Help me get started with bead blasting

cpirtle

cpirtle

Leathercrafter
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 28, 2001
Messages
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I'd like to pick up the basic equipment needed to do my own bead blasting.

What kind of equipment will I need to get started?

I figured out the blasting cabinet part but what else should I be looking to add?

Where does one find different types of blasting media?

Thanks!
 
You need an air compressor, and a nozzle with a suction hose and air attachment point. These are sometimes called sand/bead blast guns I believe. These items are in addition to the afore mentioned items.
 
Brownells is a good place for the beads. Your local building supply store has sandblasting sand, very cheap, around $6 per bag. The glass beads will run you around $50 for a bucket. Kit and others favor the ceramic beads but they are wicked expensive. If you're just going to do a couple of things you might want to check out Harbor Freight. They have a mini blasting gun with no cabinet for about $30 that has a hopper on top that you fill with the media. It works well for what it is but it's messy and you don't recover the media.
 
Peter is correct about the type of ceramic beads both our moderators use. They're about $180 a 2 1/2 gallon bucket, and peen the surface instead of roughing it up. They do produce a nice surface. I believe there are less expensive types of ceramic beads. Here's another source for "stuff" in general:

www.tptools.com
 
Guys, thanks for all of the helpful information.

Interestingly enough I grew up about 4 miles from TP Tools and drove by it every day for years, may have to plan a visit since it's still only about an hour away.

Has anyone experimented with tumbled finishes?

I was thinking just a small tumbler with some of the ceramic blasting media may work...?
 
I think Bob Terzuola does something like that with his blades to facilitate the subsequent fine finishing.
 
Chad,
If you have any of MikeO's that are blasted, they were done with the B60 ceramic bead. Nice finish.


Yep, the ceramic bead (Fusco Abrasives, LA CA) is initially expensive but a 25 kilo can will last me for 6 months or so. Best thing about it, other than the finish it gives, is there is NO dust in the cabinet and you don't need near the PSI to use it.

It doesn't hide a bad finish.
 
Kit, 7 of Mike's so far and I have on good autority (Eargle) that #2 of the small frame locks is being made for me. Have a few of yours as well ;)

What is the smallest quantity of that media I can order? Do you have a number for them?

Your finish is the one I want to try and do. I have a few standard bead blasted pieces I would like to "convert" :)

Thanks!
 
Chad,
Fusco Abrasives, 800-899-3872, LA, CA.
What you want is B-60 SEPR ceramic bead. Try for a 2 lb sample from them. Several makers have pooled up and split it.
It's not aggressive like alu oxide or glass bead and the piece has to be 400 grit finish or better.

Brett,
It depends on what you are bead blasting. Titanium, aluminum, etc don't need but about 40PSI and low cfm. Hardened blades need 90-100 psi.
 
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