Anyone have experience with a water blast cabinet?

[Larry S]

The title says it all. I'm thinking of buying one to clean and polish Hodaka parts. From what I've learned it's a two part process. First, the part is cleaned with an aggressive media like aluminum oxide, garnet or crushed glass. After the part is clean, it is polished (burnished) with fine glass beads. From the research I've done, water blasting is much more efficient than dry blasting.

Greg, Lee, Dave, Danny, Ron - or anyone who has first hand knowledge help me. Thanks!

Larry S

[dcooke007]

Hey Larry, assuming you are refering to vapor blasting. Using glass beads and water in a kind of slurry to clean and restore surface finish. I do not have any first hand experience with this process but looks very interesting. I have a 74 Kawasaki 750 H2 that I am considering sending the engine case out for vapor blasting. Looking for something as close to original for this engine.

Currently I have a standard blast cabinet that I use aluminum oxide and glass beads as the media. There are many different grits of both aluminum oxide and glass beads. Aluminum oxide cleans better but leaves a more textured surface than glass beads. What you use depends on the end results desired.

Danny

[Joe Ormonde]

They have Water Blasting Cabinets in several sizes. The first one I saw was at a Transmission shop. You put the parts in it and the water is Super Heated and virtually cleans EVERYTHING off. Out here in California a Company has to pick up the waste. Everything is considered Toxic Waste now. Years ago 1 large Spray Can of Berrymans Chemtool would clean the dirtiest cases spotless. Now it just kinda moves around the crud. If you have a bunch of parts you need cleaned Transmission Shops and Engine Rebuilders will clean them for a small fee. Usually. Joe.

[thrownchain]

Go to : Vaporhoningtechnologies.com they have videos showing the process and they have several different size units for getting the process done. I hope to own one some day.

[Larry S]

Yes, I'm talking about vapor blasting. I didn't use that term because I didn't know if it was an industrial term or a company term.

I'm looking at a Vapor Honing Technologies micro cabinet. It's big enough to do a complete Hodaka engine - small enough to not take up too much shop space.

Larry S

[thrownchain]

I'm looking at the same cabinet. Notice that when they blast they do just one step, not two, just degrease the part, and go at it.

[thrownchain]

Did you buy the blaster?

[Larry S]

Not yet, but I'm going to. the delay is the compressor. I have a small compressor - not big enough to power the cabinet. As long as I'm buying a new compressor, I want a big one. I'm looking to get 5HP - 60 Gal Ingersoll Rand. Once the compressor is installed and plumbed I'm going to get the VHT Micro cabinet.

Larry S

[Larry S]

The 5hp 60 gallon compressor and the Vapor Honing Technologies micro hone are in the mail. They are both supposed to arrive about the same time near the end of the month. I also ordered aluminum oxide media for cleaning and glass beads for polishing.

I have two Ace90 engines, four Ace100 engines and the current project, a Combat Wombat.The plan is to rebuild all of them and make them as pretty as the engines that come out of Greg Watkins shop.

Larry S

[gearyoliver]

Looking forward to your review. I'm dreaming about a diy setup but too many projects going already

[Larry S]

The vapor blast cabinet and the new compressor have both arrived.

Unfortunately, the compressor was damaged in transit. it weighs 365# and is very top heavy. At some point, it toppled over landing on the pump flywheel, bending the pump crankshaft

I didn't discover the problem until the compressor was installed and I started it for the first time. I bought the compressor from Northern Tool through Amazon. Fed Ex was the shipper. I think the problem lies with Fed Ex but that's not my call. Everyone involved has been very eager to fix it.

The vapor blast cabinet doesn't require a compressor this big. I have other pneumatic tools that take a lot of air. That's the reason for the big compressor.

I hope this gets fixed soon. I have six engines on the shelf and three more in running bikes. I want to send them all through the blast cabinet, plus wheel hubs, wheel backing plates, carbs, etc., etc. If it's aluminum, cast iron or pewter it's going to get blasted.

Larry S

[socalhodaka]

Larry I sent you a pm

[Larry S]

I asked Northern Tool if they could just send me a new pump - I would swap them out and return the damaged pump. However, I am not an Ingersoll Rand certified technician.Got this reply today: "The replacement pump is shipping to you today. You can replace the pump without voiding the warranty. Please dispose of the damaged pump as the vendor does not require it to be returned".

I couldn't be happier. I was really dreading getting this top-heavy S.O.B. onto a pallet and ready to be returned. S* * t happens. Everyone involved has gone out of their way to make it right. I just hope the new pump isn't shipped by Fed Ex.

I plan to put the damaged pump on the shelf. It's a brand new pump with a bent crank. I may need it for parts someday.

Larry S

[Larry S]

socal I sent you a PM

[viclioce]

Hey Larry! Any Vapor Blasting results to show us yet? Victor

[Larry S]

Nothing new to report. I'm still waiting for the replacement pump to arrive.

I have picked my first project though. It's a cruddy Super Rat head with two broken fins and a stripped spark plug hole. If I really mess it up, I haven't lost much. If it comes out nice, it will be the prettiest piece of junk I own!

[viclioce]

Hey, a good Aluma TIG welder can build up those fins for you and grind them down to match. Just sayin’..... Victor

[matt glascock]

OEM high-compression Super Rat head - that's a keeper. Helicoin time.

[Larry S]

The new pump arrived and is swapped out. The compressor is working perfectly. It's quieter than I thought it would be.

RANT.
The original pump was made in China. The replacement pump was made in India. Isn't anything made in the USA? The compressor does have a sticker, "Proudly assembled in USA". I guess that gives some of the wonderful people in Campbellsville, Kentucky a job.

I'm ready to try my Vapor Blaster for the first time. I think I'm going to start a new thread for that.

Larry S