Aqua blasting wet blasting vapour blasting

thanks for sharing this information

I`ve had plenty of vapour blasting done, and haven`t had a problem, if the blaster knows what they are doing its not a problem, its when the cowboys get in on the act you get the problems.
That`s my opinion anyway..

Ah- OK just something you had heard from a friend of a friends friend rather than anything specific- I thought you had been burnt by some dodgy vapour blasting- or knew someone who had.

Nobody uses walnut shell for wet blasting- it's a dry blasting only process. It has its specific uses in industry and is pretty mild as an abrasive with the advantage of also having a slight polishing action. And saying you have had your parts blasted with walnut shell sexes up the restoration story a bit. Soda blasting and dry ice blasting are similarly exotic and sexy sounding- but very expensive as the media cannot be re-used. Both dry blasting processes.

I agree though that something is happening in the industry and for the worse- hence my interest in your claims about everybody switching away from wet blasting? They are not, but standards are dropping. Vapour blasting has always relied on the "wow" factor- show a part before and after blasting and everybody goes.... well you get it. But over the last few years anyone with a few grand to spare to buy a cabinet seems to have got into the act- because big bucks can be made from the poor ignorant punter.

I have a vested interest of course, so will leave it there- but if you ever do have definite evidence that the vapour blasting process in itself- rather than dodgy operators- is wrecking engines I would love to hear about it? I'm still building a client base for my own services- but I am shocked by how many parts are being brought to me that have already been done somewhere else....badly. Photos are difficult to show it- but both of the cases below were already blasted by a Welsh vapour blaster and returned to the customer "ready to fit". LH part is the other guy's effort- RH my re-blast using my process. The slight matt finish you see on the LH one is the shortcut these guys use to save time and effort. There is still gasket material on the flange and behind that steel baffle plate will be trapped glass and aluminium oxide media ready to wreck an engine. I have a whole box of similar parts to redo this week...

My experience of vapour blasting goes back to 1969 as an apprentice I would blast all sorts of bike/car parts and found bits blasted were left with a great finish but greasy fingers etc. left marks on surface,would always use lots of running water and later ultrasonic cleaning to get all grit out.Bits always polished up great and responsible vapour/aqua blasters will always remove the grit from parts,obviously like all processes things have moved on and my experience is very dated

Having seen an example of your work on the Whitby run Paul I'd endorse your product and skills whole heartedly