Soda blasting...now what?

[jonny rotten]

I soda blast this area.How do i get the rest off? Chemical, wet or dry sand? The clean areas are not smooth which i thought was normal soda blasting? My plan was to smooth it down and leave it unpainted. Is that doable? Someone mentioned i need to seal that area as whatever seals it is gone now? I thought soda blasting doesnt damage the gel coat? Whats the strongest grit that doesnt harm gel coat assuming i didnt damage it? Outdrive assembly coming off/replaced before i go any futher to make it easier. I could paint it grey if it's better/easier and would look better if needed. Thanks

 

[briangcc]

IF that were mine, I would have pulled the assembly off the transom first, torn it down, then soda blasted it. Anything left on it, has grit in it from the soda and whatever was blasted loose.

For removing the rest, I would generally use "Aircraft Stripper" available at auto parts stores. It's caustic, nasty stuff BUT in my experience it works better than any of the green tree hugging earth friendly stuff.

Prep is going to require you to use vinegar to clean off the soda residue as paint won't stick to it otherwise. Btdt...had professionally applied primer peel off in sheets from my Trans Am hood as they had never, ever used soda blasting.

For the gel coat, as long as you didn't go all the way through to the actual glass layers, you're probably fine.

 

[jonny rotten]

IF that were mine, I would have pulled the assembly off the transom first, torn it down, then soda blasted it. Anything left on it, has grit in it from the soda and whatever was blasted loose.

For removing the rest, I would generally use "Aircraft Stripper" available at auto parts stores. It's caustic, nasty stuff BUT in my experience it works better than any of the green tree hugging earth friendly stuff.

Prep is going to require you to use vinegar to clean off the soda residue as paint won't stick to it otherwise. Btdt...had professionally applied primer peel off in sheets from my Trans Am hood as they had never, ever used soda blasting.

For the gel coat, as long as you didn't go all the way through to the actual glass layers, you're probably fine.

I have a new assembly going on. I probably should have used that stripper first soda blasting was nasty.. You think I still need it with that small amount left?

 

[briangcc]

For the outdrive, chemical. For the gelcoat, I'd use wet/dry sandpaper followed by some rubbing compound then wax....provided you don't sand through the gel down to the actual glass mat.