Vapor Blasting - In Canada

[Commando73]

We provide vapor blasting services in Canada. Located in the Greater Toronto Area. Check out the site www.rocketperformance.ca

Here is a before and after sample of a CB-450 Cylinder Head.

 

[Tim]

I'm putting parts in a box to bring over

 

[TheJester]

Is that straight after vapour blasting the right side no paint??

What is the cost of this process?

 

[Tim]

That finish is consistent with other examples of vapour blasting I've seen. It's a pretty specialized process requiring expensive equipment, so finding shops that do it is tough. I'm not aware of anyone else doing it in Canada to be honest.

I'd say that is a freshly blasted part - no paint. Vapour blasting (wet glass bead blasting near as I can figure it) leaves a very smooth finish unlike dry glass or even soda blasting. It's more resistant to absorbing oils etc. so easier to keep clean and of course no paint to flake off.

I'll be having a few parts for my 1966 Honda CA95 done hopefully pretty soon and will post some pics.

 

[neevo]

I can confirm Tims assumptions are correct. I just got my motor back from V blasting and the results are as described. You can get a shiny finish with a bit more time, but I requested a flatter end result.

Pics can be found on my thread here:

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=o4qoc784ls91ee6l00m6bb25m0&topic=31541.msg625338#msg625338

 

[TheJester]

NEEVO, that looks amazing! What did getting a complete engine done set you back?

 

[Commando73]

That part was freshly blasted (no paint). Here is a Norton Commando head out of the process. It generally leaves a nice semi-gloss finish with closed pores which is really resistant to finger prints and oil staining.

 

[neevo]

NEEVO, that looks amazing! What did getting a complete engine done set you back?

I paid less than $350 but did a huge chunk of the prep work as requested by Dave. Pricing will depend on the work required and so Dave would be the best person to answer specific questions on any work, he only charges the time it takes though, he's good like that.

 

[cafechris]

Is this done using liquid nitrogen as the vapor?

 

[neevo]

The OP is probably best to comment but my understanding is its glass beads in a water slurry, blasted at reasonably low pressure. Not sure why the "vapour" in the name.

The tanks etc for the wet part are where the complexity is as it's required to be water tight and cope with the beads etc.

 

[TheJester]

So basically if it can get wet, and cleaned, and dried out properly its a go... Seems reasonable.
What do you need to do for prep, same idea as before traditional blasting?

 

[Commando73]

The process consists of the blast media (can be different media types but glass beads are typical for aluminum), water and compressed air. Vapor Blasting seems to be the most common process name likely because a company called Vapor Blast was an early mfg of the equipment to do the process but vapour blast, wet blast or even liquid honing are other names of the process.

As long as the pieces are reasonably clean, free oil and grease free and running gear like valves, springs, ball and roller bearing are removed, the piece can be processes. Bronze bushing type bearings and valve guides can be left in place.

 

[TheJester]

What about engine bearings, like in the block of a CX500, they are pressed in, and there is no stock left to replace them. Would those be taped off or plugged off then?

 

[Commando73]

If they are a bronze bushing style of bearing, they can remain in place. VB process does not cause any dimensional change. If they are steel ball or roller bearings, they have to come out. If the casting is heated to about 250F the bearings can easily be removed. Sometimes, they will just drop out. I use a heat gun used for shrinking heat shrink tubing to heat castings to remove and install bearings.

 

[TheJester]

Its a tri metal shell bearing. Not bronze. Not a roller bearing.

 

[Commando73]

Likely mask it the do a good cleaning after with a good flush with ACF-50.