Soda Blasting

[BigDogBro1]

Anyone have any experience with soda blasting aluminum engine parts for cleanup and restoration purposes?

How did the parts turn out finish and sheen wise?

Thanks.

 

[seatmaker]

Sounds like fun, what are ya restoring?

 

[BigDogBro1]

Helping BigdogBro2, he has a "74" Z1 Kaw....Will need a custom seat done....Wanna help?

 

[RubWhore]

I was lookin at doing it on my 330 ridgeback frame but read that if you soda blast there is some kinda issue with paint bubuling if not sanded properly after it was done may be a old wives tail but was enough to scare me as I wanted a smooth finish to apply powder and soda seemed like a much better way to go cause of no heat issues like sand blasting but beings the frame still had to be sanded so I went with the old sandblaster I been using

 

[BigDogBro1]

I understand that Soda blasting does not really remove or heat up any metal and is what a larger majority of builders are choosing nowadays. The panels and parts do require cleaning with soap and water or other solution to prevent rust after blasting. But if the part is properly cleaned and PROPERLY prepped for paint, no problems should occur. Fiberglass or other similar material should be avoided due to its porosity and harder to properly clean. I'll trust it.

Soda blasting aluminum engine case and other non-polished parts once washed are fine left raw.

I have not used Soda yet on aluminum and was wondering if it cleans and gleams as good as glass beads.

 

[johnny2]

I do soda blasting as a little side income, the issue with paint sticking is true if not prepped properly, we use and suggest 10 percent vinegar in water, it will foam a little and if it is steel be ready to dry it and paint fast or it will rust. I have a fender hanging in my barn half sand blasted half soda, it is 2 years old the sand side rusted in less than a week the soda side has not rusted yet. as far as the aluminum goes if it was polished it will be smooth but hazy if it is a casting it will more than likely look better than new. I dont recommend trying to blast soda in a sand blaster,you wont get the desired result because you cant meter the soda very well. as far as sand blasting, the base material dose not heat up it gets thinned out and pushed around,just the same as you had a hammer and a small prick punch. I have personally myself purposely blasted a hole through a jap fender and put my hand on it it was cold. any more questions feel free to ask I have dealt with all kinds of materials

 

[BigDogBro1]

Great info, Thanks!

 

[pknowles]

Does the soda blasting leave a decent profile for the primer to adhere to?

 

[pknowles]

If you wash down after soda blasting with city water does the chlorine in the water cause bubbling from oxidation?? We do alot of sand blasting and have had problems in the past with chloranated water.

 

[bezoor]

I bought a soda blaster from Harbour Freight. I blasted the rims engine and any other aluminum or chrome parts. it did a great jobbut leaves everything dull. I got an 8" buffer wheel for my grinder at sears and mothers alum polish. If you can get a part into your buffer it will shine like chrome, easily. The engine on the R60/6 BMW i am working on was painted black, By some idiot! The paint came off nicely with 100 lbs of soda. Now i have to find a way to get rid of the carbon deposits that are in the aluminum. That is probably why someone painted it in the first place.I left the engine on the bike and duct taped any openings. The soda isnt harmfull to the internal workings of an engine, but whenyou are done start it up for a couple minutes and then change your fluids. I hope that was helpfull!

 

[jimizee028]

I have never understood how you can blast anything at all steel,whether you are using beads,sand or soda,and it then is stripped to metal and you are required to rinse it with water,as soon as the water hits the surface the rust process then takes place....so tell me how you are supposed to keep the rust from forming underneath your paint and therefore causing failure in your project....

 

[Moespeeds]

If you gotta wash it with water I'd follow up with a conversion coating like ospho or clean it with acetone. I'd also hit the whole thing with scotchbrite/acetone before painting.

 

[Moespeeds]

BTW Eastwood sells a nice soda/sandblasting combo unit, and also sells soda blasting conversion kits for their regular sandblasters.

 

[Gas Man]

Big Dog Bro... there's a soda blaster guy in Monroe, FWIW.

 

[bezoor]

Soda Blaster Results

I Bought a $100.00 soda blaster at Harbor Freight (got the less expensive one incase it didn't work). It worked great! I had to remove paint from an aluminum BMW R75/7 engine. Why would anyone paint it? It doesn't work as well as bead blasting but soda is pretty harmless to mechanical parts and bearings. I left the engine on the bike and was careful not to hit the frame and all went well. I also did the forks and front rim and parts on the trip tree then buffed those parts to a chrome like shine. Soda is $38.00 a 50lb bag and I used 2 bags. If you can put a tarp under what you are working on you can reuse the soda. Make sure your air is very dry for the reuse. Also get a deadman tip for the Harbour Freight blaster, they usually have it displayed close by. You can try this link to pics of bike and parts before and after. I will post more of the engine on 3/16/2011. Login | Facebook