Soda Blasting

[Gerb]

I know what sand blasting does as I've got a small pressure blaster, but have heard some good things about soda blasting. I'm considering picking up a small soda blaster from Harbor Freight. There some areas on the bug such as under the hood and trunk that really would benefit from a blasting job.

Anyone done it before? Pros and cons vs. sand?

Thanks,

[vw1s]

Same as sand blasting, only not as harsh.

[81pumagtc]

Soda blasting is entirely different from sand blasting. Nothing at all like it.

Soda blasting does use abrasion of the part at all. There is a micro explosion that will remove paint. It does nothing at all to rust. I have friends who have had cars done where they leave the bumpers and glass in place!

Tricky stuff. To clean up parts, especially with any sort of corrosion, it does nothing.

To clean off paint, to show where the corrosion is, and then use sand or glass beads, it's great. It is especially good on plastic, and of course, good old fiberglass, which is near and dear to my heart!

(Anyone who owns a car called "The Pig of Plastic" would know a lot about this...)

Very good for fiberglass cars, or cars with plastic filler. It will step those parts clean. There is also virtually no heat if you blast at the correct pressure.

If you are trying to clean a rusty part, not worth the time. Does nothing but clean paint.

There are guys who specialize in it as a service, and surprisingly, it's generally inexpensive.


Dave Riedle

[tarrich]

I thought the soda leaves temporary protective film that interferes with paint that might keep surface rust/corrosion from forming instantly. The hardness, shape and grit size of material determines how much of a bite it will take. If the media it is harder than surface being blasted- it will give/ bend dent of pit Remember Mohs hardness scale from earth or general science? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardnesscharts-particle-property-briefings/851-mohs-hardness-of-abrasives>
Also paint has some mineral content and rust in not pure iron, nor a steel alloy.

So no matter what media is used, more cleaning and a sealer primer will be required for ferrous and non metals painted unless plating or anodizing(a controlled corrosion) is the finish.

It looks like I will have take my Blasting work to Dave's area since the MI/OH line in not inexpensive despite being along the industrial corridor.

[Pikeman]

Be sure to wash soda blasted parts with a weak acid( such as vinegar) before painting.

[MadMike]

I've heard it's more for the Envirment and just doesn't do a good job like walnut shells/media,ect I kind of Dout if H.F. 's is a decent blaster if there like the other tools

[gokart]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKoB0MHVBvM

[81pumagtc]

Hey everybody, here's some more information.

The blasting material consists of formulated sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda). Blasting soda is an extremely friable material that has micro fragmentation on impact, literally exploding away surface materials without damage to the substrate.

Sodablasting will remove electrolytes, such as acids and chlorides, which is referred to as a passivity process to the metal. The result is that the metal will not have activated anode and cathode steel molecules which can be observed by the absence of rust over bare metal after extended periods. Sandblasted and mechanically cleaned surfaces will rust in as little as a matter of hours.

Sodablasting will NOT scratch chrome or warp panels and there is no need to mask glass or rubber.

As long as baking soda residue is on a ferrous metal surface, rust will not form. For rust to form, free moisture and an acidic condition must exist. In most cases, free moisture combines with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form carbonic acid. This acid releases a free metal (ferrous) ion, which combines with oxygen (oxidizes) to form rust. Baking soda buffers the acids, prevents the release of free metal ions and prevents rust.

Cleanup for paint is usually done with clean water and mild soap. The use of a mild acid is not recommended by the folks I have used.

Again, Soda Blasting is used to remove surface coatings. It's also good for cleaning, which is a type of surface coating. It's not reusable, and it is often considerably faster than media blasting. Since it is a one use material, you don't have the same problems as sandblasting contamination, and the equipment is different. Sandblasting introduces the media through a vacuum process. Sodablasting introduces the media directly.

Also, sodablasting nozzles do not abrade like sandblasting nozzles, so they don't have to be as hard.

It has nothing to do with the environment, but is friendlier. Also, since it is completely water soluble, it the media does not imbed in soft materials, like aluminum.

The long and short is, if you are needing to remove a coating, it's great. If you need to do surface abrasion, use other media.

Dave

[vw1s]

[bren]

Mar 20, 2013 18:22:05 GMT -5 vw1s said:

What did you say? I can't hear you!

[Gerb]

Mar 20, 2013 6:19:13 GMT -5 MadMike said:

... I kind of Dout if H.F. 's is a decent blaster if there like the other tools

Yeah, I was thinking it's probably not the highest quality blaster. But I figured for the occasional homeowner blast job, it would probably last ok - especially on my budget.