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Help Aqua Blasting

Discussion in 'The Pub' started by kiffsta, Aug 10, 2016.

  1. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Hey Guys

    Has anyone ever had any parts aqua blasted \ wet blasted ? @Phil and I are thinking of buying a machine should our business venture take off, as such I am interested in hearing from anyone who had it done, were you happy with it ? What did it cost you ?

    For those who don't under stand the process, its basically like a sandblaster except the machine uses a mixture of compressed air, water and an abrasive such as glass beads, the outcome is a almost surgically clean piece of metal that is resistant to fingerprints

    Here is some before and after pics and a video



    hydrablasting-after5.jpg hydrablasting-before5.jpg


    Cheers

    Chris
     
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  2. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    I do my own stuff with it when i get the chance, also called vapour blasting or wet look bead blasting
    The process was common in the late 80's and early 90's, but people have only just started doing it again in the last few years.
     
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  3. aky141

    aky141 Well-Known Member

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    Jim with the MC28 had it done, i can't remember his forum name
     
  4. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    There is one UK company I have seen that blocks all oil ways and orifices with plastic plugs prior to blasting. Without which there is always going to be glass trapped where you do not want it to be, not as much as with dry blasting but still an issue to be aware of.

    Here you go http://www.aloh.co.uk/process/
    [​IMG]
     
  5. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    awesome what sort of machine are you using ?
     
  6. sharky

    sharky Well-Known Member

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    I have seen a motor ultra sonically cleansed and it came out like that too, no blasting just constant vibration
     
  7. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    I use my small blasting set up, i have a bucket with bead blasting grit and water in it and have a pump to keep the water and grit agitated.
    It's not the best setup but it work's well for what it is.
    You can have a tarp underneath to catch some of the water/grit and recycle it, but it does go everywhere
    This is an alternator i did a while ago, part way through wet blasting it

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    I also use another grit blaster that connect's up to your high pressure water cleaner like a Karcher etc,
    the adapter screw's onto your gun where the original adjustable fan head went and the water pull's the dry grit through the pick up hose which is in a bucket close by
    These cost about $130 - $150 from Karcher dealer's and are a bit cheaper on ebay, if you search there's kit's from UK for under $100 inc delivery
    Supercheap also sell a similar kit far around the same price but you may need to adapt it to your pressure cleaner
    I got one from there a while ago for $100 when they were clearing them out, but have recently seen them for sale again there
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Karcher-...632669?hash=item3cf53fbc5d:g:G0YAAOSwv0tVBW26

    [​IMG]



     
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    Last edited: Aug 11, 2016
  8. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Kiffsta,

    One of our club (CB750) members has one in his workshop. It's a Vixon Aqua Blaster 915 (http://www.vaporblastingequipment.com/products/aquablast-915-vapor-blast-cleaning-smaller-components) and from memory it was about $20,000. It's the full monty...enclosed; blaster; water; air etc. I went and had a look at his operation a few months ago and it looked great. He also has a huge compressor hooked up to it and buckets of different medium. Cleaned stuff up almost instantly. I've got his details at home, so I can send them to you if you want to have a chat with him. Let me know.

    Frank
     
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  9. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Thanks Frank, I already have a request for quote from Vixen for the 915 model :thumb_ups:
     
  10. pkay

    pkay Junk Accumulator

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    I am on resto number 15 now and if I want a bare/polished look I get this done. Not cheap it cost me $1200 for the CX500 which included some other bits as well. It does look awesome and is a very resilient finish.
     
  11. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Post some pics @pkay
     
  12. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    The only negative I heard about these things is that for people doing classic restos where a part had a certain colour finish (?) these things rip that off too. Nothing I'll ever have to worry about.
     
  13. pkay

    pkay Junk Accumulator

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    Here are some of the bikes with vapour blasted engines. If I am getting something painted I wouldn't get it vapour blasted.
     

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  14. pkay

    pkay Junk Accumulator

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    Here's another one but I bought this one already done
     

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  15. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    Wow @pkay, those are your bikes?
     
  16. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Have had a couple of engine cases done by one of the VJMC members in Sydney. I just cleaned them and clear coated when back together and they still look like new. Definately worth doing if you want a concourse 'factory' look.
     
  17. Fox McScrooge

    Fox McScrooge Well-Known Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    2013-12-23 16.02.19.jpeg I had my engine, fork tubes and rear master cylinder done. It was only 150 from memory. Very happy with the results. The parts still look good plus it's very easy to clean. I fully stripped the engine before having it done: pulled all the bearings, crank etc. I think with soda blasting you can probably do an engine in a frame but wet blasting uses glass beads.
     
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  18. pkay

    pkay Junk Accumulator

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    Some of them yes.
     
  19. Jubby

    Jubby Active Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    I got good results from 6 bucks of bi carb soda. Did it on drive way with air comp.

    Hardest thing was cleaning both cars after
     
  20. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    well Phil and I went and saw one of the vendors today and took some parts to test blast

    here are some before shots
    IMG_8952.JPG IMG_8953.JPG IMG_8954.JPG IMG_8956.JPG
     
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