Sandblasting Door Actuators
 

Planning on sandblasting my door actuators and then Epoxy priming them. Is there a reason why it wouldn't be a good idea to sandblast them? I plan on hitting the pivot points with white lithium grease once primed.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

I did mine they still work just have to get all the sand out

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Good deal, did you hit the "gear" as well? I don't see any bushings, just a pass through rivet that goes through the gear.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

I did mine also. Just make sure you get all the sand off. I rinsed them with the sprayer, in the sink. Then immediately blew them completely dry with the air compressor nozzle.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Sounds like a good plan and then set them out in the sun for a day.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

That wouldn’t hurt either. Your wanting to get all the sand cleaned out of the working mechanisms. I restore bench seats, which includes the tracks. You would be surprised what a few grains of sand can do. If all of it isn’t cleaned out, it will bind the mechanisms. And then the other important step, is making sure the part is completely dry.
The one step that hasn’t been discussed, is now that the part has been sandblasted, the door actuators are somewhat exposed to moisture. So a light coat of clear, or something, would help protect the part from re-rusting. And then of course, greasing/lubing all the working mechanisms.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

I plan on epoxy priming for now as I am unsure of color choice at this point. What are you using to grease/lube them?

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Grease or lithium grease.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Maybe too late but I would soak them in lacquer thinner or some type of solvent for awhile to "melt" all the old grease out. Less places for the sand to stick to.

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Good idea:metal:

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Yep, too late but that is a great idea. I blasted them and then washed them in my kitchen sink yesterday. Sit them out in the sun all day today til it was about 65 degrees and hit them with epoxy. They are inside now to keep the epoxy above 60 degrees all night. I did hit them with my compressor air after washing and if I hit the gear mechanism at the right angle they would spin pretty fast. At that point I was satisfied they were quite clean.

SPI epoxy.
Attachment 2013513

Re: Sandblasting Door Acuators
 

Nice!! Good job