can job and it seems to be holding up better.

 

[rte592]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

The last trailer I painted
I just wiped it down with the thinner I was going to paint with and sprayed it.....Had good paint adhesion and Looked just as good 3 years later when I sold the boat.

IF your going to keep it for a long time Blast and Powder coat

I just paint trailers with industrial paint and cheap thinner.

 

[5150abf]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

If there is any rust you want to sand blast it, sanding will never get it off where blasting will plus the trailer place does this all the time so they would be using a very good primer and the correct paint so this is a no brainer, go with the blasting, it will be a better job and last longer, with just sanding the rust will be back within a year.

 

[jstiene]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

Thanks for all the feedback. So after another thread on getting the trailer rolled out from under the boat, I took it yesterday to have it sandblasted. I was quoted $300-$350 to have it completely sandblasted and re-painted. I chose the sandblasting option after all the responses, and the place I took it to is a trailer sales and repair shop, so I figure they know best. I also figure based on a $300 quote, I wouldnt have saved much with the other shop without sandblasting. Probably gonna spend an extra $100, but that's nothing if the trailer holds up,etc. Plus I saved money getting the boat on blocks myself, so that helped. I will post a pic after i get it back.

Joe

 

[bonz_d]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

DIY! 4" grinder and a few flap wheels, have it done in a weekend. I've done 2 trailers in the past 3 years. 1st one was an old Gator made with C channel and then a Spartan with square tube. The C channel was a bit more difficult and more work but I also think it was a stronger trailer. I might of had 10-12 hrs of grinder time into each one.

The Gator came with the Lund I have now which I only paid $400.00 for. After paint, lights, a couple new rollers and bunk carpet I sold the trailer 2 years later for $200.00. Which is what I paid for the Spartan full roller trailer.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

I wire brushed, then sanded my trailer and painted using the same acrylic enamel and hardener I used on my boat, I think it turned out pretty well, took longer than most have said theirs did, but I went a little over the top on it trying to give it some character to match the boat colors

I never did a trailer specific thread, I added the trailer work to my current boat thread, but I think it looks good and should last quite a while. If I had to do it over again I would have opted to sandblast though, would have done alot quicker job of getting the rust gone!

 

[bigdee]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

I would take the easy route....http://www.mrochem.com/BlackStar-Rust-Converter_p_16.html?gclid=CMP34e_gp60CFVCR7QodWnKPnw

I painted a piece of rusty angle iron 20 + years ago with a similar product and threw it in the woods,last time I looked it hadn't rusted yet. The electric utility here uses a rust converter on their steel towers now, instead of sandblasting and painting every few years.

 

[root beer guy]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

I sandblasted mine, best money I ever spent. when I factored in the cost of renting the compressor, the gun, and buying all the media, and how long it would take to get all the mess cleaned up out of my driveway, I figured the $160 I spent was worth it.

here is my trailer:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=513402

I finished it off with rust-oleum farm equipment paint (supposed to last longer, we'll see), haven't had it out since it FINALLY got chilly enough here today to not do anymore work on the boat.

 

[Dutch552]

Re: repainting my trailer - sand vs sandblasting

I would take the easy route....http://www.mrochem.com/BlackStar-Rust-Converter_p_16.html?gclid=CMP34e_gp60CFVCR7QodWnKPnw

I painted a piece of rusty angle iron 20 + years ago with a similar product and threw it in the woods,last time I looked it hadn't rusted yet. The electric utility here uses a rust converter on their steel towers now, instead of sandblasting and painting every few years.

We use Black Star like cazy here around the farm and wouldn't hesitate to grind the trailer down with a wire wheel and the coat it with Black Star as a primer. I have parts of my dozer and tractor that were coated 10 years ago that haven't rusted through the coating since.