Why should I sodablast and/or Mediablast my restoration project?

Up to 80% of all coatings failures can be directly attributed to inadequate surface preparation, which affects coating adhesion. This can also sometimes be caused by reactions from painting over old paint.

How long does it take to get my project back?

We are usually able to turn a project around in 2-3 days sometimes faster depending on scheduling.

Should I remove the front and rear windshields from the car?

The glass does not need to be removed but we strongly suggest it as more often than not there is hidden rust or even rot in the channel under the glass even on the cleanest of cars that we've blasted.

Do all the trim and molding pieces have to be removed?

No, they do not have to be removed but we are able to do a more thorough job with everything removed therefore, we do prefer it.

Do the hood, trunk, and doors have to come off of the body shell for blasting?

We would prefer that they are removed as we can do a more thorough job of blasting your project. This is especially true if mounted on a rotisserie for blasting.

Does Soda blasting leave residue?

After Soda blasting we brush blast the items with a different media to remove residue but like after any type of blasting the parts should be properly cleaned and prepped in accordance with the coatings manufacturers.

Does soda blasting remove rust?

Soda blasting will not remove rust. We go over parts a second time with a different media to remove remaining rust.

Is it true paint companies will not warranty cars if soda blasted?

We have not found any written information at all proving this.

Can you blast the frame or underside of car?

Yes, we do have a rotisserie that we can mount car and truck bodies on.

Why not just "scuff" the paint and repaint?

It is best to remove all coatings to start with a good base or primer to ensure proper adhesion. The paint underneath could fail later causing the new paint to fail as well.

Can fiberglass bodied cars or boats be sodablasted?

YES, Fiberglass cars and Boats can be sodablasted. It is in fact the safest blast media to use. It will remove all coatings without removing the gelcoat and gives a more uniform finish in a shorter amount of time. SodaBlasting opens up and cleans out blisters.

How big is the blast room?

We have increased the size of our blast room to 16' wide x 14' Tall x 28' long

How can I bring my car shell in?

Carts can be purchased but we suggest making a wooden cart to set the body on, usually made from 4"x4" wood with casters. This makes it easier to wheel off the trailer and around our shop and it's cheap!

Can you remove undercoating?

Yes, we can safely remove pretty much any coating even powder coating.


If you have any further questions please contact us.

SERVICES

Soda Blasting
Media Blasting
Glass Bead Blasting
Sand Blasting
Mobile Blasting
Powder Coating
Dry Ice Blasting

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS


August, 2009

We've moved! Our new adress is 422 Vulcan St. Buffalo NY 14207. As always we are BY Appoinment Only as we are not always blasting in the shop.
We're now able to accomodate larger trucks and trailers with our larger blast room. Our new blast room is 16' wide x 14' Tall x 28' long

Soda Blasting
Soda blasting is the process of propelling Sodium Bicarbonate(Baking Soda) from a blast machine using the power of compressed air. This method has an almost infinite amount of uses. Baking Soda can be used to strip paint and coatings from metals, fiberglass, glass, brick, stone, tile, and other delicate surfaces all without damaging the surface. It is also great for removing grafitti from delicate surfaces like brick, stone, concrete, marbel, or granite. One of the biggest uses is for Automotive restoration. It is used to strip layers of paint, primer, undercoating, and sealers all while not damging or warping the metal. The baking soda breaks apart on impact which prevents any heat buildup which can cause warping. The soda is so delicate it will not remove rust but once all the coatings are removed from the surface we brush blast the parts with a different media to remove residue and remaining rust. After blasting hundreds of cars we have found this 2 part process to be the best method to safely, effectively clean the parts.When replacing parts is not an option, soda blasting is a great alternative to sanding the parts by hand and will give you better results in a fraction of the time! If you're spending thousands on a paint job why not start it right by getting the car completely stripped? We are able to safely remove paint and primer from Corvettes and other fiberglass-bodied cars too. See our gallery for examples.

Media Blasting
Media blasting is the process of propelling blast media particles from a blasting machine using the power of compressed air. This is a commonly mis-used term. It is most often used to describe blasting with plastic media, baking soda, or something similar. Media blasting actually refers to any type of blast media used. Blast Off Inc. has about a dozen different blast medias on hand at all times. Blasting delicate parts such as automotive body parts is not an easy task but after 4 1/2 years and hundreds of projects we have it down to a science. We are able to determine the appropriate blast media to use based on the material being blasted, the coatings, and the condition of the material. We are able to blast these delicate parts with excellent results due to our 4 1/2 years of experience specializing in coatings removal. This is not just point and shoot like heavy sandblasting. See our gallery for examples.
Glass Bead Blasting
Glass Bead Blasting is used to remove/clean foreign substances from the surface without removing base material or causing a dimensional change to the surface. This makes this a great method for cleaning engine parts as you do not want to remove material on mating surfaces where gaskets are used.Glass bead works great for cleaning/deburring and gives the appearance of a slightly polished finish on aluminum engine parts or anything else. See our gallery for examples.
Sand Blasting
Sand Blasting is the process of propelling blast media particles from a blasting machine using the power of compressed air. Sand blasting is a geneic term that was used when Silica Sand was used to blast with, Silica sand is very dangerous and should not be used unless by a proffesional with the proper respirators and filtration equipment. We at Blast Off Inc. do not use Silica sand but there are many alternative blast medias that we do use that actually work better and are safer. We always have at least a dozen different blast medias on hand at all times to use the correct media for the correct application. We are not like the "big" blasters that just use the same blast medias that they use on bridges and heavy steel which cause the warping/damaging problems that are so common. We do also have the capabilities of blasting the heavy stuff too!
Powder Coating
We at Blast Off Inc. are able to offer Powder Coating through our business partners. All items that are going to be powder coated have to be blasted first, so we are able to blast the items then pass them along to one of our Powder Coating shops to provide the coating services. They are in our shop to pick up the stuff we blast for them anyway!
Mobile Blasting
We are able to offer mobile blasting services on site. Our mobile blasting projects include, but are not limited to, boat bottoms, inground pools, graffitti removal, log home stripping, smoke/soot remediation, stripping paint from brick.
Dry Ice Blasting
Blast Off is now offering Dry Ice blasting!

What is Dry Ice Blasting?
Dry ice blasting is the process of propelling Dry Ice(frozen carbon dioxide (CO2) ) from a specialized blast machine using the power of compressed air. This process is environmentally-friendly and contains no secondary contaminants such as solvents or grit media. The process of Dry Ice blasting allows most items to be cleaned in place without time-consuming dis-assembly and is approved for use in the food industry. It can be can be used to remove production residues, release agents, contaminants, paints, oils and biofilms. It is a non-abrasive, nonflammable and non-conductive cleaning method.