Soda Blasting Mold and Fire Damage

Mold damage before and after soda blasting (picture courtesy of ARMEX)

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.

Over the years, I have explained many different facets of the soda blasting process.  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.  If you are a first time reader, I encourage you to look through past blog postings for a lot of great information.  Here is a link to The Soda Blasting Guy archive of past blog postings:

https://sodablastingguy.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/index-and-links-archive-for-the-soda-blasting-guy/

Today I want to revisit a subject on which I have talked about before: soda blasting mold and fire damage.  Unfortunately, many home owners are faced with the problem of restoring their property because of mold or fire damage.  Whether caused by storms, floods, leaks or excessive humidity, mold can be a problem in attics, basements and crawl spaces. I have even talked with contractors who have encountered mold issues in new buildings currently under construction.

Fortunately,  mold and fire damage are no match for soda blasting!  Soda blasting not only cleans this type of damage, it also deodorizes.

As I discussed in one of my earlier postings, mold removal and fire damage restoration are some of the easiest jobs for a soda blaster to do. Mold removal and fire damage restoration usually can be done using lower blasting pressures than needed for other types of work. Using lower blasting pressure means that you use less soda blast media, making the job of mold removal and fire damage restoration more cost effective. You can also use a leaner soda to air mixture ratio, which again uses less soda blast media.

Labor efficiency is greater with soda blasting than with many other methods, especially with the use of a fan tip nozzle. A fan tip nozzle puts out a flat, blade type spray pattern, which is perfect for cleaning joists, studs, roof decking, brick, cement block or any type of surface, which has mold or fire damage. Use of a fan tip nozzle greatly improves speed for this kind of work. More efficient labor utilization means less time spent on the job site for improved profitability per job.

Here is a video showing soot, charring, and smoke damage sustained from a basement fire soda blasted using a fan tip nozzle and extension wand:

(Video courtesy of Paul Davis Restoration)

With more efficient labor utilization, less material usage, and deodorizing ability all wrapped up in an eco-friendly cleaning method, it is easy to understand why more and more mold remediation and fire damage restoration companies are choosing soda blasting to get the job done.

Here is a video from the Crawl Space Ninja talking about the use of soda blasting for mold removal:

(Video courtesy of Crawl Space Ninja)

I have found over the years that the most cost effective equipment setup for mold and fire damage cleanup is the ACE Model 2-PS Heavy Duty Portable Soda Blaster with the fan tip nozzle and extension wand.  When used with a high quality soda blast media, such as Armex Flow M or Maintenance Formula, this setup delivers fantastic results.  I have recommended this setup to many professional restoration companies, along with several hundred independent contractors, property management companies and individual home owners.

So whether you are a professional or do it yourself-er, soda blasting provides more efficient labor utilization, less material usage, and deodorizing ability all wrapped up in an eco-friendly cleaning method.

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

Soda Blasting Snowmobile & ATV Engine Parts

(Polaris Ranger 800 ATV Cylinders – before and after soda blasting using ACE Model 2-S Soda Blasting Cabinet – All photos courtesy of Indy Specialty – Welch, Minnesota)

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.

Over the years, I have explained many different facets of the soda blasting process.  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.  If you are a first time reader, I encourage you to look through past blog postings for a lot of great information.  Here is a link to The Soda Blasting Guy archive of past blog postings:

https://sodablastingguy.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/index-and-links-archive-for-the-soda-blasting-guy/

I’ve shown you examples of some common, real life applications for soda blasting like stripping automotive paint from steel and aluminum bodied vehicles, removing old finishes from wooden furniture, and cleaning swimming pool tile, even restoring old kiddie rides.

Today I want to talk about soda blasting precision parts using a soda blasting cabinet.  A soda blasting cabinet is used for cleaning or stripping parts inside of a shop, factory or garage.   Nothing beats soda blasting for cleaning or stripping any kind of part or piece where you want to maintain the dimensional or surface characteristics.  This is critical for many types of engine and transmission rebuilding or repair.

Indy Specialty in Welch, Minnesota is a complete CNC Polaris motor rebuild shop, that specializes in building motors to better than factory quality and performance.  They have state-of-the-art CNC and conventional motor rebuilding equipment for all types of motors from snowmobiles, ATV, dirt bike, outboards and more.  They also have an ACE Model 2-S Soda Blasting Cabinet with Dust Collector, which is used extensively on a daily basis to clean cylinder heads, crankcases and clutches.

