Budget Soda Blaster

Any updates on that Borax stuff? The supermarket baking soda does pretty good for a factory finish, but with the age of some of these parts there's a few spots that are still dark.

I just pulled my z1 900 motor apart for a rebuild, and am going to harbor freight to get the soda blasting media and am going to blast my whole motor, i hoe it turns out good, i am going to use the rubbermaid idea also.

when doing the rubbermaid thing get the biggest one you can get, I regret using the one I did because my cases won't fit. Also, make a bigger window than I did, you won't regret it.

Yeah, I have a real big storage box in my basement I just wanted to try it out first and see what improvements I could make. I might even secure a glove(s) just like a bead blasting cabinet to seal the openings.

I used the sleeves off a long sleeve T shirt. They keep the stuff in pretty good and act like dust filters to let air out. Made wire rings, to hold cut end of sleeve, from tie-wire and wired the sleeve and ring to the box after punching some holes with an awl. I have not tried blasting bare handed, but use nitrile exam gloves.
It does get difficult to see pretty fast in there though.

I forgot to mention, I tried the Borax. worked "ok" but I think the regular baking soda worked best. Neither one will do a dam thing if the surface is very dirty.

Here's an engine I did. First I degreased in my parts wash with mineral spirits, hosed off and cleaned with Gunk engine cleaner, hosed that off, dried and cleaned with my remaining Borax and baking soda. I also ditched the Rubbermaid container as it was more hassle than it was worth. I just go outside and blast parts. The wind takes care of most of it, otherwise a hose or a good rain will clean it up. I just use the blower in one hand and with a short hose I hold the box in my other hand and shake it up if it gets clogged.

The soda is alo pretty good at blending in repairs. For this project I'm trying to get as close a factory resto as possible. I bought a replacement bottom clamp that had a scratch on it, so I smoothed out the scratch which was now very shiny compared to the factory finish, I soda blasted that area which blended in nicely.

This is about 90% clean. I ran out of media.

What a great Idea . Back when I was a mechanic I use to use the glass bead cleaner all of the time . Now I will make a soda blaster and go to town . Thanks

P.S. Would this work with fine sand for sand blasting small steel parts ?

Yeah, it should. It has pretty decent suction.

My KZ750 was stored for the last 20 years out side by the last owner and I was thinking this would help getting the old paint off .

this is great for us doing very same work to know about.

funny is i just finished restoreing a 1930 model a ford, "yes it's chopped and channeled lowered hot rod" the local guy who blasted the whole car did it with baking soda going though a combo power washer that sucked up the soda at the same time. this thing was bare metal clean and did not make much of a mess that couldn't be hosed down and away.
another trick is this adapter for a power washer that uses normal blaster material.

www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200322963_200322963

I love this idea. I have my engine out right now and am looking to clean it. I am hoping not to have to tear it apart completely to clean it. Would this work on a complete engine? Other than closing off the intake holes and the exhaust holes is there any other prep work I should do?

great idea. i just baught a oversized tote, plexi glass, silicone, 7/16" hose, and baking soda. i have a crafstman 15 gallon, 3 hp, 4.9 cfm at 40psi, and 3.5 cfm at 90 psi. will that work, or am i wasting my time?