Soda Blasting - A Complete Guide

Getting rid of rust, dirt, and grime from your project just got a whole lot easier. With soda blasting, you can easily remove imperfections with minimal effort. Best of all, this eco-friendly technique is safe, fast, and effective.  

As a special form of sandblasting, soda blasting is quickly becoming a popular choice for surface preparation. But how does soda blasting work, and what are the benefits? Read on to learn about soda blasting.

Soda blasting is a process that uses baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) as an abrasive media for surface preparation, cleaning, paint stripping, and rust removal. The soda is propelled onto the surface at high speed, removing dirt, rust, and other contaminants from the substrate.

This type of blasting is ideal for a number of different applications because baking soda is non-toxic and non-flammable. It's also easy to clean up after use, making it an efficient and cost-effective option.

How Does Soda Blasting Work?

Understanding how the method works is vital for achieving the best results. Soda blasting is performed using a special machine known as a soda blaster.

This equipment looks similar to conventional sandblasting machines, but it uses baking soda instead of sand. The soda is mixed with pressurized air and then forced through an abrasive nozzle at high speed, allowing it to remove dirt and other contaminants from the surface.  Soda blasting equipment is typically designed a bit differently to allow the soda blast media to easily be delivered.  Compared to a traditional sandblast pot a soda blast pot will have a valve that has unique design elements to allow the media to flow well, since soda can tend to be more likely to clump relative to traditional blast medias like crushed glass or coal slag.

Sodium-bicarbonate abrasive media is much softer than sand. When measured by the Mohs scale (which measures the hardness of a material), sand falls at 6-7 while baking soda is only 3.

This makes it gentle enough to use on delicate surfaces like wood and aluminum without damaging them. Soda blasting is popular for surfaces where removing contaminant is important but where you don’t want to cause surface changes.  Common soda blasting uses include blasting thin gauge metal (like car panels), thin aluminum surface blasting, blasting brick, or blasting wood.  Soda blasting is also often popular for blasting a surface where you have to be able to ensure any residual media can be removed easily, like radiator fins on engines or intake vents on HVAC and Industrial Equipment.

There are many advantages to using soda blasting for surface preparation. Here's an overview of what you can expect as you use soda blasting for your project:

1. Soda Blasting is Fast and Efficient

Soda blasting can efficiently prep sizable areas much quicker than sanding or using a wire wheel. This can help save time on projects as well as reduce labor costs. And when you're finished, the baking soda can be quickly and easily cleaned up.

2. Soda Blasting is Safe

Unlike other abrasive media, baking soda is non-toxic, non-flammable, and doesn't create noxious fumes. This makes it a safe option for both people and the environment, as long as the material your blasting off the substrate doesn’t have any harmful contaminants in it like lead.

3. Soda Blasting is Eco-Friendly

Not only is baking soda safe to use, but it's also eco-friendly. After use, the soda can be disposed of easily by using water (as long as the material you blasted off is not environmentally harmful)

4. Soda Blasting is Soft On Substrates

Baking soda is much softer than sand, which means it won't damage delicate surfaces like wood or aluminum. This makes soda blasting great for removing graffiti from old buildings, restoring furniture and antiques, and other delicate projects.

When it comes to surface preparation, soda blasting and sandblasting are two of the most popular methods.

 

However, sandblasting works by using medias like garnett, coal slag or crushed glass  as the abrasive media. This makes it ideal for tougher jobs like removing rust or paint from steel and other hard surfaces, but it can cause damage to softer materials such as wood and aluminum.  Additionally sandblasting can be hard to capture the blast media that is left behind or to get it removed from the surface of the product blasted, soda blast media can be dissolved by water  making it easier to clean up any residual media. 

Soda blasting is a gentler option because baking soda won't damage delicate surfaces making it ideal for cleaning brick, thin metal or aluminum surfaces, and other soft surfaces like wood where you don’t want to leave a deep surface profile.

To get started with soda blasting, you'll need the right equipment. While the process is safe, those unfamiliar with the equipment can be at risk of injury if not properly trained. Here are some of the pieces of equipment you will need for a soda blasting project:

1. Air Compressor: You will need to ensure that your air compressor can handle the pressure and volume needed for the job.  The larger your blast nozzle the larger a compressor you will need for more info on choosing a compressor for sandblasting check out our guide

2. Air Cooler and Moisture Separator: These two pieces are important for preventing moisture from entering the soda blaster. Soda media tends to be more susceptible to moisture causing clumping issues, having a proper moisture separator or better yet desiccant dryer for your compressor will ensure you minimize media clumping issues

3. Soda Blast Pot, Hose, and Nozzle: This is the main component of any soda blasting system. The blast pot contains abrasive material and controls the media's flow, pressure, and direction. This piece will also be connected to an air compressor via a hose.

4. Sodium Bicarbonate Blasting Abrasive: This is the abrasive media necessary for soda blasting. It can be purchased in different grades to suit the needs of your project.

5. Protective Gear: Safety is paramount when using soda-blasting equipment. Ideally you wear a forced fed OSHA approved sandblast hood along with proper protective clothing.

Once you have all the necessary equipment, some tips can help ensure you get the best results from your soda blasting project.

1. Start With A Test Area

Before you start on your main project, it's a good idea to test out the soda blaster on a small area first. This will allow you to adjust the flow and pressure of the media until you get the desired results.  It will also allow you to confirm that soda blasting will be able to properly clean your project.

2. Select The Right Grade Media

Different grades of baking soda will result in different levels of abrasiveness. Using the wrong grade for your project can lead to unsatisfactory results, so ensure you're using the correct one.  Higher mesh sizes mean a finer soda media which means that the profile will be smoother, a coarser grit (lower mesh size) will result in a rougher surface finish.

3. Move The Nozzle Evenly

As with any blasting operation, it's important to move the nozzle evenly at a slightly off perpendicular angle  across the surface to ensure consistent results, you should avoid sweeping the nozzle in arcs when blasting.

4. Use The Correct Pressure

Too little pressure will not be effective, while too much can damage the surface being blasted. Adjust the pressure to get the desired results without damaging the substrate. Start at a pressure and gradually increase the pressure if needed until you see the profile on the surface you wanted.

5. Rinse The Surface After Blasting

Once you're finished blasting, it's important to rinse off all remaining baking soda. This will help prevent any undesired effects from the residue.

6. Hire a Professional When Necessary

If you're not confident in your skills or don't have the necessary equipment, it's always a good idea to hire a professional for the job. They will be able to get the desired results quickly and safely.

Soda blasting is an environmentally-friendly method that offers great results with minimal surface damage.

When used properly, it can be a great alternative to traditional sandblasting.

Soda blasting may be the perfect solution if you're looking for a safe and effective way to clean or refinish materials, especially delicate surfaces or surfaces that residual blast media being left behind will be problematic . Make sure you use the right equipment, follow safety protocols, and select the correct media grade for your project. With these tips in mind, you'll be able to get the best results from your soda-blasting project.