(Polaris Ranger 800 ATV Crankcase – before soda blasting)

(Polaris Ranger 800 ATV Crankcase – after soda blasting)

As Jon at Indy Specialty said, “We run the blaster almost non-stop and it really is instrumental in what we do.  We are a high end shop and our customers expect the highest quality possible.  In fact, when a customer receives a clutch that we have serviced, they are often so tickled at how clean they are that they send in another one for us to do right away!”

(Snowmobile clutch parts – before soda blasting)

(Snowmobile clutch parts – after soda blasting)

If a high end, state-of-the-art shop like Indy Specialty depends on soda blasting to clean critical parts, there is a good chance that it would work well for your shop too.  If you rebuild engines and transmissions, pumps, electrical motors, or any type of precision equipment, take a look at soda blasting!

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

Index and Links Archive for The Soda Blasting Guy

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.

Below is a comprehensive index of all the blog posts I have done in the past.  This will help you find my postings, which you can use to get a basic understanding of the soda blasting process and how you can do it yourself.  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.

The archive is listed in chronological order along with the date originally posted.  Just click on the link for the posting you wish to read.

• Soda Blasting Overview – April 5, 2013
• Soda Blasting and Air Compressors – April 9, 2013
• Soda Blasting Equipment – April 19, 2013
• Soda Blasting and Paint Stripping – May 22, 2013
• Soda Blasting & Stripping Automotive Paint – July 9, 2013
• Talk to The Soda Blasting Guy – July 25, 2013
• Talking Soda Blasting at the Street Rod Nationals! – August 6, 2013
• Soda Blasting for Mold and Fire Damage Remediation – August 15, 2013
• Cleaning Aluminum Cylinder Heads with Soda Blasting – October 4, 2013
• Get Ready for Your Spring Soda Blasting Projects – March 12, 2014
• Misinformation in the Internet Age – May 30, 2014
• Soda Blasting – An Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Revolution! – Nov. 25, 2014
• BACK TO THE FUTURE! – December 17, 2014
• Eco-Friendly Furniture Refinishing! – March 11, 2015
• Eco-Friendly Furniture Refinishing – Part 2 – March 20, 2015
• Soda Blasting A 60’s Muscle Car Classic! – March 28, 2015
• Soda Blasting Swimming Pool Tile – June 22, 2015
• Soda Blasting Aluminum Bodied ’73 Land Rover! – January 12, 2016
• Soda Blasting Childhood Memories! – March 24, 2016
• The Soda Blasting Guy at Charlotte Motor Speedway June 2 & 3! – May 10, 2016
• Soda Blasting on TV!!! – September 27, 2016

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

Soda Blasting on TV!!!

(GAS MONKEY GARAGE – Dallas, Texas – ACE Soda Blast Cabinet with Dust Collector)

(Fast N’ Loud – photo courtesy of Discovery Channel)

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, removing old finishes from wooden furniture, and cleaning swimming pool tile, even restoring old kiddie rides.

This was a crazy, busy summer for me. I was involved in lots of new and interesting projects…historic building restorations; projects for the government; mold and fire damage restorations; auto, boat, truck and airplane related jobs; and many other kinds. Today, I want to tell you about something that I am very excited about…soda blasting on TV!!

For the last year or so, I have been working with ACE Automotive Cleaning Equipment, Armex and Safety-Kleen to find ways to spread the word about soda blasting. We know what a great, environmentally friendly cleaning process it is, but a lot of people don’t. Well that’s about to change!

Starting this season, ACE Automotive Cleaning Equipment soda blast cabinets will be seen on 2 of Discovery Channel’s hit TV shows…Diesel Brothers and Fast N’ Loud!!!

Diesel Brothers follows Heavy D, Diesel Dave and the team at Dieselsellerz as they build big, bad trucks, pull elaborate pranks and push the limits with new stunts. Diesel Brothers launched during Discovery’s “Motor Mondays” in January and in its first season, the show is pulling more than 2 million viewers per episode and is currently the network’s highest-rated new series in adult 25-54 in more than two years.

Fast N’ Loud is the most watched automotive related TV show in America. Fast N’ Loud follows the exploits of motor mastermind Richard Rawlings and mechanical prodigy, Aaron Kaufmann, who search the far flung corners of Texas and surrounding states for forgotten and derelict classic cars to buy and restore at their Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas, Texas. Fast N’ Loud has over 3 million followers on Facebook.

