[Dick Boneske]

My wife bought a Harbor Freight 18 LB. Vibratory Bowl for my birthday. I plan to use it to clean fasteners & carb pieces.

For fasteners, what have you found that works best? I tried clay based cat litter (oil dry), and it removes rust effectively, but not paint or caked-on grease. I noticed the clay turns to powder after a few hours. I thought about adding some sand to the dry mixture.

For zinc carb bodies, I realize a non-aggressive media will be needed.

Your input would be appreciated.

[webfoot]

I have no first hand experience, but had researched this when I was considering restoring original hardware. They make small ceramic pyramids which are good at removing old paint and rust. For something soft like carb bodies, I believe corn husks or walnut shells would work well. This also works well for a final polish of your fasteners.

[Dick Boneske]

What if I put some sand in with the clay oil dry? This would be to clean bolts, not carb bodies.

[webfoot]

Silica sand is made of round particles and would probably not be very aggressive in removing rust and paint, but it probably wouldn't hurt to try.

[DeanBenson]

I've used silica in mine before for cleaning small steel parts. Nuts, bolts etc. Its works great. I use walnut shells for delicate parts. I've never damaged anything but I usually only clean steel parts. I sometimes let it run over night. It will create some heat after running for a few hours. I recently bought the harbor freight but/bolt cleaning media. Its pyramid shaped plastic like material. It works good but gets stuck inside nuts or anything with a hole. I like silica better.

I clean carbs in an ultrasonic cleaner.

[Dick Boneske]

I added about 5 lb. coal slag to 8 lb clay with one carb top and some venturi clusters. Still not very aggressive after 3 hr. operation. May let it run overnight.

[Dick Boneske]

Tried glass beads with no success. Now have pure coal slag in the bowl. It works the best so far, but still does not take rust off bolts. All media has been run dry so far. Will water help?

I'll try silica sand next unless someone can tell me something more aggressive.

[Greg Reid]

I don't know where you get them but we had an industrial type unit where I used to work that was loaded with ceramic pellets and had a soapy solution mixed in. Aluminum parts came out looking like new. Never tried to remove paint with it so not sure on that.

[GTO JOHN]

Try using some Diamond Grit Powdered Abrasive. adding water will help also.