water / sand blasting - cleaning rust

[dejswa]

I have a really rusty 10 ft rotary drag pto mower that I need to salvage. If I don't clean the rust and somehow prime / paint it. Otherwise it will be rusted through completely in no time. I thought about having it sand blasted, then somehow primed / painted to kill the rust.

A friend suggested getting an adapter for my engine driven (12 hp) pressure washer. I can find water abrasive blaster systems (huge) but can't find an adapter for a common water pressure washer.

1) Any suggestions on the adapter for my washer to allow abrasive cleaning?

2) Any suggestions on getting rid of rust (flaking, nearly rusted through in parts) and how to kill the rust and prime a bushog type mower, for example.

Thank you,

DJ

 

[dodge man]

The pressure washer systems where a media for blasting agent can be added, as far as I know are desgined for that kind of setup. As I recall they are pretty pricey. I would just use a regular sand blaster. A cheap one can be had for less than $100. They aren't great, but for occassional use, they work fine.

Another choice is some kind of chemical treatment. I remember a product from when I was into restoring cars, called POR. This stood for paint over rust. It would make the rust inert, and also act as a primer, bonding agent. http://www.por15.com/

 

[ToadHill]

Have you ever considered POR, it's a product that you paint on the rust and it chemically converts it to something you can paint over. I've used it for years on car frames.

 

[2manyrocks]

I tend to think that a plain angle grinder with a knot wire brush accomplish what you want. That's how I prepared my rotary cutter for painting years ago and the paint is still holding. Wear safety goggles and a respirator. It's going to throw wires while in use.

 

[Western]

OSPHO is another good rust killer, usually can get it at a welding shop, or metal supply house.

Used primarily on fence pipe and exposed metal and it wont hurt you in the wallet to much.
TSC may carry it too.

As far as water blasting, we have a sub contractor that made one where the sand slowly fed into the jet stream near the nozzle, basically gravity fed, unlike the cheap suction type that you get at a box store. may try rigging you up a deal if you already have a pressure washer.

I would find some one who has one and get a price check. We have a 300# pot and powered by a 185psi Leroi compressor, something that small we could blast in probably 30 min - hr. so you will most likely get a minimum charge say around $200 or so, if you bring the part.

Blasting sand can be dangerous if you don't wear a respirator for dry blasting especially with silica sand, but even walnut hulls,corn cob, they all dust ya plenty. Water blasting is not as bad dust wise obviously, but water on fresh metal isn't good either.

 

[dejswa]

Thanks for the many good suggestions - water blasting vs sand blastings vs wire brush on grinder + rust killers.

DJ

 

[AlanB]

The one I used was pretty simple and worked well, basicly just a tip set that went on the end like any other nozzle with a siphon tube attached. I would think if you could find a pressure washer place they would be pretty cheap. (I rented mine for something like $10)

I second the wire brush and rust conversion coating though.

Good luck.

 

[Willl]

((Off topic; Alan, what are you doing in your 'avitar' ?))

 

[AlanB]

((Off topic; Alan, what are you doing in your 'avitar' ?))

Spotting my son over an obstacle a couple of years back. He was riding over it on his 50cc Sherco Motorcycle, Team Sherco USA rider David Chaves is spotting / (telling Dean to do it) on the other side.

One of my favorite pictures and sums up a bunch of what I like about Trials.

Sorry for the diversion from the main post. But love to talk about my kids and Trials