Can't beat a wire brush for getting rid of all that rust on a Mini. Just bought a box of these on eBay. works out about $1 each with postage. Don't rush and outbid one another - he has about 40 boxes to sell - check his other items to see other listings for them.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270077221539&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_BID_IT&refitem=270076294449&itemcount=2&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Oh really? I love my sandblaster.


Before:


After 20 seconds:


It's downsides are:
(a) Bigger outlay. The sandblaster was NZ$250 and takes up a bit of space in the garage
(b) You need a compressor, but so does painting
(c) So far I'm using Supercheap Sandblasting grit, at NZ$20 for 10kg so not as cheap. I've tried sweeping up the grit and recycling it, but it's still messy and time consuming to clean up.

The advantages are it can get into tight spaces like nothing else, like where the side seams meet the roof and where the guards meet the scuttle, so I've started only using it on those bits and used those nylon paint stripping discs on my angle grinder for the flat areas.

But I also use wire cup brushes on the angle grinder for around the door jambs where they deform into the folds etc.

I only added this post as it seemed to fit the theme, and because I find it's easier to have a few different ways to get a job done as easily as possible. Ebay and Trade Me (NZ) have allowed me access to tools and consumables for restoring my mini that would have been out of my budget otherwise.

Angus I have that same sandblaster too mate... Although im finding my grit gets clogged and I have to shake the unit to get some flow again... I havent given it a big go though just a few seconds.

The only problem with brass wheels is they dont last long. Best to pay money and get some good stainless ones. They cost about $20 but they last forever.. I have one that goes on a angle grinder and a few others that go on a drill.. Also some really good ones are seaweed disks. They go on the drill to and they clean the metal like nothing else.. All these can be found at bunnings.

Mike

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If it cant be fixed with a hammer it cant be FIXED!!

Yup, me too. It worked fine until I started to sweep up and recycle the grit so I'm thinking the grit either needs to be finer than the sieve I used to get the dirt out of it, or it needs to be really, really dry. Which also blows away my idea of using sand from the beach unless I can find a way to ensure it's bone dry.

I tried sand from the beach and it was a disaster... It will glocg up for sure... and is a PITA to get it back out of that hole on the top. I got some proper sand now it works heaps better then sand but still glogs up a bit.

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If it cant be fixed with a hammer it cant be FIXED!!

I'm trying to find (in Wellington, NZ) the best source for sandblasting grit. The best I've found so far is 25kg for NZ$50, not including freight. Supercheap is NZ$20 for 10kg which I've just realised is the same price... The truth is that even assuming I don't recycle the grit, it works so well in the tight stuff that it's worth it.

I think from memory using sand from the beach can be quite dangerous if you breathe it in, but thats not to say breathing in the other grit is any better for your health!! Also getting the sand 100% dry can be a bit tricky. I've been using the supercheap grit and recycling through a fuel funnel which has mesh in it and haven't had too many problems. Another one I've tried is bicarb of soda which costs about $25 for 25 kgs of it. You can get it from Fodder stores in the country as farmers use it in the feed for sheep (will avoid the sheep jokes...), the only thing is it is a bit lighter than the grit so you get a bit more floating around in the air but maybe worth a try. I put a bit of info up about it a while ago, if you do a search you should be able to find pics etc.

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Anton and a few others here used dry sand, from Bunnings. No idea of price but may be cheaper.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Angusdogs local beach sand is course black ironsand stuff....he might be better of finding some fine washed river sand (from the other coast!!)

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"Show me the Mini!"

whats the damage for a good sandblaster?
I was a big advocate for the wire wheel. But I found that it threw wire bristles all through my shed. Part of which is carpeted and is used as a Gym. Me, my girlfriend and my dog are constantly getting these little bastards imbeded in our feet. I dont really mind but I feel bad for the other 2.

Cheers

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Mine is the same as the one in the pic and i got it for $170 of ebay... They go for aslittle as $155... #0 bucks postage or something like that.

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If it cant be fixed with a hammer it cant be FIXED!!