Bead blasters sand

[terryk]

Hi all BSA buffs, I bought a new bead/sand blaster unit the other day and I was wondering what sort of bead or sand that you people use and recommend for most of our bike jobs. Things like cast iron barrells and heads, steel things and alloy crank cases etc for engine parts or whatever other bike parts I might to blast. Thanks in advace for advice. Cheers

[Brian]

What sort did you buy Terry, is it a cabinet type. I have a cabinet type and I use garnet grit, mainly because I get it free ! It works well but you need a decent compressor to run them. If you only have a small compressor then you can only blast for a short time then you have to wait for the compressor to catch up. Its a bit hard to recommend a compressor size as the ratings vary between manufacturers. I have two compressors and I hook them up in unison if I have a large job to do.

[MikeN]

 We have a Guyson Blasting cabinet at work that gets used for more "homework" than company jobs.
   I thought long and hard when I was thinking about bead blasting my A10 crankcases and in the end  decided I wouldnt risk it .I felt there were too many nooks and crannies for blasting media to get lodged unseen. Especially the long oilway that (I think from memory ) goes up to the cam gallery and has a couple of 45 deg bends that are plugged .I didnt think I would get a cleaning rod or pipe cleaner up there.
  Having said that Ive glass bead blasted loads of other cases,covers heads and rockerboxes .
 Sometimes use a corser grit to begin with if badly stained and finish off with the beads (Guysons "Honeite").
 Honite is a very fine bead and white in appearance and brings up alloy beautifully.
    Then jetwash with a "Karcher" or similar (several times) to make sure there is no grit left in the casting.
Mike

[LJ.]

You'll find like myself that the Sand Blaster is probably the best tool in your shed! I use mine a heck of a lot. I use just ordinary sand but sieve it first using a kitchen flour sieve. Be careful to avoid using silica sand normally used in block paving ( I dunnow why), often there is a health warning about this. To be extra sure and to keep viewing area clear, I hook up a vacuum cleaner to the blast box. Good bit of kit.

[chaterlea25]

Hi LJ and ALL
Quote from LJ above """I use just ordinary sand but sieve it first using a kitchen flour sieve. Be careful to avoid using silica sand normally used in block paving ( I dunnow why), often there is a health warning about this. To be extra sure and to keep viewing area clear, I hook up a vacuum cleaner to the blast box. Good bit of kit.""""

**WARNING** DO NOT USE ORDINARY SAND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ordinary sand breaks down when used as a blast media and releases silica's,(silicates) these give you silicosis
sometimes called "miners lung" this will kill you very very slowly and painfully

Use proper bought blast media, recommended for the particular application!

If you are using glass bead keep the air pressure below 60psi, or the glass breaks down and releases the above mentioned silica's, same consequences

HTH
John O R

[terryk]

Thanks all for replys and advice. Yes I bought a cabinet type. I did know about the health risks of using nomal sand. When using sand blasters for frames etc you need to wear an appropriate mask with clean filter.

I was told about the white power stuff to use in bead blast cabnets some time ago but I cant remember what its called. Brian is that garnet grit stuff white power? Thanks MikeN I will check out the honeite. What is a Karcher is that a water blaster. cheers Terry

[MikeN]

 

Terry ,sorry ,A "Karcher " is a brand name for a popular patio washer, or, as you say ,a water blaster .
  Also,on our cabinet at work we keep a roll of thin transparent plastic that we cut a length off with scissors, we place it in the viewing port in front of the glass, ie on the inside. (glass is retained by a couple of wingnuts) to protect the glass. Every few hours it becomes opaque and we just chuck it away and fit a new bit.  Saves buying an expensive piece of glass every time.
Mike