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Old 01-28-2021, 08:05 PM
mhm1966 mhm1966 is offline
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Default Vapor Blasting

Has anyone used vapor blasting to clean aluminum parts like intake manifolds and valve covers.
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Old 01-28-2021, 09:47 PM
tom406 tom406 is offline
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Chuck Burg just used it (happily) on his Dad's original '67 L78 Chevelle intake.....
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Old 01-28-2021, 10:27 PM
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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.
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Old 02-03-2021, 07:31 PM
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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.


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Old 02-03-2021, 07:50 PM
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I believe David Beem does vapor blasting.
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Old 02-03-2021, 08:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Edgemontvillage View Post
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.

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.
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Old 02-03-2021, 09:23 PM
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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
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Old 02-04-2021, 12:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 68camaroz28 View Post
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.
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.
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Old 02-05-2021, 04:31 PM
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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!
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Old 02-06-2021, 11:56 AM
jl8z28 jl8z28 is offline
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I can reskin the aluminum intakes they look factory
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