Choosing a sandblasting media?

[Jim]

I won't be buying anything right way but sometime in the next few months...

I'm sure we have some experienced knowledgeable people here so I figured I may as well use your wisdom.

I have a small siphon feed sand blast cabinet.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/truckgotstuck/cabinet.jpg

Right now it has some kind of sand in it. I was considering replacing it with glass bead but I'm not sure if that's my best choice.

What I'm looking for is my best all purpose choice. After reading the descriptions at KMS Tools, I'm leaning towards Garnet or Green Diamond Sand (much cheaper then Garnet).

Mostly what I will be doing is blasting old motorcycle parts to clean up, like the wheels of the ct70, or the battery box for the cl350 for example.

Thanks.

[FastDoc]

Here's a good short article that discusses the different media in a mototcycle application. I think about a cabinet for myself too.

http://www.dansmc.com/sandblasting.htm

[Cal25]

I use some stuff called Black Diamond. It was pretty cheap compared to other abraisives I looked at.

[Jim]

Thanks Doc, I think I read that one in the past. Judging by what I read at KMS I think I might try the Green Diamond sand. It's pretty cheap, 1/3rd the price of the garnet. Apparently the garnet and the green diamond sand has less health risks too.

[MICRider]

In our blast cabinets at work (and there are lots of them!) they use either glass bead or aluminum oxide. The glass bead is kind of neat in that it removes almost no metal and peens the surface... Gives the part an almost polished look. The aluminum oxide also removes very little metal but leaves a dull grey appearance as it doesn't have the peening action of the glass spheres. I believe the aluminum oxide is very expensive though, we buy it by the pound!

The important thing with a cabinet is to use an abrasive that wont pulverize quickly. Once the abrasive pulverizes (such as sand) it will not cut anymore and just makes dust. I believe thats why glass bead and aluminum oxide are so popular in cabinets. All the other abrasives work as well, but theyre more of a one shot deal. I personally would use glass bead as it does a nice job on parts that wont get any finish as well (like case covers etc.)

[Weldangrind]

X2 on the glass bead. A guy at Alder Auto once bead blasted a VW intake for me, and it came back looking like it had been polished.

[Jim]

How is it with the really rusty parts?

[Weldangrind]

Don't know the answer, but I think my buddy is using it in his cabinet (just like yours), so I'll ask him.

[MICRider]

How is it with the really rusty parts?

It'll be just fine for the corrosion you are likely to find on a motorcycle or automotive application. If you have really heavy deep pitting it will just take a bit longer to "burn" it out. The only abrasives that wont take rust off are the ones like walnut shell or soda. Most people mix aluminum oxide in with these abrasives if there is corrosion to be removed. Watch for holes in the really rusted stuff. I have (using a large blast pot) blown holes through 3/4 inch steel that had excessive corrosion on them. Rust is nasty stuff! Though, I guess I should be happy... It earns me a living!

Cheers,
Stew

P.S. One of my many paint jobs... I blasted this, did the bodywork, painted and lettered it. It was done with Endura catalyzed polyurethane. Stole the pic, but it is one of my paint jobs :)
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx261/MICRider/loco1008.jpg

[Jim]

Looks good :) Thanks for the info :)

Glass bead costs way more then the green diamond sand, but I'll maybe splurge and get the good stuff ;)

[FastDoc]

I'd splurge. You won't need much and it should last a long time.

Great train paint job Stu! I bet that was messy!

[MICRider]

I'd splurge. You won't need much and it should last a long time.

Great train paint job Stu! I bet that was messy!

Lol, thanks Doc. Messy is my job :). Lots of ladder work on these locomotives, you don't realize how tall they are till your working on them. Ive painted at least 6 of them. They are ancient switchers from the 60's... They used to buy them, drag em up here, and then rebuild and refurbish them. Huge undertaking! Wish I had before pics, you wouldn't believe the difference.

[MICRider]

Looks good :) Thanks for the info :)

Glass bead costs way more then the green diamond sand, but I'll maybe splurge and get the good stuff ;)

You could always pick up a bag or two of the cheap abrasive for the really ugly parts and then save the bead for everything else. Just keep it all dry and it will be fine. Moisture is your enemy!