Soda Blasters Any Good?

[Bill Goddard]

I am seeing a lot of adds for soda blasters using a bicarbinate chemical for rust removal. They seem like an alternative to a large blasting cabinet and the expense of a compressor. Any opinions on whether they are practical for small parts like carbs, brackets, brake parts, etc? Thanks Bill G

 

[MikeK]

I am seeing a lot of adds for soda blasters using a bicarbinate chemical for rust removal. They seem like an alternative to a large blasting cabinet and the expense of a compressor. Any opinions on whether they are practical for small parts like carbs, brackets, brake parts, etc? Thanks Bill G

The soda is simply a media, like sand, glass beads, garnet or slag (black beauty). You will still need a compressor, so no savings there. The soda media is very non-aggressive and good on sheet metal and light metal castings that may warp from heavier media. If you buy one of those pressure pot jobs rather than using it in a cabinet with an exhaust, expect a huge white dust mess. The cost of media consumed is fairly high if you start doing large sheet metal with soda, but the cost differences with other media will not be so great if you are only doing occasional small parts.