Cleaning block, testing laser
 

I has use all kind of cleaning over the years to cars and parts and engine, and all make their own benefits as hot tank, caustic soda, accid, hot parts cleaning, ball blastering, sand blastering, bead glass, diesel/brusch, ultra sonic, steel brush etc.
Today I tested laser and it was a very good method.
Fast, totally clean cast iron, but the block has been into hot tank 3 times before so it was clean, but use cold pressuare water is get rust up fast ( edpecially as fall and moister air outside ) so last bath it was hot pressure.
Rust was almost all gone ( or gone ) in water channels.
But the laser took it to perfect cast iton.
Negative is work as a light, it will not go down if somethings hidden, but perfect after hot tank !
Totally dry ( no rust )
It burn all oil, paint, rust.
Its not great or solve all cleaning problem but I engine parts after hot tank is just perfect, it is 15-20 minutes on a block, 5 minutes on a crank etc.
I’m amazed.
Think if all all possibilitys.
I think a system might cost 5K.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1758583620

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1758583620

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Make sure you also manually clean the water jackets. No method listed in your first post gets all of the crud out besides scraping it out manually. Spotless water jackets are essential to ensuring a cool running engine. Long bladed screw drivers, short piece of frayed cable chucked in a drill, scrapers, etc. all do the job effectively.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Tim, I has use ’hot tank’ alkadie or caustic soda and citric accid since the 80’s and now I use a product remove grease, oil, rust in one bath as normally alkadie dont remove rust.
Inside example a block it can be rust flakes and when block is dry they lose so depending on block it can be 2-3 bath.
No tools is needed here. The chem do the work.
I has also use as I said true accid inside water jackets, example before fill it with concrete.
My Merc block was totally clean insude and out but when one handle cast irion and ex its fall weather its moistre and I showd picture of the block it get easy little rusty.
I could use citric accid and be inside and hot water pressuare.
I has collegue just bought the laser and I did like to test it.
Its truly amazing tech, but as mention, hot tank is needed before.
But take a block just use a normal hot water cleaner evry engine rebuilder use and the go over it with the laser, in 20 mintues is clean to atomic leval, but again the gun works as a light, it cleans where light is. This had a 1.5” wide light ( se picture )
I should made a movie.
But I’m shore its on youtube.
Just did like talk about the method.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Interesting how much does the tool cost?

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

He "guesses" 5K in his first post, but when I looked at commercial units, if was a LOT higher.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Imports from China.
But Tubman is correct it can be 10-15K aswell.
-But amazing tech.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Alibaba, or Jinan Laser Max Tech, Gold Mark system.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

I has bought one 1.500 W ( non pulse ) and freight from China it was 3.300 USD ( plus taxes )
I will has a big use for it since my company do engine works ( most race but also vintage ) and I use hot tank and that’s needed even on laser.
Expensive Yes but decent.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

My new machine tested on its way.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=phRl6IO8UDE

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

That looks good! I can see lots of uses for one of those. The only problem I see is that it works "line of sight" only, so I can see a problem cleaning blocks.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Yes you are correct.
I will do mainly engine parts as ex blocks so I will not stop use caustic sodium and citrus accid.
Ex right now I has 2 of 392 heads in accid and they been in hot tank twice before the accid but to get the total cast iron look ( then the laser comes in )
-Will anyone pay me, no way, the average guy say he use diesel and screwdrivers for fee, but I talking here on a ’total’ clean block, I do this as I love USA cast iron.
It’s a passion.
I know I’m probly mental lost but I’m aware of it it and no one get on trouble…

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

I had 3 early Hemis now in shop cleaned and get machined and I would really like has the laser now, as see ex rocker arms etc, super clean Yes, but not the new cast iron ’look’

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

I finally got the laser ( 1500 W ) my buddy bought a 3000 W and he did some testings but its not that easy set it up and not rip the material up.
But its a matter of adjustments.
Ss I bought it ’not’ effect surface, only on microlevel surface remove.
Se my laser and my buddys settings on thicker cast irion.
Its 5 settings that can be endless variations…
What hate is see nice machined cast irion get ripped.

Re: Cleaning block, testing laser
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1774128504

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...7&d=1774128840