Media Blasting

[theMINIguy]

For those who are looking for an easy and relatively cheap way of cleaning parts, media blasting is an option.

Required hardware:

• Air compressor
  
• Face mask
  
• Respirator
  
• Sandblast gun
  
• Optional dust overall
  

I experimented with two types of media, namely sand and Sodium Bicarbonate.

30kg bags of sandblasting grit are available from Adendorff at R75.
I sourced a 5kg bag of Soda from a bulk catering supply shop for R80, but i'm sure you can find it cheaper from a more industrial source.

Sand is much more abrasive and is best suited for steel and cast iron.
Bicarb is much less aggressive and can be used to clean softer metals like aluminium and pewter.

The media is reusable whichever material you are using. I worked inside cut in half 25 gallon drum in an attempt to "catch" as much of the media as possible.
But be warned, the dust goes everywhere!


Here are two examples; lower control arms I blasted with sand, and a pair of Weber side drafts that I soda blasted.


       

[DomMINIque]

I'm keen to try this. Looks like much more fun as opposed to other methods.

[u09521]

For those who are looking for an easy and relatively cheap way of cleaning parts, media blasting is an option.

Required hardware:

• Air compressor
  
• Face mask
  
• Respirator
  
• Sandblast gun
  
• Optional dust overall
  

I experimented with two types of media, namely sand and Sodium Bicarbonate.

30kg bags of sandblasting grit are available from Adendorff at R75.
I sourced a 5kg bag of Soda from a bulk catering supply shop for R80, but i'm sure you can find it cheaper from a more industrial source.

Sand is much more abrasive and is best suited for steel and cast iron.
Bicarb is much less aggressive and can be used to clean softer metals like aluminium and pewter.

The media is reusable whichever material you are using. I worked inside cut in half 25 gallon drum in an attempt to "catch" as much of the media as possible.
But be warned, the dust goes everywhere!


Here are two examples; lower control arms I blasted with sand, and a pair of Weber side drafts that I soda blasted.

I'm glad you are having success! 
I've tried some things and maybe my experiences can save others some time and frustration
I have a blast gun which looks like a spray gun with the cup at the bottom - don't buy this its crap. After some internet research and talking to industrial suppliers of blasting equipment it appears you need an air hole near the pipe pickup point to keep the media moving. This air hole needs to be matched with your media to work nicely, which needs some experimenting. The cup under the gun just does't work. Eventually I made up a pipe into the side of a bucket and making new air holes of different sizes until it worked. The nozzle has to be matched too. At least you get some different sizes with the Adendorf one. You need a lot of air volume and pressure so your compressor needs to be at least 8cfm which means the smaller up to 100l units are just irritating 'cos you have to keep waiting for it to catch up again. I tried baking soda but wasn't impressed with the cleaning action. I have used plaster sand which is free if you collect it from a heap in your suburb or cheap from a hardware store. You have to dry it though and sift it using a normal kitchen sieve before use. Your'e right - the process makes a huge mess and days afterwards you can still find sand in your hair, ears and other orifices. As far as I'm concerned home blasting is a last resort. What does work amazingly well though is good old common steel-wool, especially on aluminium, or plated parts or chrome

[Leykor]

Thanks for sharing your experience.
I purchased a small sandblasting cabinet with the idea to clean small components last year however I quickly found that my small 50l compressor is just not up to the task. For sandblasting you need some good CFM to maintain the blast, what compressor size did you use?
I have not tested with SODA and would like to find out where it is available in bulk.

[theMINIguy]

What I like about using soda is it leaves the aluminium surface basically unscuffed. Unlike steel-wool that polishes the surface.
So for parts that you want to shine up steel-wool and elbow grease is awesome.
If you want the parts to remain "factory" looking then soda works great.

The Adendorff gun with the hose comes with two nozzle sizes and two air jet sizes. I found the smaller of the two worked great with sand and soda.
Just poke a hole in the sand/soda bag and press in the tube. No modifications or experimenting required.
I am using a 3hp 150L compressor though, so I had no issues at all with air volume.

I may be nuts, but I am one who if I can do it myself, I will. And along with that comes a certain amount of satisfaction.
This method and the mess it makes may not be for everyone, but when on a budget to get things done, and fairly quickly at that, it is a workable option.

[DomMINIque]

http://www.adendorff.co.za/ProductDetail...Nozzles/66



What theMiniGuy uses

[theMINIguy]

I just found this article, they are using an identical gun but with a small compressor.
Interesting read with some valid points.