Re: Soda blasting

Posted by sgtslag on
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Soda-blasting-tp3300327p3314760.html

Finished up on the Voyager.  Went through around six pounds of Baking Soda on it, going over it thoroughly.  It removed surface rust quite handily, from chromed surfaces, but it did very little on the grime on the rims, and the engine block (not for lack of trying...  6 lbs. of Baking Soda).  Will need to try some wheel cleaner spray next.  It did, however, take a dull coating off of the rotors:  I forgot to move the bike, so I left some areas untouched -- can't miss them.  

Washed the Honda afterwards, and the chrome exhaust shines like I've never seen it before.  It is really bright.  It does an amazing job on chrome parts.  I hit the right side carburetor dome top, and it took most of the dull clear coating off of it -- I can feel its roughness.  Now I need to decide whether to leave it, or finish it...  Bike is up for sale, don't really want to put more time into it.

The Voyager was washed and dried afterwards, but the next day, I found white residue of Baking Soda which had run out of the locks, and some other hidden areas -- needs to be washed, thoroughly, and rinsed, thoroughly, again.  I guess now I won't have an excuse not to finish the rotors.  

I read a book on detailing cars, and motorcycles, and the author's advice seems worth sharing here:  use the least abrasive material first, and proceed to coarser materials, with great caution...  Baking Soda is mildly abrasive, but it is abrasive, nonetheless.  Removing a clear-coat may not be what you wanted (didn't intend to do so on the Honda's carbs -- thought I was blasting bare aluminum -- Wrong!), but Baking Soda will do just that.  Cheers!