Soda blasting soda?

[rundown]

Is the Soda used in Soda blasting just the regular Arm & Hammer baking soda one sees at the store? I seem to recall seeing big (50lb?) bags of soda at the feed store, I believe it is used in cattle feed? What is the best source of soda?

 

[wenger828]

yeah, just regular ol' baking soda

 

[wenger828]

got my 50lbs bag at a local harbor freight when i picked up the blaster

 

[Rusnak_322]

I was going to buy the stuff at HF, but I wound up using the 4 old boxes that were in my two fridge/freezers at my house. worked great. Just dont forget a dust mask and something for your eyes as that stuff burns like crazy.

 

[Rich Ard]

Cheaper at Sam's club than at the grocer's or HF, too.

 

[noexit]

The stuf at harbor freight is a much bigger grain than baking soda, and specifically made for soda blasting. Part of the abrasive action from soda is the grain exploding on impact. If you were doing a carb that was already fairly clean, regular baking soda would be fine, but if you needed to get more aggressive, I'd use blasting soda.

 

[BigKev]

Is the Soda used in Soda blasting just the regular Arm & Hammer baking soda one sees at the store? I seem to recall seeing big (50lb?) bags of soda at the feed store, I believe it is used in cattle feed? What is the best source of soda?

I was curious about that myself. Im still on the fence of weather or not to buy one.

 

[SONICJK]

There is a HUGE difference in household soda and blasting soda, if you have the option get the real deal

 

[AgentX]

Damn, I had it all wrong. I was wondering whether to use Dr. Pepper or Coke...

 

[noexit]

I was curious about that myself. Im still on the fence of weather or not to buy one.

I use my soda blaster more than almost any other equipment in my shop.

 

[rundown]

Thanks for the replies, these are good answers.

 

[Jmiller1023]

What size compressors are you guys using with your soda blasters?

 

[SONICJK]

I use an 80 gallon 5 HP 23cfm at 175psi....
but before i got that one i used a HF that was putting out maybe 5cfm at 90psi....just had to blast and wait, blast and wait.

60 galon 3hp is really the minimum to be really useful and thats still small.

 

[Calikid91]

Dollar store.. 1 lbs is 58cents

 

[neevo]

Soda is not all soda. I've not bought proper blasting soda but understand how it can be better. I buy 500g bags from my local supermarket. The home brand cheap stuff.

Woolworths own brand is very fine and not great.

Arm and hammer proper stuff is great but $4 a box (1kg).

Franklins 500g black and good stuff isn't too bad for a home brand either.

If it looks very fine its not ideal. Look for a coarse grain.

 

[noexit]

At $4 per kilo, it doesn't sound like you're saving over the proper stuff.

 

[neevo]

At $4 per kilo, it doesn't sound like you're saving over the proper stuff.

How much is the real stuff?

I pay $3.20 AUD per kg from Franklins. Mind you I only ever do small runs of blasting so it means I'm not sitting on bags of
blasting media.

 

[noexit]

22kg (50lbs) is $38 USD.

 

[neevo]

22kg (50lbs) is $38 USD.

I reckon it would be close to $50 here as we get ripped on everything.

 

[noexit]

I keep it in a plastic bucket with a tight lid and it keeps well.