vapor blaster: vapor hone by vapor honing technologies

[Jvvmusme]

any one who already have and are using the vapor blaster by vapor honing technologies ?

http://vaporhoningtechnologies.com/micro-vapor-hone/

planning to buy one and would like some reviews.

it is $ 800

 

[Chim]

Watching with interest!

 

[Showkey]

I have seen several live demos at Swap meets........it works great. It is pricey.......the units I saw were a lot more than $800

 

[Dragfluid]

Interesting. I wonder why they call it a "hone"?
Years ago, I demoed something a little bit similar. It was a cabinet like that but instead of any media, it was stoddard solvent that was siphoned through a nozzle powered by shop air. It worked good for cleaning some transmission parts that had areas for sludge to hide. (440, 4T65E 2nd drum) Didn't buy it, though.
I would think that you'd be limited on what type of components you'd want to put in there, in light of the media that is used.

 

[rr361]

That specific machine I can't comment on. But, I've got a buddy in the motorcycle business that has a larger model and it's a very nice unit. If I had a better compressor I'd have one as well since he's 5 hours away...

Side note - the guy that owns that company has actually done 2 sets of motorcycle cases/cylinders/heads for me. Looked great. You really have to see what it does, especially for aluminum, to believe it.

 

[ZRX61]

I know a couple of resto shops that use a bigger version. Does great work.

 

[txvwnut]

I price checked a VH800P which is big enough to get an aircooled veedub case in, base model is $4k and fully loaded is $6.5k. So there won’t be one coming to my shop anytime soon.

 

[billspit]

It looks like dustless blasting in a cabinet.

 

[countrysquire]

I just bought the VH800P, but have not fired it up yet due to the garage expansion project, but hope to have it in service by the end of the year. I always have plenty of parts to do, plus I plan on doing work for others to help support my old car habit. The video that they have with the 1935 Ford flathead intake shows the part that I sent them to do as a trial. Not only does the 83 year old aluminum look new, it has a 'soft, smooth' feel to it (if that makes sense). I was also really pleased with the finish that it left on the generator mount nut and bolt. Not rough like from a bead blast cabinet, and not the overly shiny and 'worked' surface you get when you use a wire wheel.

 

[rpcraft]

I am probably going to make one myself in the not too distant future. There is a british fella on ytube that made a single video where he had a project made from a dishwasher and it was stupidly simple (and cheap). Pretty easy to figure out the parts if you know anything about small lift pumps. There is another fellow that sealed sealed up a HF blaster and put a slurry pump in the bottom with an external filtration box. One other guy is selling plans for some price but I think his build details a 1300 dollar parts list. Not sure what part of it was 1300 dollars worth of stuff unless he was including the air compressor though. These cabinets still use air pressure to get the blasting done and the more the better but it looks like an excellent process. You just have to figure out how to mix up your anti-corrosion treatment for ferrous materials or buy one that works well (usually a little spendy but if they work they work). If you are just going to blast it, dry it, and paint or powder coat it, you could probably get away with dipping it in a borax solution and once dried apply your base of choice.

 

[555]

I'm thinking about getting one.

 

[larry4406]

Countrysquire - very nice clean parts.

 

[Jvvmusme]

I bought mine. I should have it in 2 weeks. the micro vapor blaster. on the other hand I bought the plans for the diy project. they are 70 bucks and are worth every penny. fully recomend. very clear plans and videos. but decided, after watching the videos, to buy the micro honing technologies because its finished and the company looks serious. If you want a bigger and faster cabinet then buy the plans and do it yourself.

 

[alexb2000]

Beautiful parts. Any idea how long it took to make the intake look like that?

 

[countrysquire]

A small one like the flathead intake pictured should take 20 minutes or so. Here's the video of them doing it.

 

[d20mox]

I have the VH800p with the closed loop system. What did you want to know? Might also help if you let us know what you plan to use it for as well.

 

[motofool33]

is the media reused in this setup so its pushing the water and media at same time(like a water jet process) no siphoning dry media?

 

[rpcraft]

Generally the media is used just like dry blasting, just the difference is it lasts much longer. Think of the water part of it is a coolant/lubricant added to a dry blast setup. Your water delivery system only needs to be able to provide the volume to keep up with your air and media flow, and then it also needs to be able to transport the media and withstand the wear involved from doing so. It can't be like a hose pump but it has to be something like a sewage sump pump (meaning it has to have water proof electrics and the ability to pass solid material through it).

The other caveat is you ideally want to have some kind of filtration to pull out the muck and oil that comes off the parts. Ideally you want the parts as clean as possible going into the cabinet, because it prolongs your consumables, just like in a dry cabinet.

 

[larry4406]

So is the media one use then since it is now a wet slurry?

 

[rpcraft]

If you mean can you only use it as wet or dry media then yes, one or the other, because it would take too much time to try the media out to make it "dry media" but honestly media is not a huge expense in the grand scheme.

If you mean can you only run it through the machine once, its not that simple of a question to answer because the way you run it through the machine is just like dry media. It gets recycled through a filter though after it leaves the hopper and then gets fed back into the system once filtered. Some dry cabinets do that with the dust collector, but generally most guys toss what is collected in the filter because they don't see the benefit of filtering all the trash out of those collections, especially when the idea of introducing that stuff into your system can cause so many other problems.

All you have to do is go to youtube and watch this video and you can learn how the system works, it's parts, and what it takes to build one out of a HF blast cabinet and the extra parts. It's a little lengthy but shows it is not out of your realm to make one but it still costs about 1000 bucks and I am assuming that is if you buy the cabinet too. It's not the same 100 % as the Vapor hone sytems, but then again its 1000 bucks, so it is within the realm of the every day man, just so long as you have enough CFM and air pressure to push it.

