DIY Wet Soda Blasting

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 10:53 pm

I'm rebuilding a set of CR33 Special carbs. After I tore them down Darren volunteered to soda blast them clean for me.

But Darren has his own stuff going on so with today's warm temps of -2c I thought I would give it a shot myself.

I went to the Dollar store and picked up 2 boxes of baking soda. I added them into a bucket with 2 cups of water. Tried to make a good slurry mix.
I found my ear defenders, ball cap, eye goggles and sand blasting gloves and put them on. The eye goggles are important as I'm pretty sure the ricochet of soda spray would not be nice to your eyes. A mask might be a good idea as well.

Then I got out my water syphon air gun, placed the syphon in the bucket slurry, connected the air hose to 140 psi supply and went at it.
I'm very happy with the results especially since it cost me $2.40

Afterwards they needed a very good rinsing, followed by an air gun cleaning and then the two bearings needed to be lubed.

I'd only do this with aluminium as wow would this add rust to anything with steel.

Naturally your results may vary. Perhaps the addition of frozen water molecules (-2c) added to the effect Smile

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:59 am

Interesting idea...well done i say Very Happy

So you put the part in the bucket with your mix ?... no waste of product ..while blasting....hmmm.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:39 pm

+1, very neat idea. I'll have to keep that in mind.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 7:58 pm

Looks good, I hadn't considered using the baking soda in a wet blast.....I have one of those siphon air guns and may give it a try....

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:05 pm

What kind of air gun is ’water syphon air gun’ ? 😳

Google helped... sorry for asking before googling. I have almost like that the suction hose is replaced by a short tube and a bucket.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:23 pm

metu71 wrote:

What kind of air gun is ’water syphon air gun’ ? 😳

Google helped... sorry for asking before googling. I have almost like that the suction hose is replaced by a short tube and a bucket.

I have one like this, but can't remember where I got it...

https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/pneumatics/air-tools/blow-gun-and-accessories/guardair-syphon-spray-gun-12-extension?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy-Tpl5_-2QIVCF6GCh1LXwwNEAQYASABEgJlTvD_BwE

I also have an applicator for automotive under body schutz applicator that would work as well with a hose on feed tube.....

https://www.walmart.com/ip/AIR-UNDERCOATING-SPRAY-GUN-Auto-Undercoat-Applicator/39103712

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:36 pm

Hey Fitter...i think u just put soda blaster guys out of business . Wink

Looking forward to the rice lake ride Laughing

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:05 pm

I think the big thing with this is the air pressure. The more the better. I only have a small compressor so it was a lot of waiting for pressure to build and then spraying. It also did a nice job of taking off the gasket remains that were still stuck on there.

The nice thing for clean up is that the soda splash disappears from the driveway after the next rain or in my case, the next snowfall.

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 10:31 pm

Fitter wrote:

.......The nice thing for clean up is that the soda splash disappears from the driveway after the next rain or in my case, the next snowfall.

Fitter-

Don't forget that white stuff has to melt!! Thanks for the idea!

Steve

CB1100F Joined: May 13, 2005 Posts: 3249 Location: NE OHIO

Harbor freight Engine cleaning gun https://www.harborfreight.com/engine-cleaning-gun-68290.html

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:18 am

Nice job, I'm impressed.

MB-5 Joined: Jan 31, 2015 Posts: 23 Location: Plano, TX

I have a makeshift soda blaster that I just use dry it is incredibly useful. Its great for cleaning brake fluid crud from reservoir caps, stubborn RTV or gaskets on covers, plastic stuck on exhausts, carb bowls and bodies, and paint, of course, if you have enough CFMs. Anything with tight nooks or crevices that you cant stick a paper towel down or when don't want to damage a surface with a pick or razor blade.

Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 11:13 pm

Great idea Fitter!

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 3:14 am

All cleaned up and ready to put back together.

Next up is a rack of Mikuni VM33 Smoothbores.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 11:36 am

If you get the soda on your lawn, it will dramatically change the PH of the soil and kill the grass or any reseeding for months.

Don't ask me how I know but, my wife will be more than happy to tell you.

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:49 pm

CBX-tras wrote:

If you get the soda on your lawn, it will dramatically change the PH of the soil and kill the grass or any reseeding for months.

Don't ask me how I know but, my wife will be more than happy to tell you.

+100. I spread a big tarp out on my back yard to soda blast my son's engine. The tarp helped, but didn't keep the baking soda completely contained. The engine came out great, the lawn in that area, not so great. Rolling Eyes

I picked the worst spot to do it, so I wasn't too bummed about the dead grass. I'll reseed once this $&%#'ing snow melts.

The funny part of the job was watching the giant white cloud of dust float over toward my neighbor's house. I was half expecting a visit from the police, but fortunately my neighbor wasn't home. Cool

Their lawn is fine.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 9:28 am

Fanny Cradock moment Laughing

baking soda versus baking powder versus your grass - one has acids in it - i.e. looks like same stuff different names, not quite
inspired by this post i've ordered the plastic alternative that you blast dry - ok my grass will be fine but now i'll be a plastic pollution pyriah