Bead Blasting Question

Leu Custom

Leu Custom

Joined
Jun 2, 2007
Messages
1,354
For all you guys that bead blast blades, what is a good PSI to use when using glass beads? I think i have used 60 PSI and it almost does nothing to the finish of my knives which have been buffed to 400 grit prior to blasting.

Should the blade be ruffed up with some sand paper or something?

Thanks in advance.

Pohan
 
i do a lot of blasting at work and leave it set a 120psi. if i need a lighter finish i hold the gun further away and just dust it.
 
I too run it at 120.

What grit are you using and what media?

I am running 70 grit aluminum oxide and it works really fast. I am going to try some higher grits to see what they look like but all I could find when I bought my blast cabinet last month was 70.
 
i find i alway use the highest my compressors are capable of

i have a variety of blast media, and glass beads are very subtle... on a hard steel like d-2 rc61 i have to go to about 1000x finish to get quick results with beads

400 woud be ok for coarse sand blast

more aggressive media like alox you can use coarser finish first but result will be rough blades

softer steels like rc57 you can go 220 grit straight to sand blast
 
Jason Magruder said:
I too run it at 120.

What grit are you using and what media?

I am running 70 grit aluminum oxide and it works really fast. I am going to try some higher grits to see what they look like but all I could find when I bought my blast cabinet last month was 70.
Click to expand...

I think it's cheap media that I got at Harbor Freight eons ago. Probably around 80 grit glass beads.
 
dude i was just on your website... why cover up that finish with blasting?

btw does phill know about you?
 
I was having problems bead blasting so I talked with a techie at the local sandblasting supplier.

He asked if I was using airline with plug in connections on it...yes I was...but how does that make any difference because I still run it at 120 PSI or there abouts.

Seems that the airline connections only have about a 3/16" orifice thus reduce the volume of air available to the gun.

He suggested plumbing the blaster in with a 1/2" diameter hose with no quick release connections and I can run as low as 80 PSI. Darned if that simple change didn't solve the problem.

It seems that the air volume is necessary to pick up enough blasting grit to do the job.

George
 
I just tried using some 320 grit A.O. on a 1080 blade and it was just as quick as the 70 grit but left a much nicer looking finish.

The knife was all covered in crud and rust and was never finished to any consistent grit. There are a couple of deep scratches that didn't hide well but even the 220 grit belt scratches were washed away.

To my surprise the sandblasting really made the hamon pop out. It doesn't show off all the activity that the original polish and light etch did but it still looks friggin cool. Yes, I sandblasted a knife that got a full on clay wrap and water quench.
 
I really have to get a new blast cabinet. This cabinet I bought at Harbor Freight eons ago, was a boat anchor to start with.
 
Jason Magruder said:
I just tried using some 320 grit A.O. on a 1080 blade and it was just as quick as the 70 grit but left a much nicer looking finish.

The knife was all covered in crud and rust and was never finished to any consistent grit. There are a couple of deep scratches that didn't hide well but even the 220 grit belt scratches were washed away.

To my surprise the sandblasting really made the hamon pop out. It doesn't show off all the activity that the original polish and light etch did but it still looks friggin cool. Yes, I sandblasted a knife that got a full on clay wrap and water quench.
Click to expand...

Yes I've had good results with blasting to get a temper line to show... the abrasive does not lie
 
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