Bead blaster or how do you clean your engine parts?

[gggGary]

How much soda does it take to do an engine? Do you use a cabinet? Can it be reused at all or does it pretty much disntegrate? TIA

[hampshirehog]

How much soda does it take to do an engine? Do you use a cabinet? Can it be reused at all or does it pretty much disntegrate? TIA

Several 'bucketfuls' if you need to clean the whole thing (based on a 4 cylinder bike); you can't reuse it as it disintegrates on impact (which is how it works).

[duaneage]

I got 50 LBS for 58 bucks. It's made by Arm and Hammer under their Armex name. Grainger has it. They have 100/150 and 120/180 grit I think. I used the coarser grade.

I used about 35lbs to do a twin, I think another 10 to do a bigger engine. Depends on prep you do. If you get most of the gunk off with Simple Green and a pressure washer then it goes easier.

The baking soda turns grease and oil into a cake consistency and it sort of flakes off. It does NOT remove rust, only a truly abrasive blast media can do that. You could use aluminum oxide or walnut shells but that media isn't degradable like soda is. If it gets in the engine you have problems.

Baking soda dissolves in water or oil. You can even eat it. Smells like soda pop when you are done and a lawn sprinkler cleans up the driveway in about an hour before the wife gets home.

[duaneage]

Pics below. May not look impressive but the paint was nearly gone and the engine used to be snow white with corrosion. I hit it again for a second session and it came out cleaner, wish I had pics. The bike is out of town at the moment and I'll get shots of the engine as it looks today. The surface ends up dry and clean so paint sticks right to it. I think it's greatest contribution is to prepping for paint.

http://s663.photobucket.com/albums/uu360/duaneage2/XS400_soda/

[GS ace]

Alumabrite

No, as long as you are careful, follow the directions, and use it primarily on parts that are being treated individually. I used a large tupperware tub to apply and to rinse in with zero problems.