Sandblasting an aluminum boat

As I planned to restore a 16’ aluminum Lund fishing boat, I was not sure if my plan to sandblast it would be a safe way to remove paint and surface damage. A quick video search did not yield any definitive answers, so I decided to try it and make my own video to provide some insight.
My compressed air system, sandblaster, and air dryer components are pretty standard items. However, until I added the air dryer, the sandblaster would continuously plug up with wet sand. Now it works flawlessly!
Using #4 sand, the dings and scratches in the aluminum disappear and the blasting leaves a slightly raised, spalling effect. This allows a quick sanding with 220 grit sandpaper to level out the surface into a polished look. Some buffing with a cutting compound or metal polish brings the bare aluminum parts, such as the gunnels, back to a lustre finish.

[@johnnyseegs]

Finally!!! I’ve been waiting for somebody to post a vid like this. Great job

[@28fish]

I appreciate that. I could not find a video that really demonstrated what would happen. Glad it was useful!

[@furlongspeedmarine]

Awesome video. Im getting ready to restore my 16 footer as well. Been painted a few times. Was trying to decide what route to go for removal!

[@sharpen-up]

Finished boat? Any vid?

[@roderickharris9497]

Hey outstanding video. Where did you get the air dryer and what's the part number?

[@28fish]

Thanks, brother! It is from a Canadian retail chain called Princess Auto. Here is a link to their listing. You need to buy the desiccant pellets separately: www.princessauto.com/en/in-line-desiccant-air-dryer/product/PA0008055757

[@southern04man]

It does contaminate the aluminum if u need to weld on it.

[@28fish]

It sure would. Do you think a wipe down with acetone would clean the aluminum enough to weld?

[@southern04man]

@@28fish no. From what I'm told the media gets embedded into the aluminum. I have an aluminum boat that was blasted with the wrong medium and when you weld it just melts like solder.

[@joelcr250]

I was told by a pro, to use crushed glass, not sand, on aluminum.
Your sand media looks like it's leaving lots of roughness on the alum

[@28fish]

I actually tried glass too. It resulted in larger pock marks and a very rough finish. With professional equipment and a finer grit of glass than I can get I’ll bet that would be the way to go.

[@johnjenkins2344]

What sand were you using?

[@28fish]

A #4 blasting sand we bought from Peavey Mart. They sell it for $11.99 per 25 Kg bag.