Millar Soda Blaster? any good?

[darrendee09]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Millar-Soda-B...136?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cb9424e48

Thinking on buying this (depending on delivery to ni)
Any advice on the above, or even a better one for the money, will be mainly used for alloy wheels.
Compressor is a 200l Jefferson, 15CFm rating, so it should be efficent enough with a medium sized nozzle?
Also, for the likes of door panels, would it be more effiecent to use a soda blaster or a da sander?
The main thing putting me of is the price of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) £31 delivered for 25kg, anyone know of anywhere in NI that would sell it? maybe at 50/100kg a time?
i know theres alot of questions but all advice is greatly appreciated

 

[rtbcomp]

That may sound expensive for 25kG, but how much volume does that represent?

 

[darrendee09]

not to sure as i cant see it on the add
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25Kg-Bicarbon...omeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item27b5b61f85

although i have heard that blasting doesnt use as much soda compared to sand, not sure tho?

 

[rtbcomp]

I suppose the other thing you have to watch is the mesh size, I suspect the food grade stuff is more of a powder than the stuff for blasting - not sure.

 

[brightspark]

it comes in various grades 25 quid a bag is the cheapest u can get it and it doesnt go far and can only be used once get the da out

 

[pedrobedro]

You'll have to keep it bone dry once it's opened as well so no leaving it lying round in the workshop till you need it again, it will have to be kept in the airing cupboard

 

[darrendee09]

it comes in various grades 25 quid a bag is the cheapest u can get it and it doesnt go far and can only be used once get the da out

would it last as long as sand in a sand blaster?

 

[brightspark]

would it last as long as sand in a sand blaster?

sand can be used a few times but breaks down to dust .soda can only be used once .sand gives a good finish on alloy taking paint and corosion off easily without damage. it leaves a good key finish for paint or can be beadblasted afterwards[ NOTE THOUGH ] THE FORUM DOES NOT RECOMEND USING SAND AS IT CONTAINS SILICA which is bad for health

 

[Fergus]

I've recently had quotes for soda blasting some Beetle wings, the estimate came back at an hour each @ £95 an hour.

An hour with a quids worth of 40 grit on an orbital sander has shifted the paint a treat, it's a ball ache but I can't spend that sort of cash right now when I have a much cheaper alternative.

 

[darrendee09]

sand can be used a few times but breaks down to dust .soda can only be used once .sand gives a good finish on alloy taking paint and corosion off easily without damage. it leaves a good key finish for paint or can be beadblasted afterwards[ NOTE THOUGH ] THE FORUM DOES NOT RECOMEND USING SAND AS IT CONTAINS SILICA which is bad for health

so you would prefer sand over soda?

also has anyone had any experience with this machine before with a similar powered compressor?

 

[KennyC]

It can probably be bought locally, I buy supafine sand from Fyffes so they may stock it.

I have been meaning to contact this crowd to see if they can supply it because I am about to build my own soda blaster

http://www.soda-blast.co.uk/sbsuk_013.htm

 

[darrendee09]

It can probably be bought locally, I buy supafine sand from Fyffes so they may stock it.

I have been meaning to contact this crowd to see if they can supply it because I am about to build my own soda blaster

http://www.soda-blast.co.uk/sbsuk_013.htm

fyfes in the industrial estate in pennyburn?

 

[graffian]

didn't sprayerdrew have one for sale a year ago?
I would guess he can tell you what it's like. I suspect it wasn't a lot of good otherwise he wouldn't have been flogging it.

 

[brightspark]

didn't sprayerdrew have one for sale a year ago?
I would guess he can tell you what it's like. I suspect it wasn't a lot of good otherwise he wouldn't have been flogging it.

the unit he had was from frost. it was 2 cheapo pots side by side i think for over 250 quid , just buy the cheapo 95 quid one from ebay or wherever there all made by the same outfit but re badged

 

[mm289]

Hi guys,

I have recently bought and installed a system using some of these parts.

Setup is a Clarke 150l single phase (SE16C150) compressor with a drop leg and regulator/filter

This then runs to a 20 gallon media blasting pot bought from one of the E-bay suppliers (KM Trading or something)

I then bought the soda blast nozzle and metering valve (conversion kit) from Miller soda blasting and a bag of the Armex flow XL and a bag of Archfine.

From what I can tell there isn't much difference between the pot that Millers sell and the e-bay ones.

It was a bit of an experiment for me as I am doing engine prep as well as body prep and wanted to use the soda to get into the hard to reach places on cleaning cases etc (can't use grit anywhere near an engine).

My view is the soda is OK - not exceptional - when run of this size comp. It gives you enough guts to remove grime etc and I have also tried it on painted panels. i wouldn't say it is quick though!

The big advantage for me of blasting is getting to the bits I can't easily reach with abrasives and air tools. I would say that I have used hardly any of the soda so it does seem to be quite economical - although I was doing smaller parts and was using the smaller nozzles to try and stop emptying the comp quite so quickly.

I didn't have any real issues with flow or clogging so am reasonably happy with the setup. The only thing to remember is if you go from grit to soda on moving parts you will have to be scrupulous about cleaning the pot and pipes.

HTH

MM