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Has anyone tried this?  I got a quote of 270.00 for the door and cabinet for a Vendo 81, the smaller items, coin door and bottle door I can media blast in a cabinet, it supposedly removes all paint/rust etc down to the bare metal. 

Pretty common process for car restorations, don't see why it wouldn't work OK for a soda machine.  For the most part sheet metal is sheet metal.   I wouldn't do anything super-delicate in it, but I don't think anything on a typical soda machine qualifies as "delicate".

Jim

The only issue I have been aware of is chemical residue leftover in the seams. Before painting, you need to put some sort of sealant on the metal seams so it doesn't come out to haunt your paint job later on.

      I saw a 39 shell that had been dipped and it looked incredibly CLEAN!

That " shouldn't " happen if you use a reputable shop, but I can see where it could be a problem if there are sloppy welds to begin with on the part.  The parts should be very thorougly rinsed / pressure washed afterwards to remove any traces of the acid.  If there are any welds with pockets or pinholes, they could hold onto some of the 'dip' for later haunting if the part is not thoroughly rinsed.

Jim

Personally, I don't know why someone would spend 270 on something that might cost 50-75 to get sandblasted.. at least that is what I pay around me..

yes I understand about possbily metal warping if not done correctly, but have not had those issues... 

what other advantage of having this done over Sandblasting is there?

Depending on the metals condition... blasting also blast away some of the metal.. if you have a rare machine or cooler where the metal couldn't take much of a blasting no matter how the pressure is set dipping would be best... but be sure they get all the acid off or it will come back to haunt you.
When they zinc coat it goes through an acid bath first... so when sending in the door locking latch off a 39 or 81 be sure to take the “sleeve” off first...it's pot metal... when they go in the acid bath they dont' come out  :down: experience talking....

300 is a normal quote for sandblasting close to dc, unless someone local knows a better deal. 

If it's a "Redistrip"  ( Quote" America's metal laundromat" ) type process it will use an alkali based paint stripper & reverse electrolytic rust removal tank, ( bet you can't tell I work in Industrial paint line facility's can you?) it works very nicely, but as mentioned, it also has to be rinsed very well or it will linger in any hidden seams & seep out when you paint, they should also offer a water-based light seal coat that will prevent flash-rusting of the bare metal if you don't plan to paint it ASAP, the seal coat just rinses off with water & any minor dry residue is compatible with most enamels. check with your "dipper" before hand to be sure, don't assume.

all good points were made, if anyone knows of someone reasonable for soda or sand blasting in the DC/NOVA area, please let me know.  tks 

Wow.. 300 just for sandblasting... must be the government doing it...  :biggrin:
my body man charges me 50-75 for all the blasting on a standard 81 or similiar... Hope he is not reading this...

when i used to get the inside tanks zinc plated we ran into the "Trapped" acid situation a couple times.. would have to take them back and redo, and not always was it remedied.. hence got away from the zinc..

92 dollars an hour is the cheapest I have been quoted, figure at least 2 hours usually 3. 

For that price, I'd be buying my own and doing it yourself in the backyard!

I usually do, lost my compressor, which is why I was shopping around