Cheap Soda Blaster Tool! You need to make one!

[fastboatman29212]

Maybe you will get excited - maybe you won't - but I like this!

I want you to make one of these Soda Blasters!




It will cost about $15 to make (less if you have some of this stuff lying around the house).

You will need:
1. air compressor
2. 2 feet of 7/16" outside diameter flexible clear plastic tubing (available from Home Depot)
3. Air Blow Gun Set ($3.99 at Harbor Freight).
4. tape
5. razor blade or sharp awl
6. baking soda

Put a 4" to 6" tip on your air blow gun.
Make a hole in the plastic tubing exactly 2" from one end and insert the tip of the air blow gun about 1/2" to 3/4".
Secure the whole thing with tape as shown in the picture.
Steal some baking soda from the kitchen.
Hook the gun to your air compressor and set at 90 - 100 PSI
Stick the bottom of the tube into the baking soda.
Wear old clothes and do all blasting away from everything because, believe me, soda dust (harmless) will get on EVERYTHING.



The high pressure flow of air at the gun end of the blaster creates suction at the lower end of the tube.

I cannot claim originality for this cool tool, so here is the link to the original description:

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-t ... a_blaster/

I ran across a reference to this tool in the Ratsun Nissan forum. I tried it out and it really works.

Most of you probably know about soda blasting - using baking soda instead of sand - as a way to clean off paint and corrosion without harming the metal, chrome, or glass. There are many videos on YouTube if you want to see the high tech blasters in action. This cheap alternative works great for small jobs. Baking soda is safe for you and the environment.

Lastly, I am determined to fine tune this tool so it works even better than it does now. One thing I noticed is that the soda sometimes comes out as a big clump. I plan to solve that problem by placing a small piece of steel mesh at the pickup end of the hose so it will break up clumps and keep them from entering the tube.

I also plan to make something so I can adjust the amount of suction at the bottom end. Right now, I have plenty and could do with less.

I think a 1 foot piece of rigid tubing connected to 1 foot of plastic or metal tubing would work better and eliminate the need for the steel rod he uses in the original design.

[Steveka24det]

love this build up on ratsun i seen this tooo but isnt it worth buying a media blaster cabinet .... or am i a crazy compulsive cleaner .....' id love to own one of those wit this tool and i think i would be cleaning everything.......

take pictures of the mess u make for me and dont be embarrassed

that would be great

[fastboatman29212]

Media blast cabinet is great if you have the room to put it in. I don't. Garage is full of . . . stuff!

This thing is portable, small, cheap, and I plan to use it on some vintage aluminum wheels that I have on my 66 Galaxie. All I will need to do is take the wheel off the car and roll it into the back yard and blast away. No need to take the tire off 'cause the soda won't hurt it like sand would. No way I could get that wheel inside a blast cabinet!

I'll post pics soon as I can.

[MetalFab]

Love the post, I'll definitely make one of these. I wonder how much soda costs per case! lol. I'd imagine soda blasting would be good for removing tarnish, age based grime, etc. but would it work for removing paint? I have plenty of rusty wheels up here that could use a strip and repaint.

[fastboatman29212]

Search YouTube and you will see vids of people removing paint using the professional higher pressure units. I doubt this little thing will remove paint but I haven't tried it yet either. I'd be careful with it until you know because I'm sure it will damage it some.

I quickly tried it out on an old carb and was able to get grime off in really impossible places very quickly. For a cheap tool, it works great and will do stuff that I can't do with any other tool in my arsenal. I'll post pics of stuff I clean.

[MetalFab]

Going to have to find the cheapest way to scrounge together parts for a blast cabinet next, I just can't justify spending 1-200+ on a box with gloves and a piece of plexi. Here's a good link to a few ideas http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfq_sand_tub.htm mostly I like the idea of the suction tube inlet which might fix your problem with getting sporadic amounts of media.

[Steveka24det]

great idea metalfab looks good we can even get a tub big enough for rims ....... looks like i might make money on the side wit this idea

[flinterman2000]

Well thanks boatman. I'm gonna make one. I already have the compressor, baking soda and blow gun, so I'm off to the parts shop. Can't do a vid but pics will follow.

[MetalFab]

Don't think my compressor is up to par but I gotta try this out anyway. Reminds me to get more fittings and hook up the in line dryer I picked up aaages ago. I doubt the soda will work in a box unless you have a good shop vac to keep the interior clear. But this will work out nicely on a few sets of old school datsun and VW mags I have kicking around.

[mattthruwalkin]

would a few extra filters in the main air hose (the filters that catch or remove moisture that is produced by the air compressor) help stop the clumping of soda also ? just a thought