[vtl]

Thought it might be interesting to create a thread on my walnut blasting tool build. My cars on >130k kms and I don't believe the walnut blasting service has ever been done on the engine. Based on what people are charging for the service I figure I can aquire the tools for less and have the capability of doing the service again later for little cost.

So a while back I ordered some M3 control arms from ECS tuning and threw in the vaccum blasting adapter as part of the shipment. Also ordered the throttle body gaskets and intake manifold gaskets.

It might not look it from the pictures but I was very surprised with the poor quality of the tool. Not that it actually matters I guess, but the aluminium casting is really rough with a lot of pinholes. I'm a curious guy and disassembled the plastic part and the self tapping screws immediately pulled out the threads out of the plastic lol.


Update:

Walnut blaster finished, see page 2 for results!

[vtl]

Saw a cheap deal on a shop vac at aldi, so I went and bought it.

Unfortunately the adapter does not fit at all on the walnut blasting tool, none of the steps line up. Ended up cutting the stepped adapter in two and mounted it up in my lathe. Bored out the inside diameter to match the walnut blasting tool and now its a really nice solid press fit

[vtl]

I then finally purchased the main part of this tool, the airtank for the blasting media. From the images from ebay I didn't expect it to be that big. This dwarfs the Bavarian Auto kit. Its a decent piece of kit although the air reg/moisture trap sucks balls. I broke the knob by turning it too far, Didn't even put that much force on it!

Unfortunately that makes the air reg useless and the valve is stuck closed, not allowing any air in. I ended up unscrewing the plastic part above the diaphragm and wedging a metal disc offcut from my lathe (can I just mention having a lathe kicks ass?). This pushes the valve open and allows full flow. All air compressors will have a pressure reg anyway so this can be a temporary solution until I get a new pressure/moisture reg.

The nozzle that comes with the kit isn't the right shape for this application though, I've ordered an airduster with a long nozzle. I'll then have to come with up an air fitting adapter on the lathe to make it all fit.

[DR-JEKL]

thats the nature of the beast with typical cast components due to the rough surface of the mould.

It will be fine to use!!

[ATTN]

Interesting to see how this eventuates.

[Socket]

whats vtl up 2??

[vtl]

Glad I reserved the initial posts lol

[ATTN]

I'm pretty sure if you get this all going you can WB a few melbourne people, recoup your money back

[vtl]

Originally Posted by ATTN

I'm pretty sure if you get this all going you can WB a few melbourne people, recoup your money back

Yeah it would be good for this to be cheap enough to be a routine service, rather than something you gotta put off and prepare to get shafted for.

The final thing after getting the tool built is sourcing the walnut shells. Unfortunately most industrial supply mobs haven't heard of the internet and its hard to find pricing on this kind of thing.

Theres a place called ublast in Hallam, VIC which is basically the only place I can find that has a website for selling Walnut shells:

http://www.ublast.com.au/

Smallest quantity is 25KG at around $100. The BAV auto kit sells with 10kg of shells so i'm guessing this is more than enough to do 2, maybe even 3 cars. Sounds expensive for walnut shells but I guess it could be worse.

[Scotty89]

I just got an air compressor for my birthday and looking into sand blasters for restoration work.

Apparently soda blasting is an alternative - and sodium bicarbonate (bicarb soda / baking soda) is cheap from like pet food stores.

I've bought bags of bicarb soda for just a few dollars, as it's useful for deodorising and cleaning. I am going to give it a shot myself at some stage but it might be messy. If I get around to it before you get walnut blasting, I'll report back on how well it goes.

[_ink]

Cool little project!!

[vtl]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

I just got an air compressor for my birthday and looking into sand blasters for restoration work.

Apparently soda blasting is an alternative - and sodium bicarbonate (bicarb soda / baking soda) is cheap from like pet food stores.

I've bought bags of bicarb soda for just a few dollars, as it's useful for deodorising and cleaning. I am going to give it a shot myself at some stage but it might be messy. If I get around to it before you get walnut blasting, I'll report back on how well it goes.

Yeah I looked into soda blasting as well, the media blaster I bought is actually specifically for soda blasting.

Soda blasting should work, but not sure if I would be game to try it on my engine without having prior experience with it. Sodium bicarbonate is alkaline and have no idea if any residue would be harmful.

How cheap can bicarb soda be sourced per kg? The ublast place has it 25kg for $55 vs $95 for Walnut shells

[RonaldoFC]

I would be keen to get this done on my car if you are wanting to recoup some money

[ATTN]

I did stumble across this as well today.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1156979

[harms]

I'd suggest keeping the recouping money part on the down low otherwise you might get banned. Good idea though, i wish you were up and running a year ago when i paid an arm and a leg to have done.

[Socket]

Originally Posted by harms

I'd suggest keeping the recouping money part on the down low otherwise you might get banned. Good idea though, i wish you were up and running a year ago when i paid an arm and a leg to have done.

+1

[dh58]

how much has this set you back so far? how much was the air compressor?

[vtl]

Probably around $350-400 so far not including the compressor. I didn't have a shop vac and that cost almost as much as the air tank.

I already have a crappy 22L bunnings air compressor which I will try this with, the surface area that needs be blasted is quite small so I might be able to get away with short duration blasts. Otherwise I can borrow my friends $500 air compressor which will be more than enough for this job.

[iliketurtl3s]

sign me up

[vtl]

Small update, the replacement moisture trap came in. Came pretty fast, didn't need it that urgently. I have a theory on postage time on ebay: The more you want something the longer it will take to arrive.

Also chucked up a 1/4" NPT adapter on the lathe and threaded it for the smaller 1/8" npt thread for the blast nozzle. Great thing is I can use either 1/4" or 1/8" threaded nozzles on this machine without taking it apart. Still waiting waiting on the blast nozzle

Contacted UBLAST, they are out of fine grade walnut shells for the next month. They have medium grade in stock but since I am not in a rush, I will wait for the fine grade stuff to avoid clogging the machine with the coarse stuff.

Slow process, but I am getting there...

Anyone interested in doing the shell blast with me should source the intake gaskets and throttle body gaskets first:

Part numbers:
11617547242 - Intake gasket (is a pack of 6) for N54
13547522361 - Throttle body gasket for N54

[Boganian Rubes]

Wow this is mad, can you blast n47's too?????

[vtl]

I don't believe diesels accumulate carbon intake on the valves? I could be wrong. But the N54 adapter is machined to specifically fit the cylinder head of an N54 anyway. You'd have to source an adapter tool.