Comments on: Ep 16: DIY soda blasting – build your own rig!

By: Battered Bugs

Battered Bugs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:17:39 +0000

What U guys are trying to achieve here is a basic siphon gun blaster system. It’d probably work fine w/any sandblast siphon gun system, but Snap-On also makes a killer siphon gun engine cleaner that picks up the solvent like nobody’s business that’d probably work even better for the soda blasting. My air compressors out here, I’ve got 3 of them running currently @ 175-200 psi., will probably drive this soda blast system adequately, as it does everything else I run on it. And yes, being involved in the VW aircooled community, I’m familiar w/this system, but haven’t tried it yet myself, but looks like a reasonable solution to the caustic acids that I’ve been using for carb cleaning, etc. Will have to try soon, and finding a good supply of sodium hydroxide in bulk for cheap will be another hurdle that will have to be overcome. Good post though guys.

By: Waz

Waz — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:53:45 +0000

Hi BKC, I’m no expert in CFM, pressure, storage tank sizes etc. Also it all depends what you’re trying to blast. In general, the bigger the compressor/air source, the better. You don’t mention what you are trying to blast.

By: bkc

bkc — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:55:29 +0000

just tried the soda blast, didnot work for me, 11.5 cfm

By: Waz

Waz — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:23:25 +0000

ZXCharlieR, it was actually Pete who made the cabinet. It was some sort of box that something came in. He made the lid out of scrap wood and bought the perspex. Your idea sounds good. With soda blasting you don’t necessarily need a sealed box if you don’t want to recover the soda – just protect your eyes and breathing, work in an open area then hose the soda away. Don’t let the soda settle on painted cars etc. Your compressor sounds worth a try. I would suggest letting the tank fill completely and using max pressure. Experiment.

By: Waz

Waz — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:19:58 +0000

Valiant, go to a Chinese grocery store/supermarket, or some sort of cash and carry. You should be able to get it in bulk. I believe it’s also sold as a swimming pool pH balancer – give it a Googling. Results may disappoint if you don’t have access to a fairly powerful air compressor. But still worth a try.

By: Valiant

Valiant — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:23:05 +0000

Hi Paul, I bought a $20 sandblasting kit from Supercheap Auto. It came with 3 different nozzles and is basically a gun with a venturi pipe feed into the air path and looks similar to your made up set. Now to find where I can buy soda in bulk….back to google:)

By: ZXCharlieR

ZXCharlieR — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:30:56 +0000

Hi Guys,

I have a 50ltr 2.5hp 116psi compressor, will this do the trick Waz? I am currently making a blast cabinet with the idea you guys had but with a transparent 160ltr container (plastic box) so the ligh comes in all around.

I also wanted to know the dimensions of the crate that Trent used to make his sandblaster cabinet as it does look quite large and the cost of one of those on ebay is almost the same as buying a prefab blast cabinet.

I will send a link for youtube once I have done it all and tested this principle.

Thanks guys.

P.S. I actually fund you guys through the aircooltech website and have had a right laugh with you guys, keep it up!!

By: Waz

Waz — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:46:50 +0000

Hello Paul,

Good point. When we made this video, I was using Trent’s air compressor which is indeed a fairly big belt-drive unit. Trent has since loaned me his small direct-drive compressor to use at my house and you’re right – the results are not as good. Though there may be other variables, like the soda in the bucket packing down over time.

Some people say your average blasting cabinet is not directly compatible with soda blasting but a friend tried it in his with some Holley carburettors and it worked fine.

By: Groosh

Groosh — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:03:05 +0000

As much as I love this inexpensive device, I think you are leaving out one very important detail. The air compressor specs and costs. Air cool tech goes as far as to say that small compressors won’t work.

If you start looking at the specs he recommends you find yourself into a high end, high priced air unit. If you have that, a blasting cabinet is relatively cheap from Harbor Freight or finding one used. Then you can contain the medium and reuse it or at least keep your area clean.

I would love to hear what people are using for their air compressors and the results. Cheers.

By: klipvis

klipvis — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 06:53:41 +0000

Hi guys,

somthing else you can use to remove grease and grime is poly urethane foam dust.
It totaly cleans of the grease and grime, and leaves your paint un damaged. Wil work on those brake calipers.
You should be able to get the foam from any surfboard shapper.

Regards,

Klipvis

By: stanlee

stanlee — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:20:35 +0000

boyz
i you order the larger partical sizes of soada from a media supply house you will find that its bigger and faster. Food soda is a powder and will not be as fast.

That is why they sell ARMEX BLAST MEDIA FOR GUYS LIKE US>
NICE WORK ON THE MINI BLASTER

By: Zup

Zup — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:56:02 +0000

have read that soda particles breakdown on impact (like powder snow crystals after an avalanche, resulting in much smaller ice crystals and snow as dense as cement), leaving them unusable for repeat use. That said, try it and let us know how it works.

Has anyone tried this mini-blaster with other blasting media (coal slag, glass etc) ?

What size compressor did they use in the video…will it work with a small consumer compressor that holds just a few liters in the tank ?

Finally,a question for Jim Abbott of Tuscon…when you say, “If you tape behind the slit so that air can also be sucked in at that location you will find the performance jumps somewhat won’t that close off the air supply.” Jim, won’t this stop air from being sucked in at this location? please claify, and keep cool in that AZ sun. Zup

By: Baz

Baz — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:59:04 +0000

Perfect timing for my T160 amals I am about to restore. Many thsnks

Baz

By: Waz

Waz — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:51:03 +0000

Darren, basically anything you’d otherwise sandblast to clean or remove paint. It doesn’t remove anodising, apparently, and I doubt it would remove chrome etc, but as you can see it does a hell of a job of removing general grime and taking cast aluminium back to that fresh-out-of-the-mould effect.

A note of caution, if you’re thinking of soda blasting something that’s anodised, do make sure it’s actually anodised and not painted. For example the gold Brembo calipers on my bike and many others look anodised but it’s actually paint.

Yes I think you could definitely recapture and reuse the soda. The key is to keep moisture out. I think we’ll be refining this apparatus – I’m soon to test it out on a Ducati side case that’s got badly flaked paint.

By: darren

darren — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:52:00 +0000

guys, well done.
I’m restoring my yamaha xv750 and wondered what other areas this would bring up – forks? cylinder fins? springs? swingarm? yolks? any ideas?
oh, and how would you refine this to reclaim the soda and to concentrate on those ingrained area?
cheers guys
D.

By: Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:06:36 +0000

Note: I see you have taped over the slit where the probe enters. If you tape behind the slit so that air can also be sucked in at that location you will find the performance jumps somewhat. Also keeping the feed hose within 2 to 2-1/2 feet helps in the soda flow. Just some experience after dickering around a bit. Jim A. Tucson, AZ 89° and sunny. Been 105° the last 4 or 5 days. Good riding weather for my Velo.

By: flyin_flip

flyin_flip — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:35:31 +0000

a bit late, but, its called a nozzle.

By: nelson gomes

nelson gomes — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:51:31 +0000

excelent idea, and page!!
very very nice!
it’s very important help for me!
excelent!!
v’s
nelson
venezuela

By: grfields

grfields — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:16:21 +0000

Thanks for the demo guys.
I think I’ll give it a go on my front hub first to check it out.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:34:33 +0000

Nice one lads, great idea and looks easy enough to knock up quickly.