Blast it!

[ian65]

So i bought this from the restoration show a couple of weeks ago..... wanted one for years and finally got around to getting one.
I'm currently using crush glass blast media which is great on rusty parts but a bit severe for alloy..... it will probably calm down a bit once it's done a few cycles through the gun and broken down a bit but I want something a with a lighter touch to do my inlet manifolds....
Anyone else got a blast cabinet and what blast media do you use and for what? Any handy hints?

[MelloYello]

OOOoooohhhh fancy. Seems like one of those things that would be very satisfying to use.

I have had no experience but I have read that ground walnut shell made a good media to use.

[Hobbawobba]

I've always wanted one of these. I checked them out at the NEC Classic show last week. We have a good one at work but unsure if I'll be allowed to use it for my own stuff hahaha. Got any pics of before/after blasting?

[Casey]

Ooooooooooooooh, nice - I can't help with your query Ian, but I keep looking at getting one of those. Be very interested to see how you get on with blasting an alloy piece.

[kenwhiteside]

Bead blasted the alloy inlet manifolds on the elford then clear coated with high temp clear. Still looks good 2 years later.

[ian65]

Bead blasted the alloy inlet manifolds on the elford then clear coated with high temp clear. Still looks good 2 years later.

did you use glass bead or plastic?

[kenwhiteside]

Glass beads I think. Gave a nice finish.

[DB RX63]

I've heard that some companies use crushed walnut shells where they don't want to damage items, also some form of soda is sometimes used which is softer.

I used these guy's for my car, but surprised to just see that they have ceased trading.

http://www.blast-cleaning.co.uk/index.p ... rticleid=8

[Casey]

Couldn't resist a "VAT Free" voucher offer at Machine Mart and just lugged home a Clarke version of that cabinet. Might be a while before I can set it up fully, but I already have a bench full of rusty parts that need attention and doing it with wire wheels, etc, was getting to be a chore!

[gt_james]

I've heard that some companies use crushed walnut shells where they don't want to damage items, also some form of soda is sometimes used which is softer.

I used these guy's for my car, but surprised to just see that they have ceased trading.

http://www.blast-cleaning.co.uk/index.p ... rticleid=8

walnut shells are used for rumble polishing, I'd have thought a bit soft for blasting.