when should I bead blast ?

RDT

RDT

Joined
Dec 17, 1999
Messages
4,117
Hi All,
I've never bead blasted because I don't really like it much and let's face it, it speeds up pitting and rust corrosion in steel whether stainless or not. However, I have been enjoying the contrast in a knife with both bead blasted sections and satin finished sections. So, I will try my hand with it and see how they turn out. My questions is should I bead blast before heat treat or after heat treat. My instincts tell me after heat treat but I would prefer before heat treat as it will speed up the process of putting the knife together. What should I do ? thanks for any suggestions.....RDT
 
RDT,
Blast after heat treat, you can do the whole blade and it will remove all of the scale. Just be careful not to over do it, you will lose any sharp grind lines and they might have a tendancy to blend together. Then satin finish, it should be easy depending on the grit you use to blast.
 
RD, buy some Zirblast ceramic beads from Fusco Abrasives. It's expensive but it's so hard it doesn't eat into the steel, it peens it, like millions of tiny hammers. Actually makes the steel more rust and corosion resistant.
 
Thanks Striper and L6, much obliged. I thought I would have to after the heat treat. The steels probably too soft to do something like that before treat. Take care.....RDT
 
RDT, I haven't had a blaster for very long and have not used it too much yet. But, I have seen Tom Anderson's method and it is to blast before heat treat. He says that when he gets the blades back from Paul Bos they look almost the same as when they go out, such is the great heat treating work of Mr. Bos. I'm not sure if he reblasts them or not but he may before final assembly.
 
I actally blast before and after heat treat.

Remember to keep your air supply dry, never use rust-contaminated media, and apply oil to the finished blade as soon as possible. ;)
 
Thanks Pete and Tom, interesting to do it before and after. Take care.....RDT
 
Michael:

I use a mixture of 100 grit glass beads and 240 grit silicon carbide.

I also run the blades through an ultrasonic cleaner before sending them out for heat treat.
 
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