Inspired by our soda-powered Texans..

[nhmaf]

I am thinking of trying out this soda blaster idea to clean the old flaking paint and grunge off tillie's wheels and try repainting them myself.

I also found this small portable soda blasting rig @ Harbor Freight - pricewise it seems reasonable & maybe it would still work well enough for doing things like fuel tanks or frames, and perhaps nozzles last longer, too ?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66742

The soda blasting thing really appeals to me in that it is easier on the base material and is more "enviro-friendly" in that it doesn't create a cloud of silica dust that one has to protect one's family and pets from (though obviously protection should be used anyhow, there isn't such a high risk of silicosis or cancer with baking soda media) and one doesn't have to have a bunch of chemical stripper containers around.
Gotta check my CFM rating on my smallizh (17 gal) compressor tho..
Downside at this point is that 50 lb bags of blasting soda isn't as cheap as sand or 'black beauty'..

[montmil]

Mike, the HF stores in my area carry blast media in smaller than 50lb bags. Have you visited the store or just the web site? I haven't tried the low-ball syphon blaster on jobs with paint but I'm thinking it may not be powerful enough.

Give it a test and let us know. The HB soda blaster may perform a bit better, I'm thinking.

Monte

[nhmaf]

I've only checked the website on this so far - anytime I buy anything from harborfreight I end up ordering it over the internet - the nearest store to me is about 120 miles away in the middle of sales-Taxachusetts, so if I go there to look at or buy something I've got a +6.25% sales tax plus all the gas $$ added to it, and that is even if they have the thing in stock.

[montmil]

More info on the DIY soda blaster...   I began the soda shootin' with four feet of 5/16" i.d. tubing. The VW tipster mentioned using a two foot length. OK, let's try that...

Believe the two footer is better as the distance the low pressure must "lift" the soda is cut in half. Slightly better cleaning performance even if the soda box is a bit in the way.

Next I will try a different size aluminum tube.

Nothing leaves my shop stock

Monte

PS: Now that the original soda blaster thread has been moved to the FAQs section, ya can't add any more pertinent info!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

PS: Now that the original soda blaster thread has been moved to the FAQs section, ya can't add any more pertinent info!  

I just checked the thread.  It is not locked and it has a reply box after the last post.

Is that because I am a moderator, that I can see the reply box?  I wonder?

[nhmaf]

Rob, it is your moderator status that allows you to reply to those threads in the FAQ.   Lowly "god members" can only print it, bookmark, forward to a friend, alert a moderator, or delete their own post in a thread once it is in the FAQ section.

As to the original soda blaster, yes, since it is essentially a siphon feed the longer the feed tube the harder it is to lift the material into the air stream, so there must be more material getting blasted out per minute with the shorter tube.   I'm also skeptical that it is efficient enough to remove paint, but I am also a big fan of experimentation!

I've seen some BIG soda blasters very efficiently stripping  through 20+ layers of autmotive paint down to bare clean metal, but thos blasters had MAJOR league compressors and reservoirs feeding them.

At least being a mad scientist with a soda blaster is more safe than with a traditional sandblaster.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

All this talk has got me pumped up to upgrade my compressor.....

[montmil]

PS: Now that the original soda blaster thread has been moved to the FAQs section, ya can't add any more pertinent info!  

I just checked the thread.  It is not locked and it has a reply box after the last post.

Is that because I am a moderator, that I can see the reply box?  I wonder?

Guess so... I can't see a reply button nor I have ever seen one in the FAQs section. Rob, might you add the replies from Tech to the FAQ?

Would maybe help a member with the entire "show".   Monte

[Bengt_Phorqs]

As to the original soda blaster, yes, since it is essentially a siphon feed the longer the feed tube the harder it is to lift the material into the air stream, so there must be more material getting blasted out per minute with the shorter tube. I'm also skeptical that it is efficient enough to remove paint, but I am also a big fan of experimentation!

With a big enough compressor anything will strip paint.  20+ years ago I bought two 10,000 psi water blaster powered by Cat diesel engines to clean the paint from the company oil tanker.

Instead of syphoning directly from the soda box, why not take a 32oz sport drink bottle with a straw hole in the top of it?  Fill the bottle with soda and shorten the hose to maybe 18" or so.  The bottle could be taped to the air compressor hose for ease of operation.

[montmil]

...Instead of syphoning directly from the soda box, why not take a 32oz sport drink bottle with a straw hole in the top of it?  Fill the bottle with soda and shorten the hose to maybe 18" or so.  The bottle could be taped to the air compressor hose for ease of operation.

Jeez... Leave it to someone in the fossil fuel industry to make a simple deal complex.

Phorqs, by the time you dry out a pop bottle and dump the dusty bicarbo through a funnel and poke the tubing into it and tape the bottle to the air compressor (huh?)... I'd have already finished the fork leg cleanup.

So how's the mineral spirit rub down and massage going with your YammarHammer trials bike?

Training beer? I'm sipping one right now. [smiley=beer.gif] Love ya, man.

Monte

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Now Monte, let's not be to critical of us Robber Barons who live by raping and pillaging the natural world.  After all we do provide the go juice for our past time.  And without fossil fuel you'd have to rely on huge Percheron draught horses to get your beer to market.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Monte sed:  "Rob, might you add the replies from Tech to the FAQ?"



Done.

[montmil]

Done.

Coolness! Thanks, Lord Moderator.

[suecanada]

I'm sorry hee, hee  but I can just imagine how much fun it would be if we R65'er's had our own get-together rally and you fellows all came!!! I for one would not miss it no matter where we decided to hold it!!! Sorta like a 50th reunion for almost anything!
I am still laughing! [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

Hmmm. Have I just suggested something..a goal, an objective. The only true problem would be not being able to attend it in UK or Australia or S. Africa or  Bali....or "wait a minute"!...no place cold right Trolle??? Canada is out too.

[montmil]

Now, Sue... Before you hang with ol' Bengt Mike n' me, tuck a business card from your favorite bail bondsman in your jeans. You may need it.

[smiley=mad.gif]Monte