Storing blast media

[marlinspike]

Where/how do you guys store your blasting media? I am thinking of getting some soda for blasting and some grit, eg J blast. Do I need to store the soda in the house in a warm, dry area, but the grit will be ok in a dry but cold garage? Air tight box or just ok in the bag?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Craig-SM]

I bought some used 25ltr plastic tubs with lids. 4 for £10 on Facebook, probably come from takeaways.

 

[Cuthy246]

Leave my jblast in the blasting pot/cabinet with no issues. Not sure on soda though I imagine an airtight container would be all that's needed

 

[wristpin]

20 litre plastic buckets with sealed lids.

 

[Dcal]

I store J blast in dust bins, as long as they have a lid they are fine outside.
The jblast / scan grit etc. bags are mostly plastic now. (Used to be paper)
Even the plastic bags have perferations so can't be stored outside.

Soda will go solid if it's not stored in airtight containers.

I have soda but I'm not a fan.
It's slow, clogs easily and leaves a deposit on the metal that I don't like.
The proper soda blast pots have a vibratory motor on the side of the pot to keep it moving.

Soda is good for cleaning stainless and the like, but if you are painting over it I prefer to use finer grit and have a bin of well used jblast for alloy or for anything that requires a really fine etch.

For something really fussy, like ceramic coating, I sieve new jblast to get clean, uncontaminated grit of the size I need.

 

[cheb]

I like soda for cleaning corroded electrical connectors on vehicles. I'll look at the condition of mine later, it's been stored undisturbed in a lidded tub in an unheated shed for a couple of years now.

 

[Dcal]

Good tip @cheb

I have some in a tub as well, but I cracked the lid.
It's now solid.

 

[cheb]

Before:

After:

That's a connector from an 80's Guzzi. PO was a mechanic who specialised in electrics. Guess what the most unreliable part of the bike was? Hint: It wasn't the original electrics. Scotchlocks, chocolate blocks, wrapped and taped with masking tape, the whole list and more.

 

[Dcal]

Very nice.

What sort of blaster do you use for that.
I've an Alfa and Lancias with loads of that type of connectors.

 

[cheb]

A generic handheld one, I was given it. You have to shake it a bit sometimes to fluff up the soda.

 

[Dcal]

I have something similar, a spot blaster thingy.
I will give it a go.

I had considered changing loads of the pins but that looks like a better option.
Did you put anything on them to keep the pins good?

Thanks again, it's brilliant the stuff you learn on this forum.

 

[8ob]

Before:

After:

That's a connector from an 80's Guzzi. PO was a mechanic who specialised in electrics. Guess what the most unreliable part of the bike was? Hint: It wasn't the original electrics. Scotchlocks, chocolate blocks, wrapped and taped with masking tape, the whole list and more.

Proof that every day is a school day, that's impressive

Bob

 

[Onoff]

Before:

After:

That's a connector from an 80's Guzzi. PO was a mechanic who specialised in electrics. Guess what the most unreliable part of the bike was? Hint: It wasn't the original electrics. Scotchlocks, chocolate blocks, wrapped and taped with masking tape, the whole list and more.

My motorbike mad mate messes with everything from ancient BSAs to a less ancient Hayabusa. I put him onto silicone grease for this type of connector. Once the contacts are clean a liberal smear of it. He hasn't looked back.

 

[cheb]

My mate who runs one of the local garages suggested waxoil so that's what I use. It seems to work and is easier to clean off than silicon grease.

 

[marlinspike]

A generic handheld one, I was given it. You have to shake it a bit sometimes to fluff up the soda.

Do you mean this type of thing? They seem so cheap I've wondered whether they could actually be any good.

Thanks for all the info so far guys. You learn so much on this forum.

 

[cheb]

It's not one of those, more like a paint gun. I'll take a photo when I go back out, and I might even remember to look at the soda too.

 

[Onoff]

I've two 25kg bags of proper blasting sand. Double bagged in heavy duty bags, I bought it from the blasting place. This thread is timely as one bag has split. Could do with a source of heavy duty 25L lidded tubs.

 

[Gragson]

Where/how do you guys store your blasting media? I am thinking of getting some soda for blasting and some grit, eg J blast. Do I need to store the soda in the house in a warm, dry area, but the grit will be ok in a dry but cold garage? Air tight box or just ok in the bag?

Thanks in advance.

I just checked mine on the back of this, always kept in the garage, not used it in years, still in the same thick plastic bag with a big food peg where I opened it.
It's gone pretty lumpy/solid

 

[marlinspike]

This is what I'm worried about. I've no idea how much I would get through just doing car bits so it seems daft to buy the small expensive bags, but then I don't want to end up with 20 kg of unusable soda. Might have to clear out the cupboard under the stairs if I buy the soda by the looks of it.

Just had our garage repaired so it should be watertight now, but still pretty cold in there. Sounds like grit would be ok in there in an airtight container.

 

[marlinspike]

It's not one of those, more like a paint gun. I'll take a photo when I go back out, and I might even remember to look at the soda too.

Ah OK. If it's the metal paint gun type, with the pot underneath, I have one of those. Bought it years ago in Aldi when they sold them off. Need to find it in the garage.