Soda abrasive blasting

[Fellro]

I was wondering, what is the difference between the blasters for general sand blasting and such and the soda blasters, as in, can a regular blaster be used for soda?

 

[LEB Ben]

You should be able to send soda through a sand blaster no problem. Only thing you may want to consider is necking down orifice/nozzle size. I used to switch between glass, sand, soda, garnet, etc. all the time with my dad's unit. I'm not exactly sure what your set up is, but you'll want to make sure to completely clean the lines and tank if you go from something higher to less abrasive to prevent etching/scratching or warping.


That said, I'm sure Duncan can probably give you waaaaay more info on specifics and technicalities.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Yes you can...you need an outboard unit to hold the soda as once it hits the piece you are blasting it is done (the soda) so you don't want to be siphoning it back through.

http://www.tptools.com/Product.aspx?display_id=2898

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^Yeah...I forgot to mention that. The soda has a one hit max, but the unit I used had the option of recirculating or a tank for catching.

 

[DNFXDLI]

You just use the bottom of your existing tank for catching the spent media...the suction hose is disconnected from the recirc. and attached to the soda hopper. Orfice stays the same size and anything within the line from your previous media is cleared in a few seconds.

 

[LEB Ben]

Dman, with the more current research you've done on this, I have no doubt you're right, but the unit I used had a 'vacuum tank' kinda like a paint booth to extract used media, or a recirculating tank for abrasive that could be recycled.

As for the orifice/nozzle, I would neck down to a 3/16" (IIRC) otherwise I didn't feel it 'cut' well enough or fast enough...could have been attributed to an air supply issue though.


And for the previous media, my dad may have just been anal, but that's what I was taught.

 

[DNFXDLI]

I misunderstood what you were getting at...you do need a vacuum draw system to clear the air and some even have seperators on them to catch some of the media. I've not had any experience with ones that you are referring to.

 

[m78]

If your in a humid climate you could possibly nead a dryer for the air you use.
The soda absorbs alot of moisture and can start caking.

 

[Fellro]

Reason I ask is because I am looking into buying a blaster possibly, and have seen that there are soda blasters, then there are just blasters in general. The soda blasters cost substantially more than the general blasters as well. I am looking at stripping the paint on my T/A, and am thinking soda is the way to go so I don't have to strip everything off and such. I have a little surface rust, as well as some holes that need fixed. About 1/2 of the paint is cracked, the mostly horizontal positions, while the paint on the side is actually still pretty good. I want to do a good job though, so most likely it will be a total strip.

 

[m78]

Soda won't touch the rust.

 

[DNFXDLI]

After you soda blast the paint off, you can hit the rust with glass.