Soda Blasting

[sean69]

Has anyone ever used soda blasting for cleaning barrels/parts etc in prep for bluing/browning? Will soda bicarbonate clean off existing bluing? Apparently it will not remove heavy rust but should be gentle enough to not damage stampings etc.

- any advice?

-thanks
-sean

 

[mikeydagunz]

Yes. Or crushed Walnut shells work very well and will not damage any markings. You can purchase a 50lb bag of crushed walnut from Princess Auto for about $40.

 

[sean69]

Yes. Or crushed Walnut shells work very well and will not damage any markings. You can purchase a 50lb bag of crushed walnut from Princess Auto for about $40.

Thanks .... you mean "yes" as in it will remove bluing? I also do a lot of wood working so soda blasting would find other uses as well. the bead blasting & soda blasting equipment is not compatible. (though they are relatively cheap) for walnut, I would need a bead blasting unit ~ correct?

-thanks
-sean

 

[GSG1911]

Soda should be abrasive enough to remove the blue but not damage anything else. Might just take a few extra passes.

 

[Grock-co]

Sand blasting is very effective with rust, soda not so much

 

[Markit]

I bought a cheap soda blasting gun from Princess Auto a few years back for around $25. An excellent piece of kit and great for removing slight surface rust.

 

[sean69]

yea - starting to lean towards something that can do other media ~ really if walnuts & beads will do it without damage to stampings then soda doesn't offer enough flexibility... really not doing any fragile parts here anyway .

thanks for th input guys!!