Sandblasting Media??

Michael J. Spangler

Michael J. Spangler

Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
2,181
Hey guys,

i bought some glass beads from harbor freight... they suck

what would you suggest for media and where should i buy it?

i've looked around and it seems like the silicon carbide is the way to go.

or maybe some ceramic?

what grit do you guys think i should go with? i know it breaks down a litte but what is everyone using for bead blast finishes? thanks a lot guys!!
 
Les Voorhies uses crushed garnet. Might want to contact him and see where he gets it.
 
AO media is fine for blasting knives, it's all I've ever used. I'd like to try SC to see if it's more aggressive, but AO lasts the longest from what I've heard.
 
There is a product named "Black Beauty" that is readily available as a blast medium. I have heard that it is a by product of iron slag, but whatever, it is very useful. You might try a bag of that. certainly cheaper than the silicon carbide. But, there are many blast media, nut hulls, steel shot, Aluminum Oxide, Etc. All have their place. Even common white beach sand like you buy at Lowe,s will work after its own fashion. You have to distinguish between blasting media that are expendible, or those that are recovered and reused in a closed system. "sounds like you need something more agressive than glass beads.
 
Wow, I've been using 80 grit ceramic beads I got from HF and didn't know any better. What's the issue? I thought I'd been having good luck and was about to go get some more. :)
 
I've been using 80 grit AO from HF with great success. For a even softer finish sometimes I'll mix glass beads with AO 50-50.
 
well seems like the glass does pretty much nothing to steel.... i can put a nice finish on copper and brass but anything else and it sucks.

i think i need to step up to the AO or SC.... i'm going to contact les about trhe garnet and see what he thinks

thanks agin guys keep em coming
 
I understand the SC is far more aggressive, it's also more expensive and far less durable than the AO. The cheap AO grit will be worth trying first I think.
 
This stuff called "black beauty" works top notch, it is slag from the steel making process.
 
I was under the impression that "Black Beauty" and "Black Magnum" were the silicates from anthracite slag? That's what it said on the bag. Crushed/sifted clinker, so to speak.
Very aggressive stuff. I used it to blast my porch rails....stripped 20 years of rust right off!
While I could see using it for tangs for epoxy adhesion, I personally think it may be a bit too aggressive for a blade finish.
 
AO is good but I tried crushed garnet this past summer and it's all I'll use now. It's 80 grit, I get it from Mills fleet farm. I don't know what it is about this finish thats better but when you oil it down and wipe it clean it just looks better than AO.

1st time i tried glass was in a very good industrial blaster we had at NWA. i tried to blast ATS34 and it would barely fog the surface, worked great on titanium though.
 
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