Acid Dipping an old cab

Mellvis · Post by **Mellvis** » March 16, 2007, 10:59 am

I was thinking of acid dipping my cab. It looks cool when they do it on tv. I want to find all of the trouble spots before I start working on it and spending too much muny on a cab that isn't the best I can get. My question is, does the acid make a good cab made from 42 year steel turn bad? My cab has no rust that I can spot, but has dirt and general road grime build up in the nooks and cranies.
Has anyone done this or know much about it? Any alternatives to acid dip to get the same results?

Thanks

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » March 16, 2007, 11:32 am

Hi Melvis
I have not had an entire cab dipped but did have some doors and box parts done. Only issue with dipping seems to be trapped acid where it connot be throughly cleaned out. Shows as a rust streak at later date. Was also told where acid remains it will start to corrode metal after a period of time.
Had my Cab Soda blasted. While it will do nothing to rust get to all the same places it will remove all paint etc without the issue of warping caused by sandblasting.
Thats about all I can tell you. I have had good sucess with both processes. They both have their own set of pro's and con's all depends on what you are really trying to acheive.
That is my:2cents:worth of opinion

Mellvis · Post by **Mellvis** » March 16, 2007, 11:37 am

I've never heard of soda blasting. Sounds like something I should read up on. Do you have any idea what it might cost to have a cab done? I've only got about $250 in it now, so I don't mind spending a few bucks to make it nice. Iwant a nice truck, and at the rate I'm going, I coud feasable be done with less than $2000 in it. Not bad for a nice driver Slick!

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » March 16, 2007, 1:24 pm

there are 2 types of acid. one is used for paint removal only (no rust) and one is used for rust removal only. (usually the rust remover won't eat through the paint, which is why the need for two different ones) when they run it through the rust remover they have to be very careful to ensure it does not sit in there longer than necessary, as after a while it can start to eat into the metal.

as cas said, they also have to take care in making sure they wash out ALL traces of acid, or it will come back and haunt you.

However a good shop should already know how to do all that and will give it to you clean as a whistle.

I've done several doors, fenders, small parts etc, and they turn out very nice, dont damage the metal etc provided the shop knows what theyre doing. If theres no rust at all, youre better off just having it dipped in the paint remover, then checking it over to see if it even needs to go in the rust tank.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » March 16, 2007, 3:22 pm

I've heard pro's & con's to dipping. Lately, a few more con's from some of the top musclecar restorers. They say that you can't ensure you're getting 100% of the dip from all the nooks & crannies. They seem to prefer soda blasting, or media blasting.

There's also a few who do prefer it, including these guys; http://www.musclecarrestorations.com/ and seem to do a fantastic job in the end. Maybe the difference is in how high tech the equipment is?

Here's a pic of part of the process.

FORDBOYpete · Post by **FORDBOYpete** » March 17, 2007, 4:24 pm

Where there are layers of laminated metal acid DOES NOT GET lfushed out or Neutralized and as a Shop owner who had to "eat A Big Dollar Paint job on a customers vehicle that was acid dipped without my knowledge I will not paint a customers vehicle if I know it's stripped by dipping in ANYTHING.

And If a job came in prestripped by others, I would not be responsible if it developed problems later like blistering am bubbling.

I either media Blast it or leave it alone. I am not familiar with Soda Blasting and I do not know what Soda means, Some Soda is Alkaline.

FBp

Mellvis · Post by **Mellvis** » March 19, 2007, 1:43 pm

Well, it looks like a 50/50 on this one. Keep in mind that Im building a DRIVER not a show truck. I just want to build it once and it last for years. My historic plates expire in the year 2050, and I want the body to last that long as well. Is this a far-fetched dream?
Thanks for all of the input, I guess I just still don't know what to do.

Max · Post by **Max** » March 19, 2007, 7:52 pm

You can find real good info. on Horsepower's site: autobody101.com about both processes - from guys in the trade, so-to-speak.

Like castruck says, there are pros and cons to doing both and like paint or mechanics, depends on the shop you take it to. Acid wash does a real good job, but only if it's done right. Soda blasting has cons as far as its reaction to primers and paint afterwards that needs to be addressed.

Recent info. on the soda blasting: http://www.autobody101.com/forums/about ... da+blastin

Willy_B · Post by **Willy_B** » March 20, 2007, 6:22 am

I know this doesn't help today. I believe you will see wetblasting in the next few years. The method is used in the Auto parts remanufacturing industry today. I've just ordered and recieved one of these smaller systems at work. It so far has showed no real signs of warping. The reps said they are currently working on room size systems for the auto body industry. Pretty cool if or when it happens.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » March 20, 2007, 8:58 am

I had my truck soda blasted. It DOES NOT remove rust. at all. Leaves it totally intact. It is good for those long expanses of flat sheet metal on old Muscle cars, as it is not as likely to warp the metal. But, in the end, the body shop I used re-SANDBLASTED every piece on my truck. These trucks are so noted for rust, that soda blasting is pretty much a waste of time/money on anything but a dry, rust free truck from Az, Nm, Nv, or southern California.

~JC, king of expensive lessons

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » March 20, 2007, 8:57 pm

JC is right as I stated in my earlier post soda does nothing for rust.
that is why some of my stuff was soda blasted and outher stuff was dipped.
And problem here is the dipping place does not do E-coating that Doc discussed in his post.

Because if they did I would have had my whole truck done that way. But here there is no e-coat facility here so it was decided by my body man and I that this was the best route to gofor my situation.