Vapor Honing

Q: What is vapor honing?

Vapor Honing is a semi-abrasive, wet media blasting.

Q: What parts can be vapor honed?

Vapor honing can be used on almost any surface found on a motorcycle or car (including gloss plastic). While it can handle a wide variety of materials it gives an excellent finish to aluminum, zinc, brass, and magnesium. Our favorite application is carbs, for the finish it provides.

On aluminum, it leaves a finish that looks almost like paint. Here's a fork lower that was blasted. If you have concerns with oxidization we can also clear powder coat vapor honed parts. With that being said we haven't had any issues with oxidization. We can blast anything that can fit in our blast cabinet (including your non motorcycle-related parts). Pretty much anything smaller than a bike frame.

Q: How much does vapor honing cost?

The cost of vapor honing varies depending on the size, the condition, and the state of disassembly of your parts. All of these factors influence the amount of time needed to complete the process, and therefore the cost to you for your individual job. Please call or email us for more information, or to have us give you an estimate. We are always happy to help you.

 Advantages of Vapor Honing. 

1. The first of many advantages of wet blasting is it cleans by the flow of water and abrasive running across the part surface, not by sheer force and impact like in conventional dry blasting operations.
2. Water acts as a lubricant or barrier between the abrasive media & components surface protecting the substrate from erosion and distortion normally found in dry blasting environments.
3. Wet blasting can provide a slight surface peening depending on the abrasive media used helping make the substrate harder and more stain-resistant ideal in restoration applications.
4. One of the clear advantages of the wet slurry process is the fact that no media is impregnated into a softer substrate like aluminum, brass, and bronze.
5. Within wet slurry environments the water and moisture trap and reduces the harmful dust particles that have been found to have negative health effects when inhaled.
6. Since the water cushions the abrasive media being used this greatly extends abrasive life normally around 8-10 times longer than a dry blasting process.
7. Closed loop machinery that recycles the abrasive and water decreasing operating costs.
8. No heat warping with thin parts with the impact protection of the water as a barrier. When part distortion and close tolerances are of concern wet blasting is a great option for processing and testing your parts.
9. Eliminates the need to use nasty chemicals which are found in rebuild shops around the world. These chemicals come with costly disposal fees and hazardous work environments.
10. Leaves a very attractive satin finish on many different substrates like stainless steel, aluminum, and brass.
11.  Provides an excellent lightly etched surface for bonding within the specialty coating markets. While helping retain part form and function.
12. Provides an excellent surface for plating by cleaning the topography of the surface. With the flushing action of combined water and abrasive allows optimal surface cleanliness and preparation for final plating operations.