HERE ARE MY FINDINGS ON HOME SANDBLASTING.....

[WONTGETDUSTED]

OK, SUNDAY I GOT OUT THE HABOR FREIGHT SIPHON FEED SANDBLASTER AND THE 3 TYPES OF MEDIA I PLANED TO TRY AND USED THE 70 NEW YORKER IN THE BACK YARD AS A TEST SUBJECT....HERE IS WHAT I FOUND OUT

YES YOU CAN USE SODA IN THESE BLASTERS

SODA CUTS IN PRETTY QUICK AND LEAVES THE METAL SMOOTH TO THE TOUCH AND WONT BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU,HOWEVER WHERE A VENT MASK....SAW NO SIGNS OF METAL WRAPAGE...THE EASEST OF THE THREE TO WORK WITH ,WONT DO SHIT TO RUST OTHER THAT JUST BARELY NOT THE LOSE STUFF OFF

PLAY SAND- CUTS IN A LITTLE QUICKER THAN SODA ,LEAVES THE METAL WITH A SLIGHTLY ROUGH TEXTURE,AND WILL BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU , WEAR SOMETHING THAT COVERS YOUR ENTIRE BODY.....SAW NO SIGNS OF METAL WARPAGE,TAKES OFF RUST

WALNUT SHELL- JUNK. WOULD PROBLY WORK WELL WITH A PROFESSIONAL BLASTER AND A INDUST. COMPRESSOR AT 175 PSI OR MORE. TOOK A GOOD ILL LONGER TO CUT IN(NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE) HOWEVER LEFT METAL SMOOTH (ONCE IT FINALLY GOT GOING TAKING PAINT OFF). TOOK THE LARGEST AMOUNT BY FAR TO DO THE LEAST AMOUNT WORK. HAS NO EFFECT ON RUST

I HAVE NOW DECIDED TO PLAY AROUND MAKING MY ON MIX OF THESE THREE AND WILL LET YA'LL KNOW WHAT WORKS BEST...RIGHT NOW I'M KINDA UNDECIDED ON WHICH I'M GOING TO DO THE DUSTER WITH. THE SODA MAKES METAL LOOK GOOD AND SMOOTH ,BUT I THINK PAINT WOULD STICK BETTER TO SURFACE SAND LEAVES.....

[g-cuda67]

   Awesome! I have been using sand mixed with aluminum oxide,the sand helps cut through the crud/rust but its not so severe with the aluminum mixed..plus with smaller units the fine grade oxide helps deliver the sand much quicker and with more force then before with sand alone.

[g-cuda67]

  I was wondering which siphon feed gun are you using?

[WONTGETDUSTED]

THE 90LBS UNIT FROM HARBOR FREIGHT WHICH I THINK I GOT IT ON SALE FOR $50 OR SO I CANT REMEMBER

[bOb shingler]

very interesting. are walnut shells good for machined surfaces?

[moparrr07]

also, they sell sand in different courses

[eldubb440]

i use 00 sand in an indusrtrial blaster. its fast but will destroy a car if not careful. i never use it on external skins

[loiq]

I usually use a silica sand called Black Blast for rust removal. It shreds pretty much anything and leaves a rough surface. You can't use it on outer sheet metal, though.

[WONTGETDUSTED]

THE SAND I WAS USING WAS WHAT THE GUYS IN MOPAR MUSCLE USALLY REFER TO AS PLAY SAND...WHICH IS WHAT I PICKED UP AT LOWES....SO FOR OUTER SKINS SHOULD I STICK WITH THE SODA?

[SSAAHemiFan]

Make sure you wear a mask , especially with the play sand. It breaks up and does bad things to your lungs. - silicosis

[ValiantOne]

I keep hearing about soda blasting.

What is "soda"? Where do I get it?

(I'm sure I'll get some wise ass answers on that)

Chri s

[MVRCorp]

Never tried it on a car but we blasted soot and smoke stains off brick using dry ice. It's kinda neat, all that was left was a pile of soot, there is no residue.

[65DartGT]

400valiant "soda" is baking soda. bOb shingler walnut shells are pretty good for machined surfaces, they used to use it to blast carbon deposites out of engines because it's not super abrasive and also if any gets left behind in the cylinder it will burn off and won't huurt the motor.

[WONTGETDUSTED]

i have been buying bags of sodium bicarbonate(soda) at the local cattle feed store..

[ValiantOne]

400valiant "soda" is baking soda. bOb shingler walnut shells are pretty good for machined surfaces, they used to use it to blast carbon deposites out of engines because it's not super abrasive and also if any gets left behind in the cylinder it will burn off and won't huurt the motor.

Cool. Got it. Yeah, I use walnut for polishing my rifle brass before I reload it.

I'm going to have to try the baking soda though. That sounds neat!