i am building an engine and tried the hand scrubbing method using "soup", tooth brushes and wire brushes and just wasn't satisfied with the results. or the hours involved. researched blasting options and their advantages/disadvantages. here in the states there are two vapor blasting vendors, both with seemingly pretty good recommendations. i just didn't like the idea of taking everything apart all at the same time, packing and shipping across the country. nor did i like the possiblity of a little glass bead stuck somewhere in the internals of my engine.

i was going to try soda blasting but read that an air drier is needed to keep moisture from clogging up the gun. also read that dry soda blasting was still a little on the abrasive side for this type of work. but i figured if water vapor softens the blow of the glass beads in vapor blasting, why wouldn't it do the same with baking soda?

so i fired up my dad's compressor and took his sand blaster, emptied it, cleaned it out and filled it with hot water and few drops of detergent. this worked ok but still left a greasy film. then added a little baking soda. then a little more. the more soda you add, the more abrasive the mixture. no dust. no concerns about baking soda and water killing the grass, the dog or the kids. and results were fantastic. didn't get very far as i ran out of soda and it's bloody cold here still but was very encouraged by the initial results. next time i will collect the waste in a trash can for reuse. i will use a barbecue grill over the can as a work platform.

has anyone done anything like this? are there detriments i haven't seen yet? i am figuring blasted parts will need a good cleaning under hot water as you want no soda residue left. it's simple and inexpensive. have i found engine cleaning nirvana?
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MC21R9N track
MC18R2J track
CBR954
CR250

Try sticking them in the dishwasher!
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it wouldn't be fun if it was easy!

I got a cheap 5L Ultrasonic cleaner from Ebay. Heats the water and puts out enough power to get things clean. Fill with water and a cap full of degreaser and let it run.

Have to rotate most engine parts to get all the bits, but it works well for the money.

Cangus : Funny that I am in the same process of finding a way of blasting stuff clean before spray painting them. I was going to look at the soda blasting but find the local manufacturers of blasting equipment to be very expensive.

I have a few questions for you :

1. Some pictures ?
2. Did you use a normal outside sandblast gun or a pot or what ?

Cheers
Mario

Interesting. +1 for ingenuity.

I have a small blasting cabinet , i use the soda to blast my heads and barrels ect . I will try and post a pic - may take me some time . I have hadf no issues , carbs , flywheel etc.

Mario - bell my , laat ons praat .

Mario,

I used a standard sand blast gun. Hope to get on with it this weekend, weather permitting. Will post some pictures then.
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MC21R9N track
MC18R2J track
CBR954
CR250

I got a cheap ultrasonic cleaner from aldi.cleaned my carbs well.
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it wouldn't be fun if it was easy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI_Bnl6l-OY
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Paranoia about failure will ensure nothing but failure to ever reach potential.



MC18 Race bike project..
MC21 Race bike..

Thanks cangus, I am now looking into either buying a cabinet or building one.

Thanks for the photo Neal, what sort of mixture did you use ?

my blast cabinet at home: just filled it with soda and water and went to work. Cleaned things up a treat. Very messy though and needed a windscreen wiper

At the office: got one of those cheap blast guns with the hopper on the top and had soda and water mixed in a big bucket. Blasted the heads and cylinders in the bucket so that it caught most of the soda. Work almost as well but a lot messier.

Good results and good fun either way.

Everyone selling soda blast cabinets will tell you that you can't use a sand blast cabinet but mine definitely works, as long as you stay on top of things.

Here are pictures of my set up and results:

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/2164720/
http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/2164722/
http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/2164724/
http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/2164726/

It worked well. Simple and inexpensive. This is what i learned:

1. Use a face shield. Goggles don't keep soda out of your mouth.
2. Wear a rubber suit. Soda paste gets everywhere.
3. Use more soda for more agressive cutting. About 3 pounds soda per gallon of water worked well.
4. The soda settled to the bottom. Constant agitation of the mixture is required. Or mix in small batches? This area needs improvement for next time.

As the day wore on, and not realizing the soda was settling on the bottom and the paint stirrer wasn't picking it up, the process slowed down to a snails pace.

Next time will be top ends. Though i will wait for warmer weather. It was cold and windy.
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MC21R9N track
MC18R2J track
CBR954
CR250

Very nice results.
Might have to try this myself.