Bead/shot blasting.

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

Bead/shot blasting.

This topic has 14 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 29 December 2010 at 20:03 by Ian Abbott.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)

Author

Posts
7 August 2010 at 09:41 #2692
Paul Clapham
Participant
@paulclapham12886
Advert

7 August 2010 at 09:41 #54078
Paul Clapham
Participant
@paulclapham12886
Hi I am looking to purchase a shot/bead blast cabinet to clean up and refurbish my 3″ scale traction engine.

Can anyone sugest which one to buy, and which media to use?

Regards Paul.
7 August 2010 at 10:24 #54080
Eric Cox
Participant
@ericcox50497
As you’re only going to use it for cleaning up your traction engine wouldn’t it make sense to take the parts to a shot blast company.
7 August 2010 at 10:39 #54083
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Shot blasting companies charge around £1.00 per min for small jobs!
7 August 2010 at 10:41 #54084
Paul Boscott
Participant
@paulboscott25817
Paul

Beg, borrow or buy “How not to paint a locomotive” I think there is a good write up of the problems surrounding Blasting

Paul
7 August 2010 at 20:36 #54088
Paul Clapham
Participant
@paulclapham12886
Ok thanks for your replies, I do have a copy of “How not to paint a locomotive”I will dig it out and have a read.
9 September 2010 at 21:08 #55407
the artfull-codger
Participant
@theartfull-codger
paul, if you’re going to buy one there’s some pressurised pot ones at the autojumbles for around the £100 odd mark, they’re much more powerfull than the old suction type, sand blasters use quite a lot of cfm as well, sand is illegal in industry [I’ve used it myself on many occasions] with a mask on, otherwise if you’re not ”in the know” it’s probably good old machine mart!! grit. hope this helps.regards graham
10 September 2010 at 01:01 #55419
Sam Stones
Participant
@samstones42903
Hi Paul,

A couple of points about this subject.

1. Always wear strong rubber gloves.

As an apprentice, while cleaning some tiny parts on an industrial vapour honing machine (it’s like shot blasting but wet), I decided to leave off wearing the rubber gloves so that I could get a better grip of the parts.

Shortly after, I tried to pick up something from the bench only to discover that I’d worn away most of my thumb nail and some skin from my finger.

2. Since the mid 60’s as a technical officer in the plastics supply business, I have been advocating glass-bead blasting of mould surfaces of injection moulds when sticking of the parts (esp. polypropylene) is likely during ejection. This has become the norm with the better toolmaking shops, so if you are planning to go ahead in one way or another, maybe one of the plastics toolmakers can help.

Regards,

Sam
10 September 2010 at 08:53 #55425
Axel Bentell
Participant
@axelbentell
I have a bead blast cabinet its not up an running atm, but will be soon. Sorry you live in the UK! mine need 400ccm, so I have 5,5hp compressor. As you can see its not a set up you get for a one off job! For cleaning up you can use glass bead of various mesh. Id look up a gunsmith in the yellow pages, they often have this stuff for finishing and stress relieiving. A machine like this must have air filters, or you can get sick from the dust!

Also tobacco pipe makers have this equipment for finishing, if you know of any such craftsmen in the area!
10 September 2010 at 09:05 #55427
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
In NZ these days ground up glass seens to be the main thing available, and thats what I’ll use when and if I finish building my sand blasting cabinet, I made the gun, got the big plastic box. Just need the gloves and some form of flange to fit them to the box. My expiriance of blasting is with crushed wallnut shells, for de-carbing aero engines.

I don’t know if my compressor is quite up to it, but I’v got a second one recently, just needs some work on the pressure switch, then I can run them both. Ian S C
10 September 2010 at 11:34 #55432
Spurry
Participant
@spurry
The glass beads are not so aggressive as sand. Sealey sell a range of reasonably priced cabinets. The expense is not the cabinet, but the compressor to feed it with air.

I may able to help out, if you are anywhere near St Albans.

Pete
10 September 2010 at 19:23 #55441
Paul Clapham
Participant
@paulclapham12886
Hi Guys thanks for all of your input. I am tempted by the sealey range, I do have a 3hp compressor which I think will cope as for the media I will experiment with a range of products and see what the results are.I work in an industry where we use a grinding media which is not available to the general public this will be my first trial.

Regards Paul.
27 December 2010 at 22:43 #61300
John Reid 1
Participant
@johnreid1
Paul,

A late answer to your question!

I bought a 2nd hand Guyson blaster at an auction. It needed an overhaul, but all the parts are available from Guyson. They are very helpful and happy to deal with private individuals.

I use a 27cfm compressor.

Most of my blasting is done with Honite 13 (Glass Bead), which as already mentioned, cleans without dimensional change. Gives a good surface for etch-priming, but if you need a bit more of a “key” for paint primer, you could use 80-120 Saftigrit. Both are Guyson products. I have no connection with the company, except being a satisfied user.

John R
29 December 2010 at 19:30 #61406
Paul Clapham
Participant
@paulclapham12886
John thanks for the information, I have picked up a second hand sealey unit which I am refurbishing and will try the media that you have mentioned.

Regards Paul.
29 December 2010 at 20:03 #61407
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
After a local illegal drug manufacturer/pusher was sent off to spend time at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, I nicked his safe box, with its glass window and heavy gloves. A hole in the side for the shop vac and I had a great blast cabinet.

After a move, I used the pattern to build a bigger unit out of five quid’s worth of surplus MDF and a piece of glass from an old window. The hopper under the grille in the base was a five gallon plastic paint bucket with a spout in the bottom and the blast gun was a cheapo, a la Machine Mart. After the last move, I now need to build another new one.

Ian
Author

Posts