CONSOLIDATED STRIPPING & DERUSTING, INC.

   The picture top left is the control panel to a Blu-Surf bake-off oven. The picture top right is the actual process chamber. We use the oven as an intricate part of the stripping process for most ferrous metals. It is used to turn multiple layers of paint, undercoating, caulking, grease, stickers, powdercoating, body fillers, and other oxidizable substances into a thin and easily removed fly-ash. This fly-ash can then be removed with blasting or other physical means. When blasting, it gives us the benefits of faster production rates, at lower blasting pressures, using a finer grade of abrasive and producing a texture free physically etched surface for outstanding coating adhesion. This is the preferred method we have used for years to process rare classic and collectible automobile parts and bodies. You can view pictures of this process at work at the top of our web page PICTURES. It is also used to burn-off paint hooks and racks with extreme film buildups without damaging or warping the parts to be cleaned.

   We charge by the oven load, by the basket load or by the piece for everything with the exception of hooks or paint racks. The total size of the process chamber is 13'x7'x6' and maximum weight of objects are limited 6K pounds per basket or 9 tons per ovenload. A typical process cycle runs between 2 to 12 hours with top temperatures of 800F. Process charges are generally $125.00 per ovenload based on percentage of space required with a minimum charge of $25.00 for anything. Racks and hooks are charged based on an hourly rate of $30.00 per hour and maximum safe processing rates of 20 to 30 pounds of paint per hour.

   Metals like aluminum or zinc diecast cannot be subjected to the thermal process without deformation or loss of strength and must be removed before baking. It is also not advisable to bake springs, coils, or other heat treated objects as this will result in annealment of the steel and require additional heat treating to restore proper temper.

      The above two captions show an oven adapter that we designed and built to expand the oven capacity. It will now allow us to process parts with a maximum length of 18 feet and we can now accomodate all car bodies and all but the longest of frames. This oven can now process powdercoated race car frames without setting them on their sides or attempting a corner to corner configuration. It wasn't cheap and we charge extra for having to use it when the part exceeds 12' 6" . This extention was successfully operational as of April 4th, 2003.

    This is the largest of the five cabinet blasting units we operate. The dimensions are 10'x5'x5' with full-size doors on both ends. It allows two operators to blast simultaneously on the same part or independently of each other. Both sides are equipped with short venturi style 1/4 inch nozzle orifices for most applications. System operating pressures may be set between 20 and 85 psi by either user giving cfm consumption rates of 27 to 74 cfm  and  requiring 8 to 21 hp respectively. The machine is attached to a 2400 cfm dust collector with high efficiency filtration allowing in house venting. Stripping charges are based on a shop rate of $45.00 per hour on this unit for all in house orders. Any company or private individual may schedule access for use of this unit. Charges for all self-serve strip customers are currently $15.00 per hour with abrasive included.  No joking around here. Instead of doing it on your own, come have a blast with us.  A workers' compensation policy must be in force for all companies and all private individuals 18 years of age or over will be required to sign a waiver exempting us from liability. Glass bead is frequently run in this machine, but is not always. Ask for details.

SPECIALTY ABRASIVE CABINET

       This is one of three specialty abrasive cabinet blasters we operate, the dimensions of this unit are 60x48x40, and opens in a clamshell form for easier loading and unloading. This cabinet has been set up for glass bead blasting and we keep it stocked with #8(70/100) glass bead for most general aluminum and stainless steel finishing applications.

     It is generally equipped with a 5/16 inch orifice, double venturi nozzle. Blasting pressures for these materials are generally 30 to 60 psi. The air required is 50 to 88 cfm and 17 to 29 hp respectively. 

    Stripping in this cabinet is $45.00 per hour for all in house orders. All self-serve strip customers will be charged $15.00 per hour and includes all nonabrasive medias at no additional charge. The minimum charge for all self-serve stripping will be 1 hour. We appreciate advanced scheduling if possible, but hot jobs happen, especially in the automotive industry. If necessary a three shift operation can be quickly assembled to expedite production and avoid line shut downs. Benteler Industries in Galesburg, Mi. is a company in just such an industry and we have been utilized by them on several occasions. Have a situation after hours? Try schmidtke1@chartermi.net in an emergency or  cell A 269-760-0257, cell B 269-492-5514 or try our shop line 269-685-1340 and somebody will be available to assist you.

