Vapor Blasting
 

Has anyone used vapor blasting to clean aluminum parts like intake manifolds and valve covers.

Chuck Burg just used it (happily) on his Dad's original '67 L78 Chevelle intake.....

I had a friend vapor blast my aluminum valve covers. I had already bead blasted them with glass bead. The vapor blast darkened them just a bit and created a better fingerprint-resistant finish.

We use it extensively in our shop, lots of examples on my build thread (eg post #343) https://www.camaros.net/threads/1969...337897/page-18
It works well on aluminum but not normally to clean it as vapor blasting is a finishing process. Mostly we first solvent tank the part to remove grease, then dry media blast before vapor blasting for the best results.

https://live.staticflickr.com/896/41...7d2d4ddb_z.jpg

I believe David Beem does vapor blasting.

Hi Lloyd, have you ever tried process on an intake? If I was starting our 68 process or one like it I’d definitely be looking at making the investment. Not cheap but a great piece of equipment.

This thread will provide you some pictures of some tumbled intakes as well as intakes that were vapor blasted. Take your pic.

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=163882

Hi Chick, if you have a look at Post #343 on my build thread there's an example of an intake I vapour blasted for a buddy with a 69 Z. It appears shinier in the photo than in person due to the lighting. I also did a set of valve covers for a friend who has a '70 Z and compared them with a set I sent out for reskinning - can't tell them apart. We also have a tumbler in the shop and a variety of ceramic media that works well on parts like intakes that don't have fine crevasses that the tumbler media can't reach.

As previously mentioned, I used it on my dad's intake manifold and thermostat housing. Inexpensive and amazing. The vapor honing actually seals the aluminum on a molecular level making it more impervious to stains. Highly recommended!

I can reskin the aluminum intakes they look factory

vapor does amazing on copper and brass as well. excellent for restoration of switches with contact points of slide contacts and fuse boxes! tons of benefits!

I’m now doing vapor blasting fast turn around dave 719-648-2544

I have had the engine for my Suzuki RM80 project I have going at the moment vapour blasted.
It came up pretty well but needed some sand blasting first to remove the layers of paint from over the years.

Bump for the Vapor Blast thread for some new examples.

I was very impressed with the results after my test and will continue to use. Alternator is next.

Wow, pretty amazing before and after.

Wow this looks great! Thanks for sharing.

What machine and media are you using for those results? What is your process?

I just had my valve covers done and they turned out very nice. Found a local place in Dayton that does it.

Has anybody tried the PPG DX501 chromate wash post blast to prevent oxidation? I've got a bottle coming, but just would like to get some opinions.

The vapor blasting is supposed to seal the pores better than dry blasting -
I would like to see what the chromate wash does.

I used Aluminum Rescue Vapor Honing in Amery, WI

Very reasonable, and being that I'm in the midwest we have Speedee shipping service that is really cheap.

aluminumrescue.com

Dave Beem member protree68 provides a new service, Vapor Blasting. He has provided some before and after pics with phenomenal results. He is now a sponsor and will have his banner up shortly.

Dang, glad to hear this. Amery is about 40 miles from me. I will keep them on my list.

Me too!!!