Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

Just picked up this little Champion spark plug cleaner. I know plugs are cheap for the most part but I do a lot of small engine jobs and figured I'd give it a try. Any ideas as to what media to use in it? It had a mix of sand and black beauty like stuff in it. Would glass beads be too fine?

Thanks

Paul

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

Glass beads will be perfect. Sand or Black Beauty are too coarse.

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

Thanks!

Paul

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

I have alsways wondered about bead blasting sparkplugs...wouldn't you run the risk of gettting beads stuck "up in there" that would eventually end up in the cylinder?

I have heard of blasting plugs often enough just never had the nerve to do it myself. Wire brushes, bench grinder wire wheel, and some brake parts cleaner work fine when needed.

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

It's been decades since I used one, but I think the one we had in our shop used blast media first and then clean air.

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

The little unit I picked up has two buttons. One blasts the glass bead and the other just high pressure air. Before reinstalling the plug I always inspect it and take a close look at the inner insulator. It only gets used on small engine plugs though.

Paul

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

They are still used in the shops of airplane mechanics.............

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...xoCADcQAvD_BwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98iztkS3OfI

Re: Champion Spark Plug Cleaner
 

When I was in highschool in shop class, back when schools still had shop classes, we had one of those and it was just glass beads followed by compressed air. Two button style like mentioned above. I would think anything more than glass beads would be too abrasive on the small gas engine plugs with such soft metal used.