Soda blasting recommendations?

[JimFromSTL]

Hey everybody, I've been absent for awhile


I'm thinking of buying a soda blaster from Harbor Freight this weekend and renting a large air compressor.  Any personal experience with these?  I've read all the reviews and think it's worth the risk, I'll just keep my receipts. 

I plan on learning to do this on a pedal car I have then moving up to soda machines and other stuff.

Thx.

[SIGNGUY]

I guess if you have the money to do it , and bother with renting a compressor and the space to do your own blasting then go for it ..

personally I like paying $50.00 to have my stuff blasted at the local body shop.. cheap, easy and no mess at my place.

[JimFromSTL]

I would happily go that route if I had options.  All the local guys either don't do it any longer or want a mint.  I paid $75 for a single gumball machine to be blasted.  Two of those and I could buy a blaster.  4 more and I could buy a compressor.  For now my plan is to buy a soda blaster and media and rent the compressor.  We'll see how it goes.

[kbareit]

I purchased a small blaster from harbor freight and figured what the heck. The biggest problem is getting the soda medium into it because the opening is too small and it takes forever to get it in. the second thing to consider is a really good inline drier to keep the moisture out so it doesn't cause the soda to clump up and clog the hose and nozzle.
Other than that it doesn't do too bad a job. I use mine mostly too clean up the galvanized parts and stuff that sand blasting will do more harm than good.

[krovel]

i got the small sandblast bucket from harbor freight. my compressor is very small but it seemed to work pretty good just really slow. But do make sure the compressor comes with some kind of water trap/dryer. it does make things clump and not want to spray correctly.

i just used sand and charcoal never soda. but ai know the sand and charcoal did not like the dampness.

good luck