   Pictured to the left is the green and brown specialty blasting cabinets. We generally keep these units stocked with walnut shell for our self serve blasting customers. Walnut shell is an excellent replacement for both plastic and soda blasting medias. These cabinets can be used by our customers for $15.00 per hour or we provide full service walnut shell stripping for $45.00 per hour.

   It should be noted that all of the units posted on our web  site have been reconditioned or built by us. We offer full service repair and build our own line of commercial blasting cabinets. If necessary we can even design and build a custom blasting cabinet for you.

Empire bb4 basket blaster

        This is an empire BB4 basket blaster. It features a 3 cubic foot rotating basket capable of handling thousands of smaller components without the necessity of an operator being present at all times. It has 3 oscillating 1/4 siphon nozzles. A typical blasting pressure is 90 psi requiring  86 cfm and 28 hp. Load the machine up and walk away. Processing times vary widely with application. Generally 2 five gallon buckets of parts can be automatically stripped of paint or rust in under 1.5 hours raw or 15 minutes if baked off first. Most light deburring can be accomplished in 30 minutes or less. This machine is charged out at $45.00 per hour for all in house orders. All self-serve customers are charged $10.00 per hour which includes all material at no addition charge.

BLAST ROOM AND BULLARD AIR SUPPLIED RESPIRATOR

     The blast room pictured above features good lighting from both top and sides. It helps the operator maintain excellent visibility and improves the quality of our/your work. What you can't see you can't blast, or prime for that matter. The Bullard air supplied respirator provides 35 cfm free air. A Vortex air conditioner is attached which enables individuals to cool incoming air by as much as 60 degrees lower than room temperature. In case you were wondering, yes the entire facility including abrasive storage areas are heated to improve comfort, quality, productivity and prevention of any condensation on metals or medias. The pressure pot holds 150 pounds of abrasive material and is positioned for easy manual filling. A 5/16 venturi nozzle is standard, however, several different nozzles may be used based on the application. Blast pressures may be regulated between 20 to 90 psi requiring 45 to 135 cfm and 15 to 45 hp respectively. Charges for all activities done in this 26'x21'x14' blast room will be $50.00 per hour on all in house orders. All self-serve strip customers shall be charged $15.00 per hour and includes most abrasives.  Just because you do it yourself doesn't mean you're on your own. Full technical support and secondary tools are included free of charge. We'll help you get things done right the first time so there won't have to be a next time. 

   All this blasting equipment can really use the air. It cannot be overstated that blasting can require substantial amounts of compressed air. We run three electric compressors in our blasting operations and have the ability to select one at a time or all three can be run at the same time if necessary. Above is a picture of the 100 hp Quincy QSI 490 and the 75 hp Sullair compressors. The 50 hp Quincy QSI 235 that we started with has not been pictured and is far less pretty but still runs great and is extremely reliable.

    Personally, it is our opinion that the best compressors on the market today are built by Quincy. Specifically, we suggest that all blasting operations consider the Quincy QSI series for all blasting applications. The QSI units are built for industry and generally cost twice that of any other brand on the market. But they are built to last and we have over 145,000 hours on the 50 hp QSI 235 which we bought used when we started in 1993.

   The 100 hp Quincy and 75 hp Sullair compressors are water cooled units. The 50 hp Quincy compressor has an air cooled aftercooler. We really prefer the water cooled units in the summer months as they generate far less heat and produce a far superior quality dry compressed air. The water cooled compresors have the ability to cool the compressed air to within 15 degrees of the water temperature which is generally a constant 55 degrees in most areas. Thus, watercooled compressors have the ability to chill the air and squeeze far more water into a condensate form that can then be removed with the use of a good quality water separator.

   Clean dry air is a must for all specialty blasting applications. Glass bead blasting can be especially tempermental if the air is not completely dry. Compressed air refrigerated driers are often used to accomplish the same task but they are expensive to buy and run, require high maintenance, and take up a substantial amount of floor space. In contrast, a water cooled compressor takes up the same amount of floor space as a conventional air cooled compressor but provides nearly the same quality cool and dry air as if it had been run thru a refrigerated dryer.

    Air cooled compressors are generally used on smaller units like the 50 hp Quincy QSI 235 that we use. They are great in the winter when shop temperatures as generally kept around 68 degrees. They cool compressed air to within 15 degrees of ambient air temperatures which vary with the season. Air cooled units produce excellent quality air as long as dew points and temperatures are cool and dry. They also help recover heating costs where necessary and for the 9 months a year in Michigan, heat is generally required.

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