Topic: Soda Blaster Leaf Blower - Will It Work?

[lone*X]

Not strange at all Warwick.   Leaf blowers come in real handy for things you would never think of.  I have a leaf blower that is dedicated to the sole task of drying my motorcycles after a bath.  Gets the water out of all sorts of hiding places that a towel or chamois can't get too and doesn't leave spots or streaks.  Don't use the yard leaf blower to dry a pretty paint job, too much dust and crap.

[camelman]

Chewbacca,

A pressure ratio of 1.8:1 is what you need to reach mach one (roughly 650 mph at 59F and at sea level).  That equates to 26 psi at sea level, which is easily achieved by most air compressors.  A leaf blower isn't designed to achieve 26 psi, which is why they only produce around 200 mph flow.  Any old air compressor can provide that much pressure, although you'll also need one that can pump enough air back up to that pressure in time to feed the media blaster.  Otherwise, your air pressure will drop too low and you won't be able to maintain flow velocities in your media blaster.

Most media blasters will list the minimum flow rate and pressure they need to operate.  Most air compressors will include a flow rate and pressure ratio table too, so it should be easy to select a suitable air compressor.  If you have an air compressor of 1.5 HP or more, then you can probably assume it will supply a typical media blaster.

A larger air tank will allow a smaller volume air compressor to work better if you give it time to fill up the air tank before you use it for media blasting.

Regards,
Camelman

[heffay]

Lonex, I doubt he is stripping paint... Soda is for cleaning, not stripping.  While he likes his redneck solutions, I think he knows that much.   

[camelman]

Hey, I just realized I didn't explain the most important concept.  The reason the Mach 1 number is so important is that it is the highest velocity you can achieve in open air as well as the max velocity you can achieve in a tube.  To go faster, you have to increase area (diverging nozzle).  Otherwise, a normal shock wave is produced and your velocity drops dramatically.  So, a pressure ratio above 1.8:1 won't give you any significant benefit, so your goal is that pressure ratio.

Hope this helps.

FYI, soda does a great job stripping paint.  I used it to remove factory clear coat off a number of parts.

Camelman

[lucky]

Someone blew that insulation into the attic of my house. What A MESS!!!
Now I cannot see the rafters and to walk around, you have to feel the rafter with your foot so you do not accidentally step through the ceiling and fall into the room below.
Then you have to vacuum all the stuff off of yourself afterwards. Horrible stuff.

I hate that stuff. If you have to put a hole in the ceiling for a fan or a light then the blown in insulation comes pouring out all over you. Makes a hell of a mess.

Can you imagine if it was in a house in a tornado. That stuff would be spread out all over the countryside. It would be all over everything.

NEVER put that stuff in your house or you will be sorry.

[dave500]

Do It! DO It! I think this is a great idea! Let us know how this works!
You could combine it with the DIY leaf blower hovercraft.

or the leaf blower back pack propulsion unit for roller bladers?

[chewbacca5000]

Dave that sounds like fun.  Maybe I can find a gas powered one and add a little boost to my CB750 kinda like a rocket pack.  Heck why not just have a leaf blower turbo!

[lone*X]

Lonex, I doubt he is stripping paint... Soda is for cleaning, not stripping.  While he likes his redneck solutions, I think he knows that much.   

Heffay, from Chewey's own words:  "Did a good job for stripping aluminum parts, but not so good at removing frame paint. "  I would suggest you re-read his posts.

[brooze72]

Leafblower on low is great for drying your bike after a wash, lotsa volume & low pressure 

[Rigid]

G&N Engines in Griffith In, uses baking soda in a blast cabinet, with standard 110 PSI shop air, to strip paint, varnish, oxidation, and rust from aircraft engine parts.  They also have a nifty recovery system to separate the hazardous materials from the baking soda using water.