As you can imagine, I was thrilled to get involved in these 2 projects in collaboration with ACE, Armex and Safety-Kleen.

We installed an ACE soda blast cabinet in the Diesel Brothers garage in late spring, just in time for the start of filming for their new season. This cabinet is perfect for cleaning many of the components used in their wild diesel powered rides. If you’ve ever seen the show, you know what I mean by “wild”!

(Diesel Brothers – photo courtesy of Discovery Channel)

(Dieselsellerz – Woods Cross, Utah – ACE Soda Blast Cabinet with Dust Collector)

We installed the same model ACE soda blast cabinet in the Gas Monkey Garage during a break in the show’s production schedule a few weeks ago. Armex provided soda blast media for both shows.

After the installations, training sessions were held with garage personnel at Dieselsellz and Gas Monkey Garage on the use and maintenance of the machines. Set up, use and maintenance on these ACE soda blast cabinets are simple and quick. The guys at both garages just loved “playing” with the machines!

(“Play time” at Gas Monkey Garage!)

If you get a chance to catch these great shows, be on the lookout for the ACE soda blasting cabinets and the amazing work they do!

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

The Soda Blasting Guy at Charlotte Motor Speedway June 2 & 3!

The Soda Blasting Guy will be at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on June 2 & 3 giving soda blasting demonstrations!  I’ll be using an ACE soda blasting cabinet and Armex soda blast media to clean all types of automotive parts.  If you would like to attend, just call ACE Automotive Cleaning Equipment at 616-392-9090 to get a registration form.  Come on out to the track!  Admission is free, but you have to register.

Soda Blasting Aluminum Bodied ’73 Land Rover!

1973 Aluminum Bodied Series 3 Land Rover prior to soda blasting with the ACE Model 2-PS Heavy Duty Portable Soda Blaster – (Photos courtesy of Paul Spangler – Drummond Corporation- Middlefield, Ohio)

Hi Everybody! Happy 2016! 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.

It’s a new year and I have a number of very cool and interesting projects to tell you about. I also owe some of you a response to questions you have asked. Please forgive me for not answering sooner, the last part of 2015 was extremely busy.

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.

Last year I posted a blog entitled “Soda Blasting A 60’s Muscle Car Classic!” That posting should tell you just about anything you need to know about soda blasting a steel bodied vehicle. Today, I want to tell you about an exciting project: the restoration of an aluminum bodied 1973 Land Rover Series 3! Yes, an aluminum body!

Last July, I was contacted by Paul Spangler of the Drummond Corporation about restoring the Land Rover, which he had recently purchased. Paul wanted to know if soda blasting would be able to strip his Rover without harming the aluminum body. I explained that I have been involved in a number of projects stripping aluminum aircraft and light gauge aluminum aircraft parts with no problems, and that I believed soda blasting would do a great job on his Land Rover. After our discussion, Paul decided to purchase an ACE Model 2-PS Heavy Duty Portable Soda Blaster to soda blast his prized aluminum Land Rover.

As you can see, the Land Rover had seen its share of adventures over the years! Since there were no major mechanical issues, Paul decided to drive and enjoy it over the summer before launching into the restoration.

Paul recently contacted me. His excitement and enthusiasm were very apparent. “I love the soda blaster! It has exceeded my expectations! Flawless unit! It is ridiculous how little media it used. The media usage is so well metered. Amazing!!!”

Paul used 6 – 50 lbs bags of Armex Flow XL soda blast media to completely strip the aluminum body. The job took around 5 hours. He used the standard 1/8” ID nozzle (requires a minimum of 18 CFM) and media restrictor, and blasted at 80 psi.

These pictures show just how beautiful the soda blasted aluminum looks.

Paul is now removing the body parts from the frame and will be soda blasting the bottom side of all body panels and the frame.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress of this interesting project as I get updates.

Hundreds of cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles have been restored using soda blasting. Several years ago, Hot Rod magazine did a series of articles entitled “Paint & Bodywork, The Most Complete Step-By-Step Series Ever!” In the series, the Editor of Hot Rod had his personal 1969 Camaro stripped and refinished. They had the choice of any paint stripping method available. What method did they use on his personal car? Soda Blasting!

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