Need paint sandblaster STX.

Don't know how much you'd use it but Home Depot online has a Powermaster sandblaster for $64.99. Have you tried such as an AAA rental outlet on STX?

I haven't thanks OT I will. I may have to try to do it myself with a sandblaster but I believe I need a air compressor too?

I have no clue how this works and I kinda don't want to ruin the chairs.

Here's a link to the one at Home Depot. It's an all-in-one unit. Free shipping too. The reviews are helpful.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Powermate-Air-Sandblaster-with-50-lb-Hopper-009-0367CT/202591391

Oh I don't want to buy one to keep. I would never use it again. I really don't want to do this myself as I don't want to pit and ruin the chairs.

Walsh metal works maybe?

Maybe try for info at LEAP, the Whim museuem or possibly Ronnie from STT Historical Society can give you a lead on a furniture restorer. If they're really old, you may, indeed, risk damaging with a sandblaster

You might check some of the bigger car body shops - and for wood it is far better to use a less abrasive blasting material - walnut shells are often the preferred medium.
A serious paint stripping product should get a lot of paint off with not that much effort - toxic though be careful!! - careful scraping and sanding would be the best restoration plan really - maybe some of the good woodworking folks on STX would be willing to undertake the work as well.

Pumice is the most gentle sandblasting material and should do ok removing paint without damaging. A pressure washer might work as well. Good luck.

just wondering if a power washer would do the trick? they have enough power to go through shoes and damage a persons foot

Huh never thought about a pressure washer. This is old baked on paint. The Gel paint remover is working but its taking FOREVER ad theres like three layers and it doesn't go through all three layers at once - so I have to do each layer at a time with the gel stuff.

I think Ill stop by LEAP tomorrow. Right by my house - and ask him what he thinks. I already bought a huge mahogany stump for my coffee table from him.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I may indeed end up spending forever refinishing these.

Good luck

A pressure washer won't work. It'll take off old, loose and peeling paint but not the layers you're describing. Don't know which gel you're using but I used to strip and restore oak furniture and many pieces had been painted over many times. I never needed more than two good coatings on multiple-layered pieces but the greater wait was letting the product sit for a LONG rime to do its work! Have fun!

Make sure it's not lead paint before you start messing with it, especially if considering blasting. Pressure washer will definitely eat into the wood unless the layers are readily falling off. A dip tank would be best if you could find one but good luck with that. Blasting with dry ice pellets may be easy on the wood but may not be tough enough to take off the paint.

Let us know how it goes!
Good luck!

Hello! After reading thir thread i became interested on the sandblasting bussiness in the VI i currently own a sandblasting bussiness in Puerto Rico and will like information if there is room for bussiness out there?? On another subject i recomend soda blasting for the job you want to do it removes on the surface with out damaging the wood! My phone number is 787-457-7836 will be happy to answer any question you may have with the blasting job!!!

Can't find a sandblaster let alone a soda blaster. I'm not rich and can't spend $1k to refinish these.

I am worried the first coat is lead based. That occurred to me today as the top layers are coming off fairly easily but the last is not. Like it doesn't bubble like the other paint does with the gel stripper. So I stopped for now - I assume Home Depot has the lead based paint tester? I know they do in the states but I'm VERY familiar with the paint isles lol and haven't seen it.

I worked for an hour and made hardly any progress. $500 to have someone strip them and I just don't have the $. I may have to sell them to someone who has more time which really sucks as they're pretty amazing.

Oh and to answer your question I think there would be a pretty big need for it here. Mainly in the marine world. The sandblaster I talked to do things like glass and gravestones.

well, all that hard work . sorry this happened

I've never used them but ebay has some cheap 10# soda blaster kits for $69 and claimed FS - borrow or rent a compressor, get some medium, $10 on a lead test kit (also ebay) and you may be $100 or $150 in to the job.

I'm sure they don't do nearly as good a job as a pro would, but if you really do like the chairs, it might be worth the DIY attempt.

I talked to WC abrasive above yesterday. He's based in PR but might be coming here on a work assignment and will have his soda blaster with. So I'm waiting to see if that's the case and I'll have him do it for me. If not, I'm either selling them or spending the $ to have it done. Sucks but I just can't do them myself.