sand blasting vs soda blasting

[the gimpey one]

which is both the less expensive to play with and work best at removing rust? Thinking of using one on the frame of my cruiser and on some wheels. Not looking to spend alot of $$ and the harbor freight route is fine by me.

 

[Heirloom]

I have never compared cost to soda, but I have a cheap HF siphoning sand blaster with large enough orifices for regular play sand from the big box store. It is cheap at $5 a bag. If I get clogs, I just pour out of the bag through some wire mesh into a bucket, then plunge in the siphon tube.

 

[45Kevin]

I use crushed glass. Cheap and I've read that sand has harmful silica in it.

I don't think soda would be able to cut through rust.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Walnut works well and decomposes. MIke

 

[lilevo]

Soda is $30 for 50lbs. Best used for aluminum, valve covers, carbs, engine parts.. Used for places that sand would destroy if it got into. Just wash clean with water.

Sand all the way for frame and heavy rust.

 

[618Henrik]

Had my fenders sodablasted. it did remove the paint, but it did not remove the rust.

 

[Weber Sarge]

Sand is way more aggressive than soda . If you use any sort of silica based sand you must at least wear a half-face respirator or risk destroying your lungs . This is no joke, it doesn't take much of that silica to ruin your ability to breathe.
Keep your eyes open, pot type blasters can be had cheap and work much better than siphon types, use mine a lot more than I'd care to admit but it's handy to have. Air compressor is the biggest requirement, you'll need a good heavy 2-stage with at least 18cfm to blast decently.
Sarge

 

[the gimpey one]

hmm sand it is. Looking at the pressurized tanks that hf sells.