Starting an auto body acid dip company

A. Hi Eric,

Although there may be some differences in the results between dipping and dry blasting, one of the main considerations in making a choice between them is production rate ... because dipping offers greatly reduced labor cost at greatly higher capital cost.

It would seem to me that dry blasting would be more appropriate for the low volume specialty needs of classic car reconstruction.

If you feel there are actual advantages to dipping, however, please let us know why you think so, so we can further debate it.

Sorry, Luck & Regards,


Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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? Hi Manuel. It probably depends on what business you are in  🙂

The 'acid dipping' actually involves alkaline paint strippers rather than acid, but you'll need a tank big enough to dip your parts, suitable material handling equipment, and you'll need rinsing capability. You'll probably need wastewater treatment.

The reason I say it depends on the business you are in is because you'll want to do something very shortly after the stripping or the automotive parts will rust. Ideally would be phosphating, e-coating, and painting or powder coating.

What does your business currently do please?

Luck & Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. Hi Tim. I have heard apocryphal stories about acid dipping cars for the purpose of thinning the sheet metal and making them lighter, but I don't actually know if that is fact or fiction. So I presume you are speaking of paint stripping & de-rusting rather than trying to reduce weight. Alkaline solutions, not acid, are actually used for that because it's a better paint stripper, and you don't want to risk non-neutralized acid hiding in a crevice somewhere. The dipping process faces competition from media blasting as an alternate approach, so your first decision is which approach you want to pursue.

It's a tall order to ask what tanks to buy, what chemicals to buy, what the process entails, and how to start a business, Tim:-)
Do you have some related experience? A basic intro to metal finishing is a 4-day or 5-day course, a basic intro to the regulations is another 2-day course, and hazmat training is a few more ... so it's obviously difficult to answer your questions in a few paragraphs. I'd suggest you start with a copy of the Metal Finishing Guidebook from the library or by buying an old copy cheap, and then get back to us with some specific questions. But actually having worked in a metal finishing facility will take you further & faster than book knowledge or seminars, so you might try getting a summer job in a somewhat similar place first. Topic 40982 lists a number of companies in the media blasting or alkaline stripping & de-rusting business, and you might see what you can learn from their websites.

Good luck!

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey