Sand Blasting

[Keith Tedford]

What are good air pressure settings for glass beading aluminum?

[SS427]

Keith,
Depending on staining and/or crustation, I typically blast mine at 60-80 psi with very good results. Aluminum oxide also works well for aluminum but I protect the machined surfaces when using AO. I also lower the pressure a tad.
Rick

[Belair62]

If you don't have staining or oxidation to clean...try plastic to get back to close to original finish

[bbdon]

I like to start with the air all the way down, when I start turning the pressure up, at first I just get air out of the gun, and then as I go higher, the media starts coming out. Start there, and see if it is enough pressure to clean the metal. I do a lot of blasting at 40-50 PSI. But you may not be able to get the coating off with this low pressure, it depends what's on the metal.

[JoeC]

Is this question for an alu intake manifold? Many people say not to use glass or sand media to blast them. There is a "reskin" process advertised for alu intakes. Not sure if this is a bead blast process with a low abrassive media or chemical process.

[T Billigen]

I think Jerry McNeish does this reskinning, I seen a tranny case and it looked real good!!

[Keith Tedford]

In the past I have had the aluminum intakes sent out to get glass beaded with fresh bead and they have come back like new and they have been very easy to keep clean. Sand blasting or old glass bead are definitely not the answer. Now that I have my own cabinet, I'm looking for tips for doing a good job the first time. Thanks.

[ssbrewskyaz]

The key to blasting engine parts i.e. intake manifolds, tune port runners etc. is the after cleaning. Pressure to clean the actual part depends obviously on the media being used. I would never use sand on aluminum. That's just me. Glass beads probably produce the least porous results with the most natural finish. AO works well however it produces a more porous result than glass.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN THE BLASTING PROCESS REGARDLESS OF THE MEDIA BEING USED IS THE CLEANING THAT TAKES PLACE ONCE THE BLASTER IS PUT AWAY. It is imperative to blow the parts out until you're overly sure that all the media has been displaced and removed, and then blow them out some more.

Media of any kind or degree sucked into the motor through the fuel system will ultimately find its way to the oil and eventually the bearings. ooops. ...SWB...

[Keith Tedford]

Our intakes got the soapy hot water and bottle brush treatment as well. As with prepping the block, you can never get it too clean.

[JoeC]

Any one ever try ice blasting?
web site http://www.iceblast.net/

[Keith Tedford]

What will they think of next? No problem around here keeping the ice frozen. They are calling for -28F for Saturday night. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif