Bead Blasting 101

[Curare]

I'm a noob when it comes to media blasting but I want to learn how. I'm young and I think I could get a lot of use out of a blasting cabinet set-up over my life time.

I have a large air compressor for air tools in my garage to use. What would you recommend for a small, decent quality bench top blasting set up? I want to stick in the $250 range as best as possible.

(My local refinisher is out of business, and I relied on him for my bead blasting and blueing. Now I'd like to be able to refinish on my own using a blasting cabinet and airbrushed Gun-Kote type products).

Thanks in advance.

 

[ACORN]

I'm kinda in the same boat as you. Harbor Freight has a couple of bench top models. I think they run around $100.00-$125.00. They have a store in eastern Ohio. If you're going to do handguns and small parts I think one of them should work. I can't speak to the quality of them though. Do a web search, they have a site.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

So long as there aren't too many moving parts on whatevery you buy from Harbor Freight you should be ok. Their quality isn't good, but may be ok for limited use. I was going to buy some nail guns from them for $100 but decided not to when I read about a number of problems and found professional porter cable, bostich etc... reconditioned for $200. In gun terms think Jennings, hi-point and Raven.

 

[mete]

If you do any bead blasting of stainless steel make sure you don't use blast media that has been used on carbon steel - you rust the stainless.

 

[Ricochet]

Just pick up one

at Harbor Freight. Not a bad little cabinet. Cost was 99 plus tax. Has a light inside and lockable lid.

 

[shoot870p]

?

If you do any bead blasting of stainless steel make sure you don't use blast media that has been used on carbon steel - you rust the stainless.

how is that again? "rust" it or what?

 

[mete]

Bead blasting with carbon steel will remove little bits of steel and that will be in the blast media.If you then use that media on stainless steel some of the carbon steel particles will be imbedded into the surface of the stainless.The carbon steel particles will rust and the rusting will CONTINUE into the stainless steel.

 

[gamachinist]

Same thing goes for aluminum,if you blast steel and then aluminum,or vice versa,it will transfer to the different metal causing problems when you refinish the metal (unless you are using a paint on finish,then it won't matter too much).

 

[AnthonyRSS]

I've got one of those $100 set ups from Harbor Freight and it worked alright. The hose that came with the gun broke while i was untangling it....I had to rig my own. One caveat, though- How big is your air compressor? I thought mine was good enough for a small blasting cabinet but it doesn't have a 100% duty cycle. It is a 2 hp, 9.5 cfm, 20 gal. It works as long as you take breaks and let it cool off.

 

[kimbernut]

Been studying this for a while but have yet to make a move.The best looking/sounding cabinet I have seen is at Overstock.com under the tools then click on airtools.