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Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:19 am

I am restoring a 65 beetle and the body is hanging from my ceiling ready to " DIP " but I can not find a place anyware. Please help

Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:53 am

Have you tried looking in the Yellow Pages?

Mon Sep 25, 2006 9:59 am

what is it listed under? auto body?

Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:24 am

UNICCO GUY wrote: I am restoring a 65 beetle and the body is hanging from my ceiling ready to " DIP " but I can not find a place anyware. Please help

How have you looked? Are ou sure you want to dip it? Media blasting is much better. An has less potential problems. :idea:

Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:29 am

Well i just bought a sand blaster from Harbor Freight but I've been hearing that the time it takes a compressor to catch up to the actuall blasting is really hard on the compressor. I have a 35 gallon compressor ao it should be ok i guess but I figured if I can just have it dipped for 500 or less it would be worth it. I've never done it so I am inaware of any risk.

Should i just quit looking and start blasting?

Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:36 am

Honestly, I have had a car chemically dipped and would never do it again. You have to repeatedly wasH the residue off of the body and then prep it so it doesn't start surface rusting. Save your time and money and take it to a professional to blast. Soda blasting is great, because the parts can sit in a garage for weeks and even months without surface rust appearing. Soda blasting is more economical for smaller parts. Have someone blast your car with either plastic media or sugar sand. The heavier sand will warp the body, which will really rain on your parade.

Save your sandblaster for smaller parts you can do on your own time.

Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:42 am

Good info thanks! any idea what it might cost to have it blasted?

Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:07 pm

UNICCO GUY wrote: Good info thanks! any idea what it might cost to have it blasted?

I don't know what materials and labor rates are for your area, but don't be shocked at $600 - $900. It might seem high, but in the grand scheme of things, it's for equipment and materials you don't have to clean up/maintain.

Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:40 pm

UNICCO GUY wrote:

Is that a New Beetle powerwheels on the roof rack? 8)

- David

Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:47 am

WHY yes it is. amazing what 100.00 in spray paint will do!!

Is it sad that I am that much of a VW nut to try and get my daughter into it? She is three and just wants to grow taller so she can drive.

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:55 am

To answer your question: American Metal Cleaning in Portland. They dipped my oval, did it in a timely manner, were professional, and did nice work. Cost $1200 for body, 2 pans, and an extra set of heater channels. Worth every penny. There are advantage and disadvantages to dipping a car. Make sue you understand the process and the pros and cons vs. blasting before you decide to go this route. Godd luck,
Peter

Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:19 am

Thank you very much I will try and contact them today. Did you spend alot of time cleaning your vehical before you were able to seal and prime it? I was under the impression it just came out perfect and ready to go after a little wax and grease remover like normal of course

Sun Oct 01, 2006 9:45 pm

I'm in Bellingham Washington and have been getting Bugs and Buses blasted at Sharpe Auto and Sandblasting. He uses crushed glass media- feels like moondust, or at least what I would think moondust feels like! The surface is ready to prime just by blowing out/off the bare shells... I just had an entire off-the-pan 63 hardtop done for $500... His prices have gone a slight bit cuz he uses diesel to run his power generator/ air compressor.

AMAZING process, very affordable and NO warpage. Here's some pics of the work.

Todd's his name- if you're anywhere near him, DO IT! 360-441-5000

Ryan

before

after

This...

Became a winning drag car!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=201323

Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:27 am

That bug looks pretty f*@KING AWESOME. 500 bucks seems like a smokin deal and I wouldn't have to take it to Oregon. I was dead set on dipping it but now thinking about the inside of the heater channels and god knows where else I woulnt be able to prime when its out of the tank. I think that would create a bigger problem in the long run.

You guys have been a tremendous help I thank all of you for your time and knowledge.

Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:17 pm

http://www.ablasterscorp.com/

great guys fair pricing marysville wa

Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:37 pm

I had the folks at the marysville shop blast this for me...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=353180

Lower right pics were taken by me in my garage about three years ago. The work done in Marysville tops them all! It's just that it takes weeks to get it done. Nothing wrong with that if you're a hobbyist! In fact, the surface was left with a lot of the factory primer somewhat intact! It was plastic media blasted, then the few rust spots were hit with sand to eliminate it... My beef is that with plastic it's more necessary to still sand the surface to gain better adhesion- With glass I just blow it off and it's primable. To each his own, Marysville still kicks butt! (at blasting anyway) :wink: