Soda Blasting with $100 Harbor Freight Machine

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Author Topic:   Soda Blasting with $100 Harbor Freight Machine

TommyWhaler posted 07-27-2011 02:05 PM ET (US)
I just read 22 prior post regarding soda blasting. None [of those articles were authored by someone who] had personally [used soda blasting]. Is there anyone out there who in fact has done soda blasting? Harbor Freight sells a small portable machine for $100, and I'm tempted to try it, but I would like to hear from those who have actually done this themselves.
Thank you!
Blackduck posted 07-27-2011 02:20 PM ET (US)
I have used a small soda blaster to do a Montauk. The only problem is the volume of air. You need a compressor that can give you 10-CFM at 80-PSI, otherwise you will be waiting for air, rather than blasting.
TommyWhaler posted 07-27-2011 03:20 PM ET (US)
Thank you Blackduck!
Jeff posted 07-27-2011 03:35 PM ET (US)
Any time I hear Harbor Freight, I shiver. No matter the tool I have bought them, by the end of the project I tell myself I should have just spent the extra money and saved myself the headache of hassling their product.
Blackduck posted 07-27-2011 04:23 PM ET (US)
I bought a large dust collector from [Harbor Freight] for about $140, yes, made in China like everything else in the world. It is a decent piece of equipment, and for the money a bargain. In doing some research before buying it, I could have paid up to $400 for it in different places, with different names and different colors. My hunch is a little soda blaster will probably be just fine, as it is a simple piece of equipment.
Jeff posted 07-27-2011 04:31 PM ET (US)
Paint gun, drill bits, screw driver, car jack, etc...all simple items and most all failed in the first use.
Sixer posted 07-27-2011 05:46 PM ET (US)
TommyWhaler, check out Eastwood. They market to the automotive restoration folks and have good info on soda blasting as well as how-to video. I've purchase from them, very good quality.
http://www.eastwood.com/soda-blasting.html

TommyWhaler posted 07-27-2011 07:33 PM ET (US)
Thanks Sixer. Will check out Eastwood, as I wasn't familiar with them.
lizard posted 07-27-2011 08:26 PM ET (US)
I have to chime in with Jeff. The few items I bought from Harbor Freight were all crap. I will never shop there again. Tools are important, from a safety standpoint. If I can snap (what was marked "drop forged") a box wrench then it has to be crap.
macfam posted 07-27-2011 10:31 PM ET (US)
Soda blasting:
Yes. I have had soda blasting done on all underwater metal surfaces on my 28 Albin.
That includes: rudder, tabs, intakes, prop, bow thruster and protective strut under prop.
The results were fantastic. It stripped them to bare metal (that was the goal)NO HARM TO THE FIBERGLASS
(I then used a Pettit system to anti-foul the metals)
The prep time actually took as much or more time than the actualy soda blasting. They completely enveloped the bottom of the boat with plastic drop curtains, including a "floor" in whcih they worked. There was little or no soda cloud allowed to escape. The worker looked like an astronaut (no kidding).
I originally thought that they just blasted the bottom and let the sodea go into the atmosphere.....NOT SO!!!
Strict rules.
This is an outstanding way to remove bottom paint etc, and have no damage to the fiberglass.
As jimh always says, "the best way to remove bottom paint is with your checkbook"........nuff said....
contender posted 07-27-2011 11:51 PM ET (US)
Tommy; This is true unless you are set up with the proper tools, area, materials, and clothing and for your size boat it would be far better to let someone do it, just get some prices. If someone else does it you have no mess and your time is free to do some other type of repair. Sometimes you just have to weight the cost of you doing something vs. you taking it to have done...Good luck
jimh posted 07-28-2011 07:52 AM ET (US)
If the soda blasting is to remove anti-fouling paint that contains toxins, a commercial firm that was performing that sort of job would probably have to prevent the removed material from just blowing away into the environment.
TommyWhaler posted 07-28-2011 08:43 PM ET (US)
Thanks blackduck. I called the manufacture of my compressor (CH), and even though it is 5 hp, it will not give the 10-CFM. In fact, he asked me what tool I was going to need, and he said flat out it would burn it up, and you would be blasting for 10 min, then have to let it cool for 10 min. Oh well, back to the drawing board.
But if you hadn't posted that comment, I would have probably order, and . . . . . . ? So thanks again!
Tohsgib posted 07-29-2011 12:58 AM ET (US)
Eastwood is nicer for not much more. If only going to be a fling and maybe some work here & there then go with the Harbor system.
jamesmylesmcp posted 07-29-2011 07:01 AM ET (US)
I've had it done twice, once in my driveway. Found these guys working in a local boatyard. They put me off for weeks then came the call asking if my neighbors were home. They arrived and were done in an hour.
