For cleaning and coating removal that has to be gentle on the surface underneath, soda blasting uses soft sodium bicarbonate media to strip without etching. Goliath Coatings provides soda blasting across Auckland for delicate substrates, food-safe environments and jobs where a harder abrasive would do damage.
Why soda blasting is so gentle
Soda blasting fires sodium bicarbonate — effectively a fine, friable mineral — which shatters on impact to lift coatings and contamination while leaving harder substrates untouched. It strips paint, grease and grime from aluminium, timber, brick and machinery without the profiling or warping that aggressive media can cause, making it ideal where the surface must be preserved.
Where soda blasting suits
We use it on softer metals like aluminium that distort under hard blasting, on timber and heritage surfaces, for degreasing engines and machinery, and in food-related environments because the media is water-soluble and food-safe. It also leaves a residual alkalinity that temporarily inhibits flash-rust on steel.
Clean-up and finishing
Because soda is water-soluble, residue rinses away cleanly. Where the surface will be recoated we neutralise and wash down so the new coating bonds properly, and we contain and dispose of the removed material responsibly. The result is a clean, undamaged surface ready for its next finish.
What soda blasting achieves
Soda blasting uses sodium bicarbonate crystals that fracture on impact, releasing energy that strips paint, grease, mould and corrosion without raising a profile. It is harder than the coating but softer than the substrate, so it cleans delicate materials — aluminium, timber, glass, chrome and engine parts — without etching them. The media is non-toxic and water-soluble, so spent soda rinses away. It is the gentlest blast method we run, for where preserving the surface matters most.
Why choose Goliath Coatings
Gentle, substrate-safe blasting is a specialty. We own our prep and application equipment, specify premium systems matched to the job, and back every project with genuine 5-star Auckland reviews. You get a free on-site assessment and a one-business-day response.
Soda blasting FAQs
Q: What makes soda blasting gentle?
A: The sodium bicarbonate media shatters on impact and removes coatings without profiling or warping the surface, so it suits soft and delicate substrates.
Q: Is soda blasting food-safe?
A: The media is water-soluble and food-safe, which is why it suits food-related equipment and environments.
Q: Will I need to wash the surface after?
A: Where it is being recoated, yes — we neutralise and rinse so the new coating bonds correctly.
Q: Will soda blasting damage soft materials like aluminium or wood?
A: No — soda is a gentle, non-etching media that strips coatings and grime without cutting into softer substrates, and it rinses away afterwards because it’s water-soluble.
