Soda Blaster

[NancyS]

I just saw a post on FACEBOOK on the Tincan Tourist site that showed a canned ham getting cleaned/sanded/stripped with a portable machine called a "soda blaster". Apparently it's like a sand blaster, but uses a soda solution that doesn't damage the surface that it's cleaning. I looked it up online and found pictures, etc. It seems pretty cool. I didn't see any prices listed on the site that I looked at - it could be pricey.

I was wondering if anyone out there has heard of this, used this, or what you guys think. Would this be an easy quick way to clean, strip, and sand a fiberglass trailer to prep it for painting or waxing? Or do you think it'd damage the fiberglass?

[Thomas G.]

Been around for a while now. It's easy to make your own. I think that it would damage FG, it is really for metal cleaning.

DIY Soda Blaster - YouTube

[mary and bob]

Go to eastwood.com to get more info and prices

[Donna D.]

Nancy, I can't remember... is your Acorn painted, or is it just "grungy"?

[NancyS]

Our little Acorn has it's original 1979 finish - which is not in too bad a shape - but could use a spruce up. I've scrubbed it with BarKeepers Friend and waxed it with Meguires Wax and it's looking way better than it was when we got it. I'm thinking that our BIG project next year will be either a paint job, or just a really good cleaning and maybe a treatment with Zep. I just happened to see the post on the soda blaster and was intrigued by it. My hubby agreed with the post above that it's not a good idea to use it on Fiberglass.

[Donna D.]

Nancy, I have no experince with a soda blaster on fiberglass. It doesn't work with $hit on multiple layers of paint on an ole hotrod. (shells work better!)

However, if you're working with original gelcoat and it's chaulky and generally fugly... do yourself a favor and keep bucks in your pocket and go with ZEP. It seems that's the "go to" solution for a lot of all molded towables. DON'T forget... clean, clean, clean... rinse, rinse, rinse and use a fiber free towel(s).

[Carol H]

Nancy I wouldnt recommend doing the soda blaster on fiberglass. One thing you could try is using a fiberglass compound with a power buffer and wool pad to shine it up a bit more & reapply wax. 3M makes some good compounds for marine applications.

[NancyS]

Thanks for all of the great advice and comments. I'm REALLY leaning towards the ZEP. Happy Camping!

[JD1994]

What Donna D said. I could not believe the incredible result we got with hot TSP wash, moderate pressure on blue scotch Brite pads loaded with "Bar keepers friend" powder, and 4 very LIGHT costs of high traffic zep. Wring out the zero rag to keep it just moist with zep. U do not want runs, they can harden very fast and hard to remove. Must rinse between all stages and must use the micro fiber cloths for best results.

[NancyS]

Is Zep one of those horrible, dangerous chemicals that I need to don a hazmat suit and ventilator mask to apply? I have a "thing" about toxic chemicals.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by NancyS

Is Zep one of those horrible, dangerous chemicals that I need to don a hazmat suit and ventilator mask to apply? I have a "thing" about toxic chemicals.

It is floor wax.

[NancyS]

Looks like the way to go!

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

It is floor wax.

Yep, a fast setting one that seems to set even faster outside in the heat. Therefore all the warnings, unless of course you like real shiny fingernails.

[Pam Garlow]

I use Soft Scrub with Bleach and a green scrubby. Works wonderfully. And absolutely, rinse really well, and then rinse even more.