Modern Vespa is the premier site for modern Vespa and Piaggio scooters. Modern Vespa. Search Topic. Sand blasting or chemical stripping? UTC quote. I'm about to start a full restoration of a Vespa Touring GL from I want to get the frame and other body parts to the bare metal prior to sending them to the paint shop.
I cannot decide whether I should have the parts sand blasted or chemically stripped. What's best? Francisco My Vespa prior to restoration. Veni, Vidi, Posti. Blasting with different media i. Also needs to be etched quite quickly to prevent new rust forming on the newly exposed metal. So that's what I've heard but no expert so interesting to see what others pitch in with.
I have a rough GTR frame to do too. Sure someone will say keep that patina as it is! Molto Verboso. There are pro's and cons for either method. Chemical stripping will allow water to penetrate in-between the spot welds and the floor tunnel and may encourage rust in places that can't be seen. Sand Blasting, its aggressive and can remove to much of the metal from the frame, you must also protect the chassis number, as it has been known for the sand blaster to remove some or all of the numbers.
There are other products, like crushed walnut shells and plastic balls, but not all media blasters use them. My method is a wire brush on a grinder and then sand blast the areas that are hard to reach or the really stubborn painted areas. Vespa GS A few hours with the grinder. Thanks guys, very useful replies! Based on what you say and on other stuff I read online, chemical stripping seems to be better. However I have two concerns re chemical stripping: 1 Some people say that if the parts are not cleaned properly after stripping, any tiny bit of the chemical will lay on the metal and cause the new paint to come off at a later stage.
However, some parts like the tiny gaps in between metal sheets will be then unprotected against rust. And these can be difficult to reach with primer or paint.
