Topic: Soda Blaster Leaf Blower - Will It Work?

[chewbacca5000]

For the longest time I have wanted a really good air compressor that puts out 10+ SCFM to do soda blasting and other types of blasting, but can't do it do to no 220v in my house.  After recently installing insulation in the attic of my house I cam across a video on Youtube.com that used a leaf blow for blown in insulation Attic insulation with leaf blower

This thing shoots insulation 30+ feet at speeds of 200+ miles per hour at 100s of cfm.  Why can't I have a gravity feed attachment, or use the vac like in the video to shoot soda at 200 MPH?  I'd really like to get some input on this one.  Thanks!

[grcamna2]

What type of "blower" is that insulation machine ? I wonder if it is a hydraulic pump of some type ?!

[chewbacca5000]

It looks like a regular blower vac, with the safety grate removed and something jammed in the safety slot to keep it running.  There would be no need to do that with soda as the soda will go through the grate.  Put a hopper on top and get a smaller opening to control the soda a little better and it just might work.

[Don R]

I don't think so but,,,, give it a try you may need to funnel the air down to create a jet and fed the soda in close to the nozzle. don't run the soda through the blower, it will eat it up.

[chewbacca5000]

Yeah that was my thoughts exactly running the soda through the blower will eat up the motor.  Good idea on the jets!  Thanks!

[heffay]

Why do you think you need an alcohol burning V8 compressor just to run a soda blaster?  I have no problem using what I made and it takes stuff off just fine, and I've not heard others complaining of low power compressors.  Now, if you were bead blasting or sand blasting, I could understand the need for a big compressor.

[chewbacca5000]

We'll I have used a 10lbs Harbor Freight Soda Blaster with a 5.9 cfm compressor and it only seemed to work half the time.  Did a good job for stripping aluminum parts, but not so good at removing frame paint.  With 100s of cfm from an electric leaf blower just makes sense that it will work that much better. That and I really like backyard invention type stuff.

What did you make I'd like to see it.

[heffay]

Ya, I got more stuck on the giant compressor issue.  I guess you're really talking about a leaf blower, and I should stick to the topic at hand.

I say turn the blower so the nozzle is vertical, dump a box of soda in, aim, pull the trigger.   

[chewbacca5000]

Worth a shot.

[heffay]

seriously though, i think its an awesome idea.

maybe even try a shop vac/blower, you'd have your soda reservoir right there.  you'd have to re-route your intake to the inside of the dust bin, obviously.

[Rigid]

I am voting no.  Too low of pressure at too much volume.  Like trying to use a sand blaster with a large nozzle, it just doesn't have the velocity to create much impact force on the material.  Give it a shot, but please, post vids on youtube so we can see the white cloud created.  Nice pussy by the way Heffay.

[heffay]

I am voting no.  Too low of pressure at too much volume.  Like trying to use a sand blaster with a large nozzle, it just doesn't have the velocity to create much impact force on the material.  Give it a shot, but please, post vids on youtube so we can see the white cloud created.  Nice pussy by the way Heffay.

I would think he intends to take the hose diameter down a notch or two... or 100 

oh, and thanks.   

[Pecantree]

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.

[gecko672]

I have a feeling that once you make the nozzle smaller to increase the velocity the the air  will back up and escape thru the motor/fan without a one way valve. and you wont really get the velocity of air you expect.
 
A leaf blower isnt designed to create the pressure you might need. But I think it would make a fantastic video clip and  f' the naysayers...me included.
Do it.

[bollingball]

I say try it. But a small air compressor would serve you a lot better it will run longer due to the small tank.I think the motor on that shop vac will not last long if you ckoke it down enough to do any good. Then use the shop vac for dust control with a sheetrock dust filter For a test see how long it takes to blow up your car tire with the vac I think choked to the size of a pencil you will be lucky to blow soda at 15-20 psi If at all. But we won't know if you don't try Good luck

[camelman]

You need a pressure ratio of 1.8:1 to get the velocities you need to achieve mach one, which is what a typical media blaster will operate at.  Actually, you'll just get to mach 1 and then you'll create a normal shock that will drastically reduce the velocty and pressure of the flow, but that will happen at the exit of the nozzle of the media blaster (hence the loud noise when you vent high pressure air).
However, as long as you introduce the soda into the stream before you exit the tube (end of the media blaster), then you will accelerate your soda to a very high velocity.  I believe mach 1 is about 650 mph at sea level, although the conditions inside the media blaster will be much higher pressure and lower temp.  Those two changes might balance out, so you could see 650 mph air velocity inside the media blaster before it shocks and loses velocity and pressure.  That is much higher than the 200 mph you'll get from your leaf blower.  Remember, "Kinetic Energy" = 1/2*Mass*Velocity^2, so velocity plays a large role in the effect of media blasting.

You would need a leaf blower with a high pressure ratio capability to achieve the same results, but I don't think the engine or the fan are designed for that.  Best bet is to use a proper media blaster with sufficient flow and pressure.

FYI, if you release air above 26 psi in direct sunlight (i.e. air from a tire, liquid air in a can, compressor air), and hold the air source close to where a shaddow can be cast, then you'll see the shock waves in the shaddow since their formation alters the direction of incomming light.

Camelman

[chewbacca5000]

We'll after a short test where I reduced cut a soda bottle in half and put in over the leaf blower and poured some baking powder in the nay sayers have it. Didn't strip paint.  Maybe if I used actual baking soda or media it might have made a difference, but I doubt it.

Camelman I am not sure what the 1.8:1 ratio is and how it works in an air compressor.  Or how your are getting 650 miles per hour.  What air compressor specs will generate 650 MPH media impact.  Also, will bigger air tanks help with meida / soda blasting. Thanks!

[bollingball]

1-1/2 to 2hp 20 gal tank under $200 will work fine for what you want

[chewbacca5000]

Thanks Ken!

[bollingball]

Sorry I just saw you were talking about a leaf blower not a shop vac but I think the outcome would be close to the same. If using inside you will want the vac. with sheet rock filter real dusty

                               Ken

[gecko672]

its been way to long since I was at school but pushing the air through a tube then reducing the diameter of the tube speeds the air up, there are formulas but you trade pressure for velocity  as it passes through.  you double velocity and 1/2 pressure or something like that....so depending on the pressure and the diameter of the nozzle you could reach velocity of 650MPH... is it Venturi effect?

the trouble with the leaf blower is you cant maintain or build the pressure before it passes through the nozzle..which is what a compressor does.

[FuZZie]

I don't know if it'll work or not, but you have to get a vid for us if you try it. 

[WarwickE36]

I thought this was a joke ...  then i remembered when my friend used a leaf blower to clean his snowmobile....  stranger things have happened. 

[lone*X]

Like it has been said, you don't need a big compressor.  You need the right media.  Over the counter soda is too fine for stripping hard paint like came on these frames.  Commercial blasting media is made in several grades, the coarser it is the more aggressive it will be on paint.  The local Harbor Freight sells it in about three grades if memory serves me right.  Comes in 50 lb bags.

[wedoo2]

You could combine it with the DIY leaf blower hovercraft.

That went by without a peep.  Very funny.

[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.