Mods & Rockers: Vapor Blasting for Restoration

[theageofindustry]

Well after months of planning and development; We are officially open for business! Vapor Blasting is essentially a specialized manual blast process that combines water and media into a slurry and blasts the surface of a material.

Instead of removing material like dry blasting; Vapor essentially peens the surface of your material which actually seals it and slightly polishes it to a satin sheen. It is a long lasting, easy to clean surface. It will not absorb oils and fingerprints like dry abrasives.

It is also ideal for polishing. This is perfect for concours restoration, custom builds and anyone who hates working on a greasy motor like me.
www.modsrockers.com (http://www.modsrockers.com)
507-779-4000
peter@modsrockers.com (peter@modsrockers.com)

Ironhead rockerbox before:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0659.jpg
After:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0671.jpg
Amal Carburetor Before (may have been in fire as all plastic was melted and surface appeared smokey):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0673.jpg
Amal Carburator After:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0684.jpg

More to come.
www.modsrockers.com (http://www.modsrockers.com)
507-779-4000
peter@modsrockers.com

[theageofindustry]

Just finished a 1938 indian cylinder head for a customer; it's in rough shape but should serve him nicely.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0742.jpg

[theageofindustry]

Shades34 left his Triumph pre-unit webco rocker oil feed in my shop; that seemed license enough for me to clean it up a bit for him.
Before:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0782.jpg

After:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0786.jpg

[theageofindustry]

A customers Triumph unit T120 head and rocker boxes before:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0934.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0937.jpg
And after:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0942.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN0945.jpg

Ready for surgery doc...

[shades34]

love the way the oil feed turned out man, can't wait to get the amal gps back!!!

[Scorcher]

Are you using glass beads????


-Jason

[theageofindustry]

Yep, glass bead. I can shoot other abrasives but the round profile of the glass is what does the peening. For thin materials they generally shoot aluminum oxide so they can remove material without heating and distorting the surface but for our application it's pointless.

[Scorcher]

Does aluminum oxide leave a duller finish??


-Jason

[theageofindustry]

Nope; when your removing material like that the underlying layer is always bright. It just wouldn't have the satin finish and honestly wouldn't look much different than blasting. The 2 biggest benefits to using aluminum oxide in a slurry is it would take away less material than if you did the same piece using alum/oxide in a dry cabinet and it wouldn't warp or distort your piece but again were not generally dealing with paper thin material on bikes so it won't really matter unless in fact you are.
Without the peened surface it will leave your pieces susceptible to contaminants like oils, etc.

If a darker finish is your desire I think it would be cool to try vapor blasting with glass bead and then have it anodized in a gun metal color. That way you can avoid the toils of polishing it before the anodizing process and the statin finish might actually give a satin finish to the final product.

[Scab Vendor]

Can you guys do this to a complete motor less carbs and pipes?

[theageofindustry]

Not a chance. No matter how hard you try and whatever media your using; when your blasting whole motors you are asking for a world of hurt. If you don't plan on taking your motor apart you better get out the kerosene and toothbrush.

[shades34]

My question is, by "whole motor" do you mean together? Surley you can blast cases and aluminum cylinder barrels and heads right when they are apart right?

[theageofindustry]

Yes; taken apart is fine; just not a lump you don't want to take apart.

[theageofindustry]

Some motor shots from one of own forum members Triumph TR6 I blasted. One lucky dude; can't wait to see how his build turns out!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN1121.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN1120.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN1118.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/DSCN1117.jpg

[lackluster]

I've seen this stuff first hand and the finish is top notch. I'll definitely have Peter vapor blast quite a few parts for my Triumph chop in the next few months. Great guy to deal with and the vapor blasting leaves a beautiful finish. Highly recommended!

[theageofindustry]

Some Italian metal before and afters I recently finished:

Before:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/motoguzzi/DSCN1360-1.jpg

After:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/motoguzzi/DSCN1365.jpg

I'm currently doing a r100 beamer and after that Tyler's LSR/Drag pre-unit. I'll post some of those as I go; lots and lots of photos on my website, with more being added every day!

[theageofindustry]

I just finished up the motor for Tyler from lowbrow's lsr/drag bike. I'm not even sure if he's seen these yet:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1387.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1432.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1462.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1388.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1463.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1394.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1472.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1389.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Tylers%20LSR%20Drag%20bike/DSCN1464.jpg

[Swan]

WOW.... My DBD34 BSA Gold Star before and after vapor blasting.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u272/66triton/1962%20BSA%20DBD34%20Gold%20Star%20project/IMG_5238-Version2.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u272/66triton/1962%20BSA%20DBD34%20Gold%20Star%20project/IMG_6782-Version2.jpg

Peter (theageofindustry) is a true craftsman who is passionate about old bikes and treats his customers' parts like his own. This process is not cheap, but you get what you pay for, it is not speedy, but quality work takes time and it is not easy for it takes an experienced eye and hand to make alloy look this good. This is the first time we have met face to face, I highly recommend his services and the results speak for themselves. I could not be happier.

Learn more and see images here (http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83935).

[theageofindustry]

I have had a lot of interest in what it looks like when I vapor blast engine case covers so I thought I'd share a demo piece I just made.

1 cracked timing cover from my 67 Bonneville:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Triumph%20case%20cover%20blasted/DSCN1569.jpg

Add some tape:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Triumph%20case%20cover%20blasted/DSCN1572.jpg

I generally only shoot glass bead but smooth surfaces make it difficult to obtain an even finish so I need to but out the big guns. Dry blasted with white aluminum oxide:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Triumph%20case%20cover%20blasted/DSCN1573.jpg

And then finally vapor blasted:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Triumph%20case%20cover%20blasted/DSCN1577.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/hungaryjack1/ModsRockers/Triumph%20case%20cover%20blasted/DSCN1578.jpg

One of the ways I separate myself from competition is by constantly adapting to whatever piece I'm working with. If that means I shoot something 3-4 times or ordering a different media to achieve the best result possible than I do it. This piece is a great example of that adaptation. I actually designed this particular process to overcome the heavy oxidation I see on smooth casted vintage scooter parts.

Follow my exploits on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mods-Rockers/169918373065647

Enjoy.

[theageofindustry]

Spring Sale! (http://www.modsrockers.com)

I've never had a sale before, and may never again. If I already have your parts on hand, don't worry because I'll hook you up with the sale pricing.

[Swan]

Mods and Rockers does it again! My T110 motor and Norton gearbox before and after:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u272/66triton/1966%20Triton%20Cafe%20Racer/IMG_7384-Version2.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u272/66triton/1966%20Triton%20Cafe%20Racer/IMG_7446-Version2.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u272/66triton/1966%20Triton%20Cafe%20Racer/IMG_7402.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u272/66triton/1966%20Triton%20Cafe%20Racer/IMG_7456-Version2.jpg