Grit/media/soda blasting at home

[911hillclimber]

Just as a bit of general info for those who DIY their projects, grit blasting parts to prep for paint can be a major cost and trips to and fro the blaster and the chance of loosing parts.

For my winter project, a 1974 Honda motorbike, there was a lot of corrosion everywhere, so at the Classic Car Show at the NEC I bought a Frost (Eastman) home blasting kit.

Cost was £60 but I bought a 25Kg bag of their new alum oxide media for the tough jobs.
You get a tub of grit and a tub of Soda in the kit.

After a bit of messing I got the lot going. It is essential to run at 80 psi or thereabouts and the air to be dry or the blast venturi will block.

If you arrange things well (ie plastic sheet on the floor) the grit can be re-cycled time and again, but this stuff gets EVERYWHERE and eye/mask is absolutely essential.

Simple gloves give hand protection and the speed of action is quite slow on areas, fast on edges.

The pic below shows the results of 1 hour of blasting. I spent more time sweeping up before Mrs Hillclimber came home from shopping. :blackeye:

This is a great bit of kit, thought I would share it with you all.

[Digger]

Is that an alloy engine your blasting?

[911hillclimber]

Just spotted this, should have replied earlier!

Yes, it is a Honda cb175 engine from my next project after the TV3

The ports were very choked with carbon and junk and are very small and hence awkward to clear to metal.

the blaster cleaned all 4 in 2 minutes.
Likewise the valves, esp the exhaust, all cleaned to metal in 20 secs each.

Despite a good blast to remove winter corrosion marks the engine number is very legible and it was light to start with.

Now bought a Machine Mart cabinet which is superb though a bit cramped and awkward, but no mess.