sandblasting/beadblasting question
 

When sandblasting parts that have rust or oxidation, is it necessary to get the entire part down to bare metal before painting? I noticed that the aluminum supports that hold my MDX's running boards have really started to oxidize with the whitish aluminum where there once was black paint looking pretty bad. I took them off last night and blasted them today. The loose paint and the oxidation came off in seconds, but the remaining paint is on there good and is going to require much more time to get it down to bare metal. This not a particularly noticeable part, you might see maybe 2-3 inches of it between the board and the body. Since the remaining paint is on there good and roughened up, I was just planing on repainting it.

No not neccesary to get the whole part down to bare metal.... If the existing paint is well adhered just feather the edge and apply your paint..

Typically you can't provide a surface prep that equals the prep from the factory.... The only issue may be if the paint you use is not compatible with the existing coating...