Soda Blasting? Anyone tried it? Thinking of buying a rig.

[BlowinSouth]

A buddy of mine and I are considering buying a soda blasting rig and starting up a small business to make some extra cash.

I had never heard of soda blasting but from the basic research I've done it sounds like good way to strip a bottom. and from the prices I've seen quoted, also sounds like a good way to make some money.

The cheapest quote we found was: $50/ft- up to 30'; $75/ft 30-50'; $100/ft 50+/ft

The rig is roughly $5,000 not including tarps, tents, monkey suits, respirators, insurance etc... we're probably looking at $3500-4000 a piece but with the prices charged we should be able to makeit back fairly quickly, given there is enough business to keep us busy.

Has anybody had a soda blasting on their bottom? If so, how did it turn out and would you do it again?

Also, if anybody has more info on this subject, please share.

Whadda ya think? Good idea, bad idea?

[sailingdog]

I had my boat sodablasted last year and was very happy with the results. Several others have had it done as well, and almost all of them have been happy with the results AFAIK. You would also need a hazmat disposal permit IIRC, since the baking soda/bottom paint mixture qualifies as a hazardous material IIRC.

The prices you're quoting are a bit high from what I've seen...but it depends on where you're located.

A lot of the quality of results with sodablasting is OPERATOR DEPENDENT. A good operator can take the bottom paint off without doing more than lightly scuffing the gelcoat. A bad one will do an uneven job and burn through the gelcoat in some places and leave bottom paint behind in others.

If you're serious about doing this, I'd also recommend getting good hearing protectors, as the equipment is rather noisy.

Also, you don't generally use tarps, but disposable plastic sheeting, which you can use to tent the boat and then use to help cart away the rather nasty mixture of bottom paint and baking soda left behind by the process. Properly done, there is very little cleanup for the boatyard to deal with... improperly done, as was the case by one idiot I saw last season, you'll have baking soda/bottom paint coating a dozen boats and contaminating a couple hundred square feet of land.

[BarryL]

Hello,

My boat was blasted this past spring. I paid $1800 for my 35' boat. The operator did a great job and I was very happy with the results. I would definitely do it again.

Here is the place I used:

MMLJ-The Sanstorm Sand Blasting Equipment Manufacturer

Barry