I finally tried out the HF soda blaster I received as a gift last Xmas. I filled it with some bicarb I got at a pool supply store (big bags and inexpensive). Set the regulator at 100 psi and started opening up the soda valve. Tried it out on an old carb that was sitting on the shelf. I was amazed at how well this worked. It quickly cleaned all of the grease and so on from the outside of the carb without marking or damaging the carb in any way. Here are some pix: You can see in pictures one and two that you can get very fine control of the blast stream; also, it is notable that there is no erosion to the original part (see how the lettering in the casting is undamaged). This tool is perfect for little fiddly parts, like fuel and electrical system components. Of course, as a HF unit, there are some corners that were cut. I needed to install a tee fitting under the air manifold as otherwise the HF-supplied plastic feeder hose would have been kinked. Also, the unit is a real PITA to load. You have to partially disassemble the unit to get the head fittings off, and then load the soda in through a really tiny hole. I used one of those skinny blue ATF funnels with a brazing rod stuck down the center. Fill the funnel with soda and then churn the brazing rod to break up any clumps and to get the soda to fill the bottle through the tiny opening. Since the unit actually works, I can see myself modifying the tank and fittings to overcome these shortcomings. In the meantime, the charge that is in there should last quite a while as between the tiny nozzle and a rather lean mixture, you don't need much to clean a small part. All that was left behind is a fine film of soda dust on the part that is easily wiped or washed away. Plus it leaves a nice fresh smell in the shop (almost as good as a few dryer sheets).
This one is worth it. I do a lot of work on things like carbs, so this will be perfect for cleaning them up. The biggest shortcoming is in how much of a PITA it is to load. Maybe that doesn't matter as I can see a tankful lasting a year. OTOH it would not be hard to weld on some large-diameter bung with a threaded cap to make loading easier.
Stopped by HF today, picked up a handheld blaster, looks similar to a siphon paint gun. Didnt say it could shoot soda, but didnt say it couldnt. It could. Perfect tool for small jobs, like the Triumph T25T I am resurrecting. Just $17
I made one from a piece of plastic tubing and a blow-gun.It was on here a while ago. I bought 50# of soda at the feed store for 12.00.It works excellent for cleaning carbs and aluminium parts.I blasted some 40 year old motorcycle carbs,and a really dirty edelbrock 4 bbl.They actually look brand new. Total cost including soda was about $15.00.
I had problems with mine, then turned it down to about 40psi. Works great now, perfect for carbs. I also turn the valve that controls the flow of soda way down, you don't need much.
Eastwood makes a double tank so you can switch from Soda to sand or something else. if you want to drop about 4 Bills or maybe someone here can come up with something similar. http://www.eastwood.com/soda-blasting/soda-blasters/dual-tank-blaster.html
Tried it on some rust? Be interesting to see what it does on sheetmetal. If you don't have anything handy, let me know, I'm sure I have something floating around the garage here you can play with blasting on.
I just bought a commercial soda blasting business. The results on sheet metal are amazing. Going Thursday to seal the deal. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread, just excited about getting my new venture going...
I dont know about the H F blaster, but my homemade one doesnt really remove rust. I tried it on some vintage tools and it did very little to clean the rust. It is great for small hard to clean parts.I have used it to clean medals and watch fobs that I sell on E-gay,no damage to the surface at all,and it really cleans up the details.
FYI -- saw this on another forum, warning about using soda for body panels. Paint just won't stick ! http://spi.forumup.org/viewtopic.php?t=156&mforum=spi
go to your local feed store for a great price on Sodium Bicarbonate. The feed mills in dairy country typically buy NaCO3 by the semi-truck load. Some even get it in bulk.
I was forwarded this link a while ago after talking to some guys about cleaning carbs up. Finally got round to assembling the bits at the weekend, got 25kg of bicarb and off I went..... What a brilliant bit of kit to have, it worked fantastic!!! The old rochester carbs haven't looked this good in years. http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/ PS. It appears I might have been a bit over zealous ordering 25 kg of soda, it may last me a while. Unless I get into bath bombs that is.
I got an old porch glider soda blasted last year. The blaster told me the soda residue needed to be cleaned off prior to paint and recommended a simple solution of vinegar and water. On a side note, the soda film kept the steel from flash rusting when I got caught in a downpour on the way home.
The unit I have does not seem too aggressive and the nozzle is tiny, so it would probably take quite a while to remove the rust from anything bigger than a carb base or something like that.
Maybe it could tackle rust if you stuck a NOS sticker on that big blue bottle. MORE POWER! OH OH OH(in best tim allen voice) Honestly been thinking about getting a blaster capable of doin sheetmetal. Any Advice?
Don't know anything about them. I wonder if a regular pressure-type sand blaster could not work, maybe with smaller tips. I also wonder if bigger units son't include some type of mixer/agitator inside to keep the soda from clumping. You'd probably need a real good drier on a large usint as moist air would mess things up.
The Jalopy Journal
