Soda Blast Medium

[AllenB]

I picked up a small handheld soda blasting gun that I'm going to use to clean up some of the smaller parts with. Harbor Freight is listing two kinds of soda blasting medium, one is a medium grade and the other is an extra large grade. The website doesn't really spell out what the difference in uses are between the two. I'm guessing that one is more aggressive than the other, but not sure which of the two I should be using. The bulk of the stuff is being removed with sanding and wire brushes, but there are spots that are just difficult to get into, which is why I'm using the blasting gun on some parts.

[Harry Volker]

Allen, Have you ever just just baking soda in a blaster. I also bought one from H.F. and found it did a great job on carbs. as well as dirty painted parts. It can take off the paint if held closer to the work you are doing. Just a thought.

[Rudi]

I am keeping an eye open for a sale on them at my local Princess Auto

edited for stupidity !!

[Bob McCarty]

The soda you get at the grocery store is the consistencey of flour. The soda that HF sells (I have the medium) is more the consistency of salt grains. It takes 1/2-2/3 's box of soda to do a carb. The bulk bag at HF will be cheaper in the long run. I can't comment on the medium or coarse as I've only used the medium.

Bob

[Rudi]

Bob:

Ok, so I just learned something new. Links?

[Bob McCarty]

Rudi, I'm not sure what you want links to.

Bob

[Rudi]

It's Ok I found it .. good ole Arm & Hammer:


50 lbs. Medium Grade Armex Soda Blast Media

[calcub]

Costco in our area sells a 13 pound bag of Baking Soda for about $7 and it works just fine. One thing about the Harbor Freight gun, I found that the nozzle is too large for working with parts like carburetors cause your spray pattern is quite large and you have less control. I inserted a short piece of stainless tubing (about 1 inch) in the nozzle and reduced the opening to about 1/8 inch. Have more control and a lot less waste of material and a lot less messy.

[AllenB]

I picked up a bag from BJ's on the way home last night, going to try it this weekend and see how it works.