Soda Blasting Guns??

[goatsie]

So is soda blasting a legit way to prep guns for cerakote? Would bead blasting be better? Why or why not? THANKS!!

 

[goatsie]

Based on duracoat; I've never cerakoted.

Aluminum Oxide gives the surface a little bite and increases surface area for the coating to adhere to. It's graded like sandpaper (60 grit gives a nice surface for outer surfaces IMO).

Glass Beads are more for polishing. If you had a SS barrel and wanted to keep it un-coated, bead blasting would be the way to go.

You'll need a large compressor to run a cabinet, so research before buying.

I was more looking into using sodium bicarbonate for blasting guns to prep them for "paint".

 

[pawprint2]

I've seen SS polished almost mirror like by a guy (a talented guy to be sure) using soda, in the same manner your discussing. In fact he was using, and swear this is true, 50lbs bags of Arm and Hammer. I thought it was "kind-a" funny to see that large a container of Arm and Hammer, so I never forgot it. Any way, I have no idea if it would be a good prep or not, but it can make an average SS gun look like it had a Colt Bight Shineeeee Polish job!

 

[Mortarman0341]

Soda blasting will remove old paint, grease and grime. Soda does not prep the surface. Gunkote, duracoat and the others say "for best results... Parkerize prior to coating". Soda will not change the surface texture. This is why you can soda blast old auto glass to clean it and make it usable again.

That being said I have successfully used a thorough cleaning as the only prep for gunkote. I did my 870 and an axe about 4 years ago and aside from some edge chips it is still good to go. So since soda cleans so good I would say it can be used as a prep for your gun.

And if it doesn't work you have another project and an education.

Have fun, shoot straight!

Mortarman0341