I had to raise the boat for them to access the bottom, accomplished this in my side yard where the boat stayed aloft suspended from trees and on a ramp until they arrived. No containment whatsoever , I no longer have to cut a portion of my backyard as it is devoid of life.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/71outrage/sodablasting.jpg
This spring I attempted to contact these guys again a young lady told me that the DEP had impounded their machine.
Found these guys this year, I was told to bring my boat to an old boat yard and back it in a corner deep within the yard on a Friday evening. Here's how it looked soon thereafter. http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x44/ribside/bottompaint.jpg
When completed I was instructed to leave quickly. The yard was blue tinged everywhere.
I have seen the process done correctly with containment and the men in spacesuits and have recieved price quotes from them. They were at $100 per foot, each time I had it done cost me under $500.
The end result leave a surface that is clean tinted with paint , smooth only requireing a wash with water to remove excess soda. With some effort each of my bottoms could have been returned to paint free gelcoat.
macfam posted 07-29-2011 08:02 AM ET (US)
When I had mine done, it was just the opposite.
The 2 Soda-blast guys came with a rig on a trailer. This was one EXPENSIVE peace of equipment. The amount of compressed air that thing produced was amazing. They had several different nozzles, they were not cheap. This outfit works in many local boat yards. NOT fly-by-night, total pro's.
When they left, you would never have known they had been there. Professional, polite, and efficient.
Soda blasting all underwater metals, with prep time etc was about 2.5 hours. Total $400. I thought that was quite reasonable. It allowed me to get to the project fast, so I could get the boat in the water on time.
Blackduck posted 07-29-2011 11:29 AM ET (US)
For the record, I would do my own soda blasting again without hesitation. I used a compressor that was only making 7 CFM, and it was slow, sometimes very slow, but doable. I assume you are talking about doing one boat, not going into the soda blasting business. So what if it takes all day. It is great to have that little machine to clean parts, ect. The dreaded Harbor Freight machine does come with a warranty, so there isn't much of a risk at all. The mess is not bad at all. Do it on a calm day, and use a good mask. Stay up wind of the work area, and keep the soda off of your plants and lawn. The salt will burn them.
TommyWhaler posted 07-30-2011 10:17 PM ET (US)
Thanks blackduck for the words of encouragement.
A question for all.
Is it just me, but does it seem redundant to have to enter your user name and password for each and every post? Or am I doing something wrong.

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Author	Topic: Soda Blasting with $100 Harbor Freight Machine
TommyWhaler	posted 07-27-2011 02:05 PM ET (US) I just read 22 prior post regarding soda blasting. None [of those articles were authored by someone who] had personally [used soda blasting]. Is there anyone out there who in fact has done soda blasting? Harbor Freight sells a small portable machine for $100, and I'm tempted to try it, but I would like to hear from those who have actually done this themselves. Thank you!
Blackduck	posted 07-27-2011 02:20 PM ET (US) I have used a small soda blaster to do a Montauk. The only problem is the volume of air. You need a compressor that can give you 10-CFM at 80-PSI, otherwise you will be waiting for air, rather than blasting.
TommyWhaler	posted 07-27-2011 03:20 PM ET (US) Thank you Blackduck!
Jeff	posted 07-27-2011 03:35 PM ET (US) Any time I hear Harbor Freight, I shiver. No matter the tool I have bought them, by the end of the project I tell myself I should have just spent the extra money and saved myself the headache of hassling their product.
Blackduck	posted 07-27-2011 04:23 PM ET (US) I bought a large dust collector from [Harbor Freight] for about $140, yes, made in China like everything else in the world. It is a decent piece of equipment, and for the money a bargain. In doing some research before buying it, I could have paid up to $400 for it in different places, with different names and different colors. My hunch is a little soda blaster will probably be just fine, as it is a simple piece of equipment.
Jeff	posted 07-27-2011 04:31 PM ET (US) Paint gun, drill bits, screw driver, car jack, etc...all simple items and most all failed in the first use.
