I've got the intake off my car and I want to get the intake manifold and dynamic chamber super duper clean...has anyone tried getting these things bead blasted or taken them to a shop to get em cleaned? How much does it cost?

I've been using B-12 with a wire brush, but it's tedious and the results are so-so....I want em CLEAN.

Right on.

 

I have beed blasted stuff before.. But i did it myself..

I think the media is ~$20 for 25Lbs..

It works pretty well. you might want to hit it with something a little more abbrasive before hand if it is really dirty..


Also, after beed blasting you might want to clear coat it.. That way it is easier to clean.

Not sure how much someone would charge you.. maybe ~$30


-Zach

 

Try using some Eagle 1 etching mag wheel cleaner and a brush. It makes aluminum come out really bright and clean. Wear chemical resistant rubber gloves to avoid getting any on your hands as the stuff has hydroflouric acid which is nasty stuff. Make sure you rinse the part well in clean water afterwards. The Eagle 1 mag wheel cleaner costs about $5-$6 a bottle at auto parts or tire stores. Cheaper than bead blasting, and works well.
Plus, you can use it to clean your wheels if you have uncoated waffle wheels. (Duh...) -WG

 

My dad just got a cabinet for beads at his shop, don't know if it's set up yet though. If so, I'll do it for you for free if you come to Houston.

 

Just wanted to add that Eagle 1 works great for slightly dirty, undamaged wheels. It makes them shine nicely. Haven't tried it on the ReX wheels yet.

 

Thanks man....let me know if he has the setup...I'm going to do some cleaning on them tomorrow and see how it goes, but I'm always going to Houston for this and that (folks live there).

Appreciate it.

Right on.

 

Yeah he's got it all ready to go, just needs one air fitting that I'll be getting for him soon, maybe tonight. Then I get to play with it! ....If I can find the time.

 

I know someone who uses silica sand.. works real good.. huge bag at home depot for $10.00 or so

 

I did my upper intake, and it came out nice.

 

Do you have pictures? Did you pre-clean it with any sort of carb cleaner or anything?

Thanks.

Right on.

 

Yes, a little carb cleaner and a brush - probably 5 minutes. Then the bead blaster.

Pictures from the 2nd Project Kramer thread

 

DF, it looks like the bead blast left it with a satin finish. I just hit a carb with alum oxide and it gave it a satin finish. I want to find a blast media that will make it more bling bling. Anyone???????

 

I don't know, that was my first experience with bead blasting. The machine was a piece of junk, and the sight glass was useless.

 

Sand blasting or bead blasting usually leaves a stain finish .. the only way to get a good polished surface is to polish it

 

You can sand blast with baking soda. It wont damage the metal, it will just strip off paint, corrosion, dirt, ect. You can even use it on chromed surfaces and it wont hurt the chrome.

 

**** that, Im too lazy to polish it. Thanks anyway.

 

The finer the media, the smoother the finish. However, getting a mirror finish on something by blasting small particles at it isn't going to happen - wrong process.

I have an aquaintance who's a polishing nut. He's gone so far as to polish raw steel bracketry and the like. What this has to do with this thread, I don't know. I guess I just needed to get it off my chest

 

I'm not necessarily looking for a mirror finish, but something with a decent shine.

 

i got me a blasting cabnit for x mas. it will hold a motor with not intake or exh in it but its a TIGHT fit. i paid 80$ for it used but in great shape. i had to get media and new gloves....another 60$ and i have blasted all kinda stuff. a fd motor ,some old school "MAZDA "13b housings, a 10a housing, my -se oil pan and front cover. cleans the **** outa a spark plug. i got the media called black butie. sorry is 5am i cant spell yet. then i also went and got me a 20 gallon parts washer... dam i had a good x mas

 

So Badass, any pics of parts? Id like to see the finish.

 

This is what sandblasting followed by glass beading looks like (sorry no intake pic, but a compressor housing is about the same material):

 

Hey thats actually not bad. Thanks, Ill go buy some glass bead.

 

Glass media does a pretty good job of removing light corrosion, but the part doesn't really stay that pretty for long. It now has a lightly textured surface (magnified it would look more like a golf ball than a ping-pong ball) and it catches dirt, grease, etc. easily. I've found that clear coating at this stage dulls the finish quite a bit - looks more like gray paint. So, you're still stuck with polishing, painting, or dealing with a duller finish. YMMV.

 

I useda Bead Blasting Booth to blast my Panasports. Let me tell you, it worked SO well. I had lots of corrosion on the rims and it blasted them right off. They now look brand new. Give it a try!!

 

Hmmm.....I might have this done for my intake manifold...does anyone know how much it typically costs to have a shop do it?

Thanks for all the info and results.

Right on.