[pookie]

In the Jeeping world finding an old military trailer to use is getting harder and harder to find a good one. While surfing the other day I came across an ad for one in Halethorpe MD and I went to take a look. Turns out it is a 1966 M416 originally delivered to the Aberdeen (sp) MD Proving Grounds. I poked and prodded at it and then decided to take it home. So 80+ miles later on the original tires, with just the ball hooked up as the chains were too short, I got it home. It still has the original lunette for a pintle hitch, the big military connector, the lights and the hand brake. It has a lot of surface rust and the paint is coming off, but no holes or anything like that. My question is what is the best method to remove the surface rust and paint. I was thinking wire wheel on a drill, but some have suggested sand blasting. Some even suggested there is a sandblaster you can buy from Lowes/HD that will hook up to my compressor and I can use that. Anyone have any experience with one of those? I found an old Army manual for it via the internet and adobe, which shows how I can take the bucket off the frame with I also plan on doing. And I found a site for old Jeeps and trailers, but it is kind of dead so I figured I would post over here. O and here are some pics

[markwemple]

How much time do you have on your hands? If alot, then the home blaster will work. Figure at best an hour to do a square foot. If not a lot, there are balsting companies that can do the qhole thing in about an hour and will use specific media for what ails ya. Wire brush won't do it unless you plan on soaking the beast in por 15. Congrats.

[pookie]

What do you think it will cost to have a company sand/media blast it? And how do I find one?

[markwemple]

Not sure but it won't be cheap. Could be as much as $500. Never used one. Too cheap. Spent the $15 on the home blaster. Of course, I never kept track of how much I spent on sand of on electricity, so I may have spent more but I never had to do something nearly as comprehensive as your trailer.

[markwemple]

BTW, if you are really nuts and want the rust gone forever (never happens), you want to separate all the panels, drill out the spot weelds and grind off the seam welds. That is where all the rust usually starts. BUt, that is of course if you want to show how crazy you really are. ("I used to think you're crazy, but now I see your nuts")

[pookie]

Yikes $500 is a good chunk more than I paid for the trailer.

Soooooo......tell me about the home blaster.

[William Miller]

I have an older version Jeep trailer made by David Bradley Co. Sometime in the 40's. It's been in our family company for years. It was used to haul lawn equiptment behind a IC Cub tractor for years.
I got intrested in doing the same project you are contemplating and even bought the paint.
The trailer had been painted at least once before.
I started knocking the dirt and loose stuff off it one day with a power washer and found some weird drawings and symbols on it.

Turns out that during it's second life the trailer was used by the Knights of Columbus or simular group on parade duty. I found a symbol that looks like one of those little read hats and drawings of sort of a desert scene on the side and the word "KENA" on the tailgate.

I'm only posting this because maybe one of the old farts on the board might know what it means.

Back OT:
I have a little sand blaster you can barrow. You need a decent sized air compressor to power it. On reason it takes a long time is because without a huge compressor you are always waiting for the pressure to build up.

Another option is to rent a big compressor and blast unit for a day.
This is common stuff at a tool rental shop. They probably have bags of play sand too.

I decided to leave mine alone because it's pretty cool. I wash it every once in a while to keep the buildup off it and the surface rust has never gotten any worse.

Great find!

[KFJ]

Originally Posted by William Miller

The trailer had been painted at least once before.
I started knocking the dirt and loose stuff off it one day with a power washer and found some weird drawings and symbols on it.

Turns out that during it's second life the trailer was used by the Knights of Columbus or simular group on parade duty. I found a symbol that looks like one of those little read hats and drawings of sort of a desert scene on the side and the word "KENA" on the tailgate.

Must have been the Shriners:

http://www.kena.org/

[William Miller]

Originally Posted by KFJ

Must have been the Shriners:

http://www.kena.org/

Yup that's them. I forgot. I'll have to go check out the site!

[pookie]

Yeah I would just leave mine cause it looks cool but I am afraid the rust is going to win the battle in the end.

Mark and William, is this what you guys are talking about?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93221