Automotive Sandblasting Cape Town strips rust, paint and underseal from chassis, wheels, suspension parts and selected body panels for restoration and repair. Describe the vehicle or parts once and compare quotes.
- For restorers, panel beaters, 4x4 owners and classic car owners.
- The media and method change between a chassis and a thin panel.
Describe your vehicle or parts once and compare automotive sandblasting quotes.
Get Automotive Sandblasting QuotesCommon Jobs
| Part | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Chassis and subframes | Grit blasting to bare steel, then primer or powder coat |
| Steel wheels and alloy rims | Strip and blast, then powder coat |
| Suspension arms, axles, brackets | Grit or shot, then coating |
| Body shells and panels | Gentler media, low pressure, or chemical stripping on thin areas |
| Engine and gearbox casings | Vapour or glass bead blasting after stripping |
Disassembly and Masking
- Strip parts before blasting. Media gets into bearings, bushes, engines and wiring.
- Remove glass, rubber, trim, wiring and fuel and brake lines from shells.
- Mask threads, machined faces and VIN or chassis numbers so they stay legible.
- Plug hollow sections and box members, or plan how media will be removed.
Media Selection and Distortion Risk
Thin body panels heat and stretch under aggressive, high-pressure blasting, which causes warping that is expensive to fix. Large flat panels such as bonnets, roofs and doors are most at risk.
- Contractors use finer or softer media and lower pressure on panels.
- Some recommend chemical stripping or soda for large flat areas.
- Chassis and heavy brackets can take coarser grit.
- Ask the contractor how they handle panels before agreeing to a full shell.
After Blasting
Bare steel must be primed quickly. Epoxy primer is common on restorations. Blasting also reveals filler, old repairs and rust holes, so budget for metalwork.
Automotive Sandblasting Prices
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Abrasive blasting, per m² | R80 - R150 per m² |
| Powder coating a car wheel, 15 - 16 inch (Cape Town) | R450 - R650 per wheel |
| Powder coating a car wheel, 17 - 18 inch (Cape Town) | R550 - R750 per wheel |
| Set of four 17 inch wheels, VW Polo or Golf (Cape Town) | R2,200 - R2,800 |
| Powder coating a bumper | From about R600 |
| Powder coating a motorcycle frame | Up to about R5,300 |
| Full chassis or body shell blasting | Quoted per vehicle - no reliable published rate |
Ballpark figures, not quotations. Compiled from price guides and price lists published on South African websites (published between April 2025 and April 2026, including a Cape Town wheel powder-coating guide, plus one undated powder-coating price list), checked 13 October 2026 and rounded. Most are national or Gauteng guides, so Cape Town quotes can differ. Unless a row says so, the sources do not state whether VAT is included, so confirm VAT on every quote. Photos, an inspection and a written quote set the actual price.
What Affects an Automotive Quote
- Whether parts arrive stripped, or the contractor dismantles.
- Amount of underseal, filler, paint layers and rust.
- Panels that need gentler media or chemical stripping.
- Primer or powder coat included or not.
- Transport of a shell or rolling chassis.
What to Send With Your Request
- Make, model and year.
- A list of parts, or whether it is a full shell or chassis.
- Photos of rust areas and existing coatings.
- How much is already stripped.
- The finish you want after.
For all other blasting services, see Sandblasting Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will sandblasting warp my car panels?
It can, if aggressive media or high pressure is used on thin flat panels. Ask what media and pressure will be used, or consider chemical stripping for large panels.
Should the car be stripped before blasting?
Yes. Glass, trim, wiring, fuel and brake lines, rubber and the drivetrain should come out. Media gets into everything left in.
Can alloy wheels be sandblasted?
Yes, usually as part of refurbishment before powder coating. Tyres, valves and weights come off first.
What happens to the chassis number?
It should be masked during blasting so it stays legible. Mention it to the contractor.
How soon must a blasted chassis be primed?
The same day if possible. Bare steel starts rusting quickly, especially near the coast.
Related Services
Sandblasting Cape Town is a free quote-comparison service. Work is assessed, quoted and carried out by independent contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Ask each one for a written quote, what is and is not included, proof of insurance and the payment terms before paying anything.
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