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Soda Blasting

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by $ sink, Dec 30, 2008.

  1. Dec 30, 2008
    $ sink

    $ sink Gazillians of posts

    Virginia Bch
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    some interest in my other post so I thought this would be a better place for a quick report on Soda Blasting.

    :insert shameless plug: Mr. Rob May of Tidewater Sodablast provided the service at his facility. due to the fact that I am between him and his blast site, he picked up and delivered the parts at no additional charge.

    Soda Blast is just that, blasting the surface with good old baking soda. I can tell because all of the parts have a dusting of it all over them. it works incredibly well at removing all types of paint including powder coating without changing the surface of the metal. it does not remove rust very well. the dark areas on some of my parts is where rust had already formed and did not entirely come off. Rob said he hit a good sized patch of bondo on the front of my hood, it's not there anymore so I assume he was able to remove it with the soda.

    there are some brake backing plates in the pics. those were heavily rusted so he sand blasted them.

    what is amazing is the surface of untouched body panels such as the grill and the tailgate. it looks like the metal was just stamped. if you are working on a relatively rust free panel to begin with, this will make it like new.

    the soda adhears to the surface of the metal and if kept dry should not rust for up to several weeks.

    after prep instructions:

    - use compressed air to blow all loose soda from the surface.
    - use a dry rag to thoroughly wipe off all visible residue.
    - mix a solution of 1 part white vinagar to 3 parts water in a bucket
    - soak a rag in the solution then ring out thoroughly.
    - wipe the part with the vinagar solution rag and immediatly follow up with a dry rag to prevent rust
    - to test the clean surface, try to stick a piece of painter's tape to it. if it adheres well, you are done. if not repeat the last step until the tape will stick.
    - prime and paint
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2009
  2. Dec 30, 2008
    kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

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    that turned out better than i would have thought:shock: looks good man:beer:
     
  3. Dec 30, 2008
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    Does it take a different setup to use soda over sand? Came out real nice. Almost look like new parts............
     
  4. Dec 30, 2008
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    I was wondering how easy it would be to rig up a unit to do this at home. Anyone know? Probably need a very powerful pump and sprayer.
     
  5. Dec 30, 2008
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    Was he resonable? I need to do my grill and that might be an option.
     
  6. Dec 30, 2008
    $ sink

    $ sink Gazillians of posts

    Virginia Bch
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    $150/hr. what you see in the pics is 2 hours worth.

    BTW, that's an M38A1 hood that had several coats of paint on top of the origina US issue... took him about half the time just to clean the hood completely
     
  7. Dec 31, 2008
    fheadcj6

    fheadcj6 Member

    Australia
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    soda is very popular over here.
    the plusses i know of is it doesnt distort the panels, because there is no heat like sand (because the soda is mixed with water) it doesnt remove the coating on the metal, it doesn't leave sand EVERYWHERE, the soda washes of with water.
    the only real disavantage is on really rusty parts, it doesnt remove rust like sand.
    but is better than sand by a long way
     
  8. Jan 1, 2009
    BrenGun

    BrenGun Just Some Guy

    Maine
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    It looks pretty nice. I've been interested in one sold by Eastwood for awhile now.
     
  9. Jan 2, 2009
    Kman

    Kman Member

    Middletown...
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  10. Jan 2, 2009
    bkap

    bkap Gone, but not long gone.

    Tucson, AZ
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    This is really an eye opener for me. I somehow thought the soda was blasted wet. Guess not. I like the Skat Blast attachment and can probably fit one on my box, which is too small for a fender. :( It also looks like it won't be that difficult to do an outside setup with the proper nozzle.
     
  11. Mar 2, 2009
    spoolnaround

    spoolnaround New Member

    Central California
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    The only disadvantage I see is the soda does break up and would need to be changed out after a short time in a cabnet. I use a similar product cleaning pool tile.
     
  12. Mar 2, 2009
    Lifesgoodhere

    Lifesgoodhere Like 6 Jeeps isn't enough

    Staunton, Virginia
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    I work for a soda blasting company. HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? Been doing it for over a year now.
     
  13. Mar 14, 2009
    andy howell

    andy howell Member

    Thomastown...
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    hey truck guy- how hard would it be to adapt my sandblaster to use soda? i have a 300lb pot. where do i buy supplies like soda in my area? i live in mid ms. thanks!
    andy
     
  14. Apr 19, 2009
    double R

    double R Member

    Reseda, CA
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    what happened to the photos?
     
  15. Apr 19, 2009
    LarryD

    LarryD Member

    Gallup NM/ 4 Corners
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  16. Apr 19, 2009
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
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    The company I'm going to use to blast my parts uses soda too, in big indoor blast rooms. AFAIK, it's the best way to clean automotive sheet metal.
     
  17. Apr 24, 2009
    Lifesgoodhere

    Lifesgoodhere Like 6 Jeeps isn't enough

    Staunton, Virginia
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    not hard, you will need more pressure, and a water source to keep the dust down., also a way to keep water out of the pressure line....umm thats about it. later I will post a pic of the soda blaster I use at work.

    our soda comes from some baking soda plant in PA.
     
  18. Apr 24, 2009
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Just curious, why vinegar instead of Prep All or the like?
    Oh, (thinking) is the vinegar used to dissolve the soda?
     
  19. Apr 24, 2009
    mdbeck1

    mdbeck1 55 Willys CJ5

    Oklahoma
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    The wife just told me that baking soda is an alkali (base) and vinegar is a weak acid. So there is a chemical reaction.

    She has a degree in chemistry....
     
  20. Apr 24, 2009
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    So, it's to remove the soda from the pores of the metal. Yes? Basically?
     
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