Vapor Blasting first impressions

[Brand X]

How does it compare with blasting with Soda?

[canuck750]

Hi Jim, that is a most excellent post. Answers a lot of my questions about the system. The pump looks very much like a submersible drain water pump which was the type that I had been thinking about using. They are very cheap and are meant for slightly dirty water so the impeller is often made of stainless steel if you find a decent one.
As far as I can tell the pump isn't in the bottom of the sump, but a bit above and mixes up the slurry with the two fixed pipes? Is that correct?

Is the cabinet itself made of plastic or steel?

I was thinking of using stainless sheet metal if the price is not too high. Maybe af windshield wiper on the inside too.

Thanks again for posting.
-Ulrik

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

I think the impeller is a type of plastic, this the spec from Vapor Honing Technologies web site

33″W x 30″D x 28″H inside workspace   
Total machine foot print 36″W x 35″D x  5′ 8″H
Single Piece HDPE Plastic Construction 1/4″ thick walls

110V Single Phase Power Supply
Waterproof LED lights for better workspace visibility.
GFCI Protection Hardwired into main power line
Polyurethane pump w/ overload protection
Pump agitation for greater slurry mixing and cleaning effect
Production Blast Gun with boron carbide insert
20-120psi @ 15-20 CFM
25 gallons of water and 20lbs of abrasive media needed to charge machine
Rated 100% duty cycle

This is their web site with You Tube videos explain the equipment

http://vaporhoningtechnologies.com/equipment-faqs/

Their commercial line uses stainless steel for the cabinet.

[canuck750]

How does it compare with blasting with Soda?

Water blasting leaves the surface of aluminum looking like it has been polished, soda blast leaves a dull finish. With soda the media breaks down as it impacts the surface and the soda crystal fractures, this is how it strips oxidation off aluminum. Soda is very safe, relatively cheap but messy and best done outside. I buy bulk soda in 40 lbs bags and fill a 5 gallon ail and drop in a siphon blast hose and hook up an air compressor.

Vapor blasting is a great process, it won't harm plastic, and it returns the most corroded aluminum to look like new.

[harry h]

Thanks for the great review!  I am in the market to get a system but need to go with the closed loop.  Also trying to decide between the VHT or Vixen.  The VHT has an attractive price point.

[gentlemanjim]

Awesome.  For us in the USA we need a fellow Goose to offer the service.  I've struggled forever to get marginally clean looking parts.

[harry h]

Awesome.  For us in the USA we need a fellow Goose to offer the service.  I've struggled forever to get marginally clean looking parts.

I'll keep you posted!  Should be sometime in January, need to upgrade one of the electrical panels in my warehouse.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Having assembled an engine that had all of the alloy castings vapor blasted, in my opinion, there is one thing that is a "must do" as soon as they come out of the cabinet. That is, clean down in every blind bolt hole, every nook and cranny, everywhere that the slurry mix might collect. If you wait until everything is dry, the slurry mix becomes like concrete and is very difficult to remove. I spent a crazy amount of time getting it out of bolt holes and oil passages on the Morini 3 1/2 Sport engine cases. 

[canuck750]

Having assembled an engine that had all of the alloy castings vapor blasted, in my opinion, there is one thing that is a "must do" as soon as they come out of the cabinet. That is, clean down in every blind bolt hole, every nook and cranny, everywhere that the slurry mix might collect. If you wait until everything is dry, the slurry mix becomes like concrete and is very difficult to remove. I spent a crazy amount of time getting it out of bolt holes and oil passages on the Morini 3 1/2 Sport engine cases. 

 :1:

rinse, rinse, and rinse again, for engine pieces I end with an hour in the ultrasonic cleaner.

[Brand X]

With soda the media breaks down as it impacts the surface and the soda crystal fractures, this is how it strips oxidation off aluminum. Soda is very safe, relatively cheap but messy and best done outside.

It's not too bad in my Blast cabinet. (IMO). It's more of a matt finish, then dull.. 

Anyway, nice setup you got there..



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