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House cleaning, bike and car cleaning - how to make your own soda blaster
2014-07-24
While a soda blaster sounds like a pretty complex heavy duty device, the way in which it works is very simple. Through simply relying on baking soda and compressed air, you can make up your own device with a pressure-air, or air-blow gun head, like that of a dust gun. These are air compressor devices.

When it comes to house cleaning and treating rust-prone metal surfaces in particular, few means are more vigilant in removing any corrosion, residue and dirt stains than a soda blaster. Likewise, soda blasting works wonders on the exterior of your car since it removes rust from such things as door handles. Got rusty bike spokes? The same science of bicarbonate , or simply baking soda, and compressed air will have a profound effect.

Simply go down to your local hardware store and ask for an air-blow gun head and they will show you a range of hand-size devices that might otherwise be called handles since they are so easy to use. The good thing is that they aren't attached to any complicated cords or hoses, unlike other cleaning devices of a similar nature.

In fact, the only thing of length you will need is a transparent plastic hose, which is easy to attach to the air-blow gun head. Also ask for one of these at your nearest hardware shop. Consult the remaining few items of our complete check list below and you are ready to follow the ensuing steps.

Complete check list

A respiratory mask
Air-blow gun handle
A ruler
A marker pen
A clean cheese knife
Reliable Duct tape
A plastic transparent hose
A tub of baking soda, ideally a bulk 5 kg tub of baking soda

*Almost all of these things can be bought from the local hardware store, with the exception of the cheese knife and baking soda. But ask for those as well to save on time.

Before we commence, it's important to acknowledge that compressed air is a gas. This is the reason it's crucial to wear a respiratory mask whenever you use the air-blow gun, also available at that same local hardware store.

Step 1 - Make an incision in the plastic hose

Begin by taking your ruler, measuring 3 centimetres from one of the ends of the plastic hose before marking the spot with your marker pen. It doesn't matter which end since they are identical.

Proceed to take your cheese knife arcing it up slightly in order to take advantage of the raised twin blades characteristic and unique to the cheese knife.

In short, the raised twin blade tip allows you to then slowly make an incision through running it along from the spot you just marked to another 4 centimetres along the hose. So basically you make a hole of 4 cm, 3cm in from the end.

Step 2 - Insert the lance of the air-blow gun

The lance is the long protruding probe-like thing sticking out from the gun. It maximises the compressed air content.
Ensuring it’s attached to the air-blow gun handle, gently slide the lance into the plastic hose, inserting it around 5 cm in. Allow at least two centimetres of 'breathing space' between the end of lance and the end of your hose. This helps you direct the device later on.

Step 3 - Tape everything together tightly

Once the lance has been inserted, proceed to wrap duct tape firmly around it and the part of the hose where you made the incision, covering the hole in order to prevent air escaping.

Step 4 - Put your respiratory mask on

Before you even attempt to test the compressed air device, make sure you put on the respiratory mask properly. Since respiratory masks aren't typically necessary in home cleaning, be sure to have one on hand in advance.

Step 5 - Test the device

Make sure your open tub of baking soda is at hand. Proceed to cut across the other end of the hose diagonally. This will assist suction.
Don't immerse this end into the baking soda. Instead, have it hovering 2 centimetres above and to one side of the bucket. Tilt the hose in favour of making the diagonal incision more horizontal. This will aid suction too.

Use the device on any infected steel surface, like the rusted door handle of your car. Obviously move the bucket with you as you move around since it won't be connected to the bucket - it will simply suck up baking soda from it when the rear end of the hose hovers over. Ideally perform soda blasting on a calm afternoon since wind can affect performance.

Upon applying your device, you should notice strong whitening happening on otherwise dirty metals. If not, re-consult the steps above.