Sixer	posted 07-27-2011 05:46 PM ET (US) TommyWhaler, check out Eastwood. They market to the automotive restoration folks and have good info on soda blasting as well as how-to video. I've purchase from them, very good quality. http://www.eastwood.com/soda-blasting.html
TommyWhaler	posted 07-27-2011 07:33 PM ET (US) Thanks Sixer. Will check out Eastwood, as I wasn't familiar with them.
lizard	posted 07-27-2011 08:26 PM ET (US) I have to chime in with Jeff. The few items I bought from Harbor Freight were all crap. I will never shop there again. Tools are important, from a safety standpoint. If I can snap (what was marked "drop forged") a box wrench then it has to be crap.
macfam	posted 07-27-2011 10:31 PM ET (US) Soda blasting: Yes. I have had soda blasting done on all underwater metal surfaces on my 28 Albin. That includes: rudder, tabs, intakes, prop, bow thruster and protective strut under prop. The results were fantastic. It stripped them to bare metal (that was the goal)NO HARM TO THE FIBERGLASS (I then used a Pettit system to anti-foul the metals) The prep time actually took as much or more time than the actualy soda blasting. They completely enveloped the bottom of the boat with plastic drop curtains, including a "floor" in whcih they worked. There was little or no soda cloud allowed to escape. The worker looked like an astronaut (no kidding). I originally thought that they just blasted the bottom and let the sodea go into the atmosphere.....NOT SO!!! Strict rules. This is an outstanding way to remove bottom paint etc, and have no damage to the fiberglass. As jimh always says, "the best way to remove bottom paint is with your checkbook"........nuff said....
contender	posted 07-27-2011 11:51 PM ET (US) Tommy; This is true unless you are set up with the proper tools, area, materials, and clothing and for your size boat it would be far better to let someone do it, just get some prices. If someone else does it you have no mess and your time is free to do some other type of repair. Sometimes you just have to weight the cost of you doing something vs. you taking it to have done...Good luck
jimh	posted 07-28-2011 07:52 AM ET (US) If the soda blasting is to remove anti-fouling paint that contains toxins, a commercial firm that was performing that sort of job would probably have to prevent the removed material from just blowing away into the environment.
TommyWhaler	posted 07-28-2011 08:43 PM ET (US) Thanks blackduck. I called the manufacture of my compressor (CH), and even though it is 5 hp, it will not give the 10-CFM. In fact, he asked me what tool I was going to need, and he said flat out it would burn it up, and you would be blasting for 10 min, then have to let it cool for 10 min. Oh well, back to the drawing board. But if you hadn't posted that comment, I would have probably order, and . . . . . . ? So thanks again!
Tohsgib	posted 07-29-2011 12:58 AM ET (US) Eastwood is nicer for not much more. If only going to be a fling and maybe some work here & there then go with the Harbor system.
jamesmylesmcp	posted 07-29-2011 07:01 AM ET (US) I've had it done twice, once in my driveway. Found these guys working in a local boatyard. They put me off for weeks then came the call asking if my neighbors were home. They arrived and were done in an hour. I had to raise the boat for them to access the bottom, accomplished this in my side yard where the boat stayed aloft suspended from trees and on a ramp until they arrived. No containment whatsoever , I no longer have to cut a portion of my backyard as it is devoid of life. http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/71outrage/sodablasting.jpg This spring I attempted to contact these guys again a young lady told me that the DEP had impounded their machine. Found these guys this year, I was told to bring my boat to an old boat yard and back it in a corner deep within the yard on a Friday evening. Here's how it looked soon thereafter. http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x44/ribside/bottompaint.jpg When completed I was instructed to leave quickly. The yard was blue tinged everywhere. I have seen the process done correctly with containment and the men in spacesuits and have recieved price quotes from them. They were at $100 per foot, each time I had it done cost me under $500. The end result leave a surface that is clean tinted with paint , smooth only requireing a wash with water to remove excess soda. With some effort each of my bottoms could have been returned to paint free gelcoat.
macfam	posted 07-29-2011 08:02 AM ET (US) When I had mine done, it was just the opposite. The 2 Soda-blast guys came with a rig on a trailer. This was one EXPENSIVE peace of equipment. The amount of compressed air that thing produced was amazing. They had several different nozzles, they were not cheap. This outfit works in many local boat yards. NOT fly-by-night, total pro's. When they left, you would never have known they had been there. Professional, polite, and efficient. Soda blasting all underwater metals, with prep time etc was about 2.5 hours. Total $400. I thought that was quite reasonable. It allowed me to get to the project fast, so I could get the boat in the water on time.
Blackduck	posted 07-29-2011 11:29 AM ET (US) For the record, I would do my own soda blasting again without hesitation. I used a compressor that was only making 7 CFM, and it was slow, sometimes very slow, but doable. I assume you are talking about doing one boat, not going into the soda blasting business. So what if it takes all day. It is great to have that little machine to clean parts, ect. The dreaded Harbor Freight machine does come with a warranty, so there isn't much of a risk at all. The mess is not bad at all. Do it on a calm day, and use a good mask. Stay up wind of the work area, and keep the soda off of your plants and lawn. The salt will burn them.
TommyWhaler	posted 07-30-2011 10:17 PM ET (US) Thanks blackduck for the words of encouragement. A question for all. Is it just me, but does it seem redundant to have to enter your user name and password for each and every post? Or am I doing something wrong.