DIY trailer sandblasting

[chrisbitz]

I'm looking to give my trailer a big overhaul, it's for an 18ft boat, so not that big, but it's been dunked many times..

it also looks like a home made one, so it was only painted, rather than galvanised...

Is it likely to be worth overhauling, or getting a second hand one? Maybe £500 or is that unrealistic? How much might a used trailer be?


For the first stage of overhauling, I was wondering if there are places where you can hire a sandblasting booth and do it yourself, and maybe save the money of someone doing it for you?

Then I wonder about Galvanising? I think I read here about someone who had their whole trailer galvanised for quite a reasonable amount..?

 

[davidpbo]

I would be wary about spending too much money on it without knowing whether it id routing from inside out not.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Grit blasting is a horrible job dirty and very hard work. You need high power compressors (road dig up type) and a heavy steel pot with lots of dry grit. You will not be able to use sand on H&S grounds. Even with grit you need special protective clothing with an air fed all over helmet.

How do I know well grit blasting a steel boat hull inside and out. I went to a local grit blaster and saw what was involved and decided it was worth whatever they charged to do the job for me.

We don't have the strict H&S you have and less costly unskilled labour.

The Galvanising process will remove the rust but you must have it grit blasted first to remove the paint ans if the paint is old and may contain lead that must be disposed correctly at great expense.

 

[Avocet]

I agree, it's not really a DIY proposition. You can buy grit / sand blasting DIY equipment from the likes of Machine Mart but it's really only for "toy" stuff. You'd be there several months trying to do a boat trailer! If your trailer is made of (or includes) hollow sections of steel, you're probably on a hiding to nothing. If it is just made of channel or angle sections, you MIGHT find someone who can grit blast and galvanise for you. Its certainly true that hot dip galvanising offers the best overall protection.

 

[TQA]

Cost you about £300 plus grit to rent the kit for a day.

Chip oshpo and paint is what I would do.

 

[lw395]

Given that it will have some rust inside, there is a limit how much effort is worthwhile.
a few hours with a sanding disc may pay dividends, but hundreds of pounds and many hours could be well into 'diminishing returns'.
A lot of the cost of a trailer is in the running gear.
Obviously the trailer needs to be sound, it could be very messy if it breaks.
If It's a bolt-together job, it might be worth replacing the important bits with new and getting them galvanised.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I agree with the above.

When we moved into a new house once I found a partly rusted box trailer under a pile of garden rubbish. I cut off all the running and tow hitch gear and made a nw frame.

Sold the trailer after 20 years hard use.