 

[Cue]

I bought mine. I should have it in 2 weeks. the micro vapor blaster. on the other hand I bought the plans for the diy project. they are 70 bucks and are worth every penny. fully recomend. very clear plans and videos. but decided, after watching the videos, to buy the micro honing technologies because its finished and the company looks serious. If you want a bigger and faster cabinet then buy the plans and do it yourself.

So how do you like it? I just received mine yesterday, took almost a Month to get it. I plan on trying it out tomorrow.

 

[hawkerxj]

Not only does the 83 year old aluminum look new, it has a 'soft, smooth' feel to it (if that makes sense). I was also really pleased with the finish that it left on the generator mount nut and bolt. Not rough like from a bead blast cabinet, and not the overly shiny and 'worked' surface you get when you use a wire wheel.

Do you think the smooth finish will make it more difficult for the paint to adhere? Assuming this is for paint prep. I've had parts bead/sand blasted and the surface if fairly rough before paint. But with the rough surface the paint sticks really well.

 

[bochnak]

I converted my HF cab into a vapor blaster.

I also have made plans so anyone can build one. Detailed video 3hrs long, and part lists for a fully featured version ($1300) and bare bones ($550).

Here is the link:
https://www.howtomotorcyclerepair.com/diyvaporblasterbuildplans/

Compare that to new machine that costs 4k.

Matt

 

[bochnak]

Do you think the smooth finish will make it more difficult for the paint to adhere? Assuming this is for paint prep. I've had parts bead/sand blasted and the surface if fairly rough before paint. But with the rough surface the paint sticks really well.

You would have to run the correct media to create a good "profile" for paint adhesion.

 

[bochnak]

Not sure what part of it was 1300 dollars worth of stuff unless he was including the air compressor though.

The 1300 does not include a compressor OR the cost of cabinet. It's just the parts to build.

Most of the cost in in the pump system. I went with all brass fittings which cost a ton. Also, these plans include a control box that automates the machine.

Here is how it works: turn the button on to power up unit and lights come on. Hit the foot pedal and start blasting. Behind the scenes the slurry pump fires up, wiper turns on, and so does the window rinse. Lift foot off, and it all turns off.

 

[bochnak]

I bought the plans for the diy project. they are 70 bucks and are worth every penny. fully recomend. very clear plans and videos.

Thanks for the compliments!

 

[Jvvmusme]

So how do you like it? I just received mine yesterday, took almost a Month to get it. I plan on trying it out tomorrow.

after the maxjax this is the best toy I have in my workshop

 

[pressure262]

Any updates on this? Looking to buy one and interested to hear some results, Thank you

 

[countrysquire]

Very happy with mine, doing a lot of work for people both local and from across the country.

 

[pressure262]

Awesome, looks like I’m gonna make the purchase. You have the micro hone country squire?

 

[countrysquire]

Mine is the VP800 Open Loop.

 

[bochnak]

I now have plans to make a closed loop version:

Matt

 

[bullnerd]

I now have plans to make a closed loop version:

Matt

That thing is awesome! Nice job Matt.

 

[bochnak]

That thing is awesome! Nice job Matt.

Thanks!

 

[SGKent]

vapor blasting is nice but I hope everyone with a dry glass bead cabinet knows that you can buy beads so small it gives a near gloss surface. You can also use slightly larger beads with normal pressure to clean, or reduced pressure to finish. The advantage of wet blasting is that the heat is carried away and there is no dust to deal with which makes it safer. Silca dust can be deadly.

 

[dhubbard422]

after the maxjax this is the best toy I have in my workshop

Hello, I would appreciate reading your thought on the Micro VaporHone. Thinking of buying one, but I wonder if I shouldn't just buy one the bigger models with a light and wiper... I've seen video of folks using the Micro and they appear hunched over with their face (almost) against the view port - can you clearly see what you are cleaning? Any other comments on this machine would be appreciated!

 

[bochnak]

Hello, I would appreciate reading your thought on the Micro VaporHone. Thinking of buying one, but I wonder if I shouldn't just buy one the bigger models with a light and wiper... I've seen video of folks using the Micro and they appear hunched over with their face (almost) against the view port - can you clearly see what you are cleaning? Any other comments on this machine would be appreciated!

You have to really ask yourself what is the largest part you want to blast?

I made my own from a HF cab and wish it were bigger. Working on building a larger unit in the next few months.

I added 4' total of led lights, and a HD 2 speed wiper motor, and I still hunch over to get better viewing.

 

[SP3]

Interesting. I wonder why they call it a "hone"

I've long wondered the same. Of course, I've simultaneously wondered why it's used in conjunction with the word 'vapor'. It's neither a vapor nor is it (supposed to) hone.

Honing is the final step in material removal. It is a very minimal removal but, it is measurable.

Wet blasting (what I call this process) is supposed to NOT remove any base material only stains, corrosion, etc. So, NOT honing.

Regardless, I'd love to have a unit. I have a dry blast setup. But, before I pony up for a wet one, I need a larger compressor. I leave my dry unit at work for this reason. And, room. Need more room.

 

[dhubbard422]

You have to really ask yourself what is the largest part you want to blast?

I made my own from a HF cab and wish it were bigger. Working on building a larger unit in the next few months.

I added 4' total of led lights, and a HD 2 speed wiper motor, and I still hunch over to get better viewing.

The largest? IDK. At some point, there will always be some part that is larger than the cabinet; I think that might be a corollary of Murphy's Law...

I'd prefer to have a larger cabinet 30 - 36" wide, but the smaller Micro would handle many, if not most of the parts I'd want to wet blast. However, I'm concerned about the experience, e.g. can I easily see the part? am I comfortable while blasting the part? I am hoping to read a review from someone that isn't also trying to sell me.