We have recently added “soda blasting” to our skill inventory. It is like sand blasting except that you use baking soda. You have to make sure the baking soda is very dry for the best results.
Along with using super heated steam – we have exceeded 250° F – which is really where the method gets effective. Soda blasting is a great way to remove old paint [and other gunk] from windows. Doing it in a both protects my folks from exposure to lead paint dust.
The process is as amazing as it is environmentally-friendly. The soda strips the paint right away; and it doesn’t harm the glass. As long as we are careful it leaves most of the glazing in tact too. Right now we are rubbing the windows with white wine vinegar after the blast to neutralize any NaHCO<sub>3<<sub> (my dad was a PhD chemist, I’m allowed).
So far we have not tried it our any any windows with serious rot, but with our new facility we are ready to. (Have to thank the folks at Bowman Properties for letting us grow in a shuttered Ford dealership; we will miss Germantown Avenue and you were great landlords.)
Anyone with soda blasting experience who is looking for a job, please give us a call or stop by! We will be posting some pictures shortly. We welcome all comments from any soda blasting experts.