Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
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- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
UPDATE JANUARY 2021
RestoCycle is now closed. Thank you all for the support, it was a fantastic 6 year adventure.
Nils Menten
****
Hello gang,
I am very excited to finally pull the wraps off of something I have been working on for 6 months. Kind-of a worst-kept secret, but here's the skinny.
In February I purchased the finest vapor blasting equipment I could find, plus a dry blast cabinet, parts washer, rinse sink, industrial compressor and dryer, and much more. I rented space nearby in Tucson and since then I have been setting up my shop and testing different products and techniques and learning the ropes of how to restore aluminum parts with vapor blasting.
If you've never seen this done, it's kind-of amazing to see. It's more or less a blast cabinet, but instead of dry media, siphon fed, it creates a high-pressure vapor using compressed air, water, detergent, and abrasive media.
The results pretty much speak for themselves.
Two docs are attached - a "Frequently Asked Questions doc about the process, and also an order form . The service costs $50 per hour till the first of the year, when it will jump up to a more market-rate of $70 an hour. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the service or the process, here or via PM or email. The business email is nils@restocycle.com
You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RestoCycleLLC, and if you do visit us there, please "Like" the page and you'll see our regular updates in your news feed as we go.
Thanks and wish me luck!
Nils Menten
RestoCycle LLC
RestoCycle is now closed. Thank you all for the support, it was a fantastic 6 year adventure.
Nils Menten
****
Hello gang,
I am very excited to finally pull the wraps off of something I have been working on for 6 months. Kind-of a worst-kept secret, but here's the skinny.
In February I purchased the finest vapor blasting equipment I could find, plus a dry blast cabinet, parts washer, rinse sink, industrial compressor and dryer, and much more. I rented space nearby in Tucson and since then I have been setting up my shop and testing different products and techniques and learning the ropes of how to restore aluminum parts with vapor blasting.
If you've never seen this done, it's kind-of amazing to see. It's more or less a blast cabinet, but instead of dry media, siphon fed, it creates a high-pressure vapor using compressed air, water, detergent, and abrasive media.
The results pretty much speak for themselves.
Two docs are attached - a "Frequently Asked Questions doc about the process, and also an order form . The service costs $50 per hour till the first of the year, when it will jump up to a more market-rate of $70 an hour. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the service or the process, here or via PM or email. The business email is nils@restocycle.com
You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RestoCycleLLC, and if you do visit us there, please "Like" the page and you'll see our regular updates in your news feed as we go.
Thanks and wish me luck!
Nils Menten
RestoCycle LLC
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
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- ICOA Member
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- Location: St. Catharines, On. Canada
- Location: St. Catharines, On. Canada
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Congratulations, Nils.
Seriously, i don't think you will be needing any good luck wishes.
Time to read the articles you provided.
Seriously, i don't think you will be needing any good luck wishes.
Time to read the articles you provided.
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- ICOA Member
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- Location: Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Location: Melbourne Victoria Australia
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Good luck
...always walk out of the room smarter than you walked in...
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
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- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Thank you gentlemen!
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
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- ICOA Rally Director
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- Location: Lawrencburg, IN
- Location: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
That sure looks like a fun way to spend your retirement. Good luck.
Rick Pope
Either garage is too small or we have too many bikes. Or Momma's car needs to go outside.
Either garage is too small or we have too many bikes. Or Momma's car needs to go outside.
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
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- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Thank you very much Rick. I do enjoy helping people with their projects, really excited about this.Rick Pope wrote:That sure looks like a fun way to spend your retirement. Good luck.
N.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
- FalldownPhil
- ICOA Member
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Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
When you are up to your ass in alligators it is sometimes difficult
to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp !!
to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp !!
- SteveG
- ICOA Member
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- Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:16 pm
- Location: Skaneateles, NY
- Location: Skaneateles, NY
Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Congrats on your newest venture, Nils!! Where were you when I needed you 5 years ago!?! Now I am gonna have to get another project going.
Steve
Steve
82 CBX, 82 CB900F Project, 81 CB900(985)F, 79 CB750(810)F, 06 Wee-Strom
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
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- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
SteveG wrote:Congrats on your newest venture, Nils!! Where were you when I needed you 5 years ago!?! Now I am gonna have to get another project going.
Steve
Yes you do Steve! . Thanks for the good wishes, greatly appreciated. You too Phil.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
- Posts: 3915
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
I'm having fun now!
Last night I brought a bunch of sample stuff to our local vintage group's gathering, which was great fun. I have been photographing it as I go, and I've got a good selection of stuff to show.
Just for fun, here are a few of my favorites:
Yamaha XT500 cylinder heads
Yamaha Banshee case half:
Ducati cylinder head:
Set of Keihin carbs. Yes you can do carbs, they just need to be ultrasonic cleaned afterwards.
Not sure what this was, please don't send me anything like this without cleaning it first
Done, half 'n half
$10 bucks off your first order if you can tell me which one was blasted
Yamaha XS650 side cover:
I'll have more soon, no doubt. Thanks for viewing!
N.
Last night I brought a bunch of sample stuff to our local vintage group's gathering, which was great fun. I have been photographing it as I go, and I've got a good selection of stuff to show.
Just for fun, here are a few of my favorites:
Yamaha XT500 cylinder heads
Yamaha Banshee case half:
Ducati cylinder head:
Set of Keihin carbs. Yes you can do carbs, they just need to be ultrasonic cleaned afterwards.
Not sure what this was, please don't send me anything like this without cleaning it first
Done, half 'n half
$10 bucks off your first order if you can tell me which one was blasted
Yamaha XS650 side cover:
I'll have more soon, no doubt. Thanks for viewing!
N.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
- Posts: 3915
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Did a batch of Ducati Pantah parts for a customer yesterday - good solid parts, but had been stored for years and so the oxidization and...stuff on them was pretty thick.
Check this out. Linking big photos, I think they will get very big if you click on them. This took about 5 1/2 hours including splitting the cases and extracting bearings, and so at 2015 rates this was a $250 project, plus shipping.
This was the total project:
Pretty cool, eh?
N.
Check this out. Linking big photos, I think they will get very big if you click on them. This took about 5 1/2 hours including splitting the cases and extracting bearings, and so at 2015 rates this was a $250 project, plus shipping.
This was the total project:
Pretty cool, eh?
N.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
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- Forum Regular
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- Location: Gloucestershire, UK
- Location: Gloucestershire UK
Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Very cool work Nils.
I was looking at vapour blasting a few months ago, it seems to be the best way to clean up aluminium parts without harming them.
Looks like you have a brilliant set-up, and I know you will do well.
Cheers
Chris J.
I was looking at vapour blasting a few months ago, it seems to be the best way to clean up aluminium parts without harming them.
Looks like you have a brilliant set-up, and I know you will do well.
Cheers
Chris J.
Grey-haired bikers don't get that way from pure luck.
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- ICOA Member
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Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Those Pantah parts look great, Nils.
hmmmm....i have a cb350 cafe that is nearing the top of the resto priority list that would benefit from a trip to your booth.
hmmmm....i have a cb350 cafe that is nearing the top of the resto priority list that would benefit from a trip to your booth.
- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
- Posts: 3915
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Chris - thanks a ton for the good words.
Steve - I will make that engine look fantastic for you when the time comes
N.
Steve - I will make that engine look fantastic for you when the time comes
N.
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
'82 CBX, among others.
- Mello
- Forum Regular
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- Location: Jhb, South Africa
Re: Open for business! Vapor Blasting of Aluminum Parts
Wow, really impressive. Best of luck Nils, I can see you're having a load of fun
"Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines." - Enzo Ferrari