Bead Blasting- Saves Grinding?

Peter Atwood

Peter Atwood

Joined
Oct 26, 2000
Messages
2,468
I was wondering if, in addition to non reflectiveness, one of the main reasons for bead blasting blades is to save on the amount of finish grinding. How much of the flaws will bead blasting disguise?

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Peter Atwood

email:fountainman@hotmail.com
 
Bead blasting has gotten a bad name from the years past. Lets break it down.

Sand blasting is done with sand. This hides all kinds of flaws.
Aluminum oxide blasting does about the same thing .
Glass beading the same thing after it is cycled a few times.

All of the above cuts the metal and leaves open pours.

Ceramic Peening is a different case.
This closes the pours. YOU CANNOT hide anything.
The blades have to be finished to a 400 grit finish or the grind lines will show.
There is a difference.

Thanks to KIT CARSON many makers are ceramic peening now. I like the finish very much.
Ceramic peening is small round ceramic balls.
It leaves small dimples like shot peening instead of cuts as the sand, glass and AO does.

Ceramic peening is a plus!


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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
MADD MAXX !
 
Jerry,
No special equipment. It even takes less air pressure to do it, except on the real hard to do steels.
It's expensive. A 25 kilo can is about $160 or so plus shipping. Only place I have found it is Fusco Abrasives in L.A. The big advantage is that it will last up to 20 times longer than glass bead and leaves the finish Darrel mentioned. B60 SEPR is what you want. I know of several makers that went in on a can and split it. 10 pounds of it will last the average knifemaker a year, I bet.
 
I took Kit's advice and bought some of the Zirblast ceramic beads and it does an excellent job. I have a whimpy compressor and can only shoot it at 75-80 psi, but it does a very nice light grey finish. As far as bead blasting to save finish time, not hardly. At the pressure I shoot it, it actually makes blems stand out more. I still take my blades thru 600 grit and then blast them. The best part of it is you can bead blast 1095 and it makes it alot more resistant to rust since it hammer peens the steel.

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Take care!! Michael

Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
This is some interesting stuff. I'm glad I asked the question.

Is the new Koval 605 kit blade an example of a ceramic bead blasted finish? It has a very smooth satin look to it- almost frosted in a way. If so, then that's what I'd like that Mad Max blade to look like Darrel! Thanks!

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Peter Atwood

email:fountainman@hotmail.com
 
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