Soda Blasting Childhood Memories!

(Amusement ride figures restored by KIDDIE RIDES USA – Denver, CO – Old paint stripped off using the ACE Model 2-PS Heavy Duty Portable Soda Blaster)

Hi Everybody! Welcome to my blog about soda blasting, the environmentally friendly cleaning method that uses a form of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in place of other non-environmentally friendly, and health hazardous blasting medias like sand.

In my earlier postings, I explained what soda blasting is, what makes soda blasting such a unique cleaning process, some basic information on air compressors, on soda blasting equipment, and on a few popular applications. Once you understand how soda blasting works, it is much easier to appreciate why it is such an effective, safe, and eco-friendly cleaning method for many different types of jobs.

As I mentioned before, soda blasting has become a worldwide phenomenon! As I think back over the last several years, I am amazed at all of the different types of projects that I’ve been involved with, from helping do-it-yourself home owners, to assisting all kinds of businesses, large and small. I enjoy hearing from people, who have used soda blasting on their projects based on my recommendations. It is very satisfying to know that I’ve helped someone achieve completion of an important job.

I’ve showed you examples of some common, real life applications for soda blasting like stripping automotive paint from steel and aluminum bodied vehicles, stripping and refinishing wooden furniture, and cleaning swimming pool tile.

Today, I want to completely change things up. As I’ve tried to explain, soda blasting can be used for all kinds of different jobs. If you are looking for a safe, non-destructive, environmentally friendly cleaning method, then you should consider soda blasting. Think outside of the box!

That’s exactly what Richard Pierson of Kiddie Rides USA did! Kiddie Rides USA renovates and restores kiddie rides. Yes, kiddie rides…you know those great coin operated horses, wagons, cars, boats and spaceships that used to be in front of every grocery and department store! These restored beauties are being snapped up for use in doctor and dentist offices, restaurants, ice cream parlors, corporate lobbies, day care centers, and movie sets, for example.

One day, Richard called and asked me if I thought he could use soda blasting to restore amusement rides. He was tired of stripping them with harmful chemical strippers. He needed a safe and non-destructive cleaning process.

Richard explained that the figures had many intricate details that were difficult and time consuming to clean without harming or changing them. He also told me that the figures were made from a number of various materials like wood, aluminum, steel and fiberglass. On top of that, over the years, many of them had been repainted a number of times using different types of paint. He never knew exactly what he would run into, but he needed something that would handle anything that came his way.

 

Well, as you can imagine, this really got me interested. The more we talked, the more I knew that soda blasting was exactly what he needed. I recommended the ACE Model 2-PS Heavy Duty Portable Soda Blaster in conjunction with Armex Flow XL soda blast media. I told Richard to always start out blasting at a low blasting pressure, and slowly increasing it, until he was removing the paint without harming delicate features, which were crucial to maintain. The adjustable pressure regulator on the ACE Model 2-PS makes this easy and simple to do.

Richard was concerned about dust from the soda blasting process possibly upsetting neighboring businesses. I explained to him that the ACE Model 2-PS has a water spray/mist dust suppression system that was perfect for use in his application. Just hook it up to any water hose and say bye bye dust!

(Soda blasting small carousel horse utilizing the dust suppression system)

(Small carousel horse)

Well, as they say, the rest is history. Richard and I talk on a regular basis and he is very pleased with the results that he is getting using the ACE Model 2-PS and Armex soda blast media.

(Ride the Tiger!)

(Ride the CHAMPION!)

Remember our buddy in the earlier picture?  Here he is in all of his restored splendor!!

The reason that Kiddie Rides USA’s story is so interesting is that it illustrates that there are literally hundreds of uses for soda blasting that you may never have even thought about. If you need a safe, non-destructive, environmentally friendly cleaning process take a look at soda blasting. It might just be the answer you need.

I hope this helps you out. In future postings, I’ll write about some of the other interesting projects that I’ve been involved with, using soda blasting. Soda blasting really is one of the most exciting, environmentally friendly cleaning processes available today. We are all put here on this planet for a short time, so let’s make the best of it and help preserve it for future generations.

Thanks for reading my blog! – The Soda Blasting Guy