1. What is Soda Blasting?
Soda Blasting is a mainly non-destructive form of media blasting in which sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is used to gently clean and restore surfaces.
2. What is Soda Washing?
Soda Washing is a cleaning and degreasing technique used to restore equipment without causing damage to paint, rubber, plastics, glass, chrome. Water is often introduced to the media stream as an effective means of dust control, and aggression buffering.
3. Is the equipment portable?
Yes and no. There are 2 types of machines we use to perform soda blasting. The first unit is traditional soda blasting pot which is quite capable of being moved up and down stairs and through door ways. The second type of unit is our “Soda Washing” unit which is our Vapour Blasting system. Not portable (700-1100 lbs empty).
4. Is the media food safe?
Yes. It’s baking soda. You can brush your teeth with it too.
5. Can the media be re-used?
No. Sodium Bicarbonate is highly friable and after striking a hard surface the particles become useless.
6. What are the limitations associated with Soda Blasting?
– harmful to surrounding vegetation
– cannot create profiles in hard metals
– substrates must be thoroughly rinsed with a salt-removing solution before coatings are applied
– dust control (water can injected into the blast stream to help)
7. When would you choose Soda Blasting over Dry Ice Blasting?
– when odour absorption is critical
– when dry ice supply and storage is scarce
– when the 600 lb wheeled dry ice totes cannot be delivered to the work area
– when coatings removal is required. (dry ice isn’t nearly as effective here)
8. Does the process create static build-up?
Yes. All forms of dry abrasive blasting crew static build-up. Grounding cables are used to eradicate this potential issue
9. What about flash rusting?
As the media is not hard enough to profile hard metals flash rusting is generally not a problem when soda blasting. We use a product called HoldTight 102 when there might be concern.
10. What pre-coatings prep needs to be performed?
Rinse with HoldTight 102
11. What are the primary safety issues?
– air embolism
– eye protection
– ear protection
– respiratory protection
– air supply hose failure (whip checks installed)
