bead blast

[joe sangster]

I want to get set up for doing a bead blast finish on S30V . Can anyone recommend the size air compressor & other equipment that I will need. Also , what type & size bead would you recommend ? Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

Joe Sangster

[joe sangster]

Is this subject taboo or do I just need to brush my teeth & change deoderants ? :confused:

Thanks ,
Joe

[mikec]

You asked late Sataurday night, wait until Monday and you should see some responses.

[Don Robinson]

Joe, you'll need a compressor that has a large enough tank to operate a few minutes with an open line. The bigger the better. My compressor has a 60 gal. tank. I blast for a few minutes, then wait for the pressure to build up again. I use medium grit glass beads. In a blasting cabinet they'll last a long time.

I've found that I need a minimum of 90 psi.

There, somebody did answer.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yup! What Don said! I got the Grizzly blast cab and a sears 5hp/60gal compressor. Its only "adequate". I'll think I'd died and gone to heaven should I get a better compressor.

[Don Robinson]

Well, son of a gun, Jeff! You're the first one on the forums that's agreed with anything I said.

[joe sangster]

Don & Jeff ,

Thanks very much for the info. I've never done any sand or bead blasting & don't have a clue as to what all I need. I do know that I'm tired & frustrated trying to get a passable finish on S30V !!

Cheers,

Joe

[Don Robinson]

You're welcome, Joe. When you get set up, I'll offer suggestions as to how to begin. Blasting after heat treat on S30V probably won't phase it, so do it before and after heat treat.

[joe sangster]

Don, I'm back ! I 've gotten a 7hp 60 gal compressor & a small cabnet along with some ceramic beads. Any advise on how to get started will be greatly appreciated. I've never used any type of blaster before so consider me as green as they get. Anyone else who has any advise on blastfinishing , please help ! I need all the help I can get !

Thanks,
Joe

[Don Robinson]

Now you're rolling, Joe. Use the smallest nozzle furnished with the cabinet, and keep everything dry. Add a water filter to the line on your compressor. Drain the tank thru the bottom valve every time after use. The heat from the compressor combined with the colder tank will cause water to separate. The water accumulates in the bottom of the tank, and comes out the airline with the air.

Don't use anything else in the cabinet except the glass beads or you'll contaminate it.

[joe sangster]

Don , thanks for the tips & advise . Do I need an inline pressure regulator also ? I ran it a little while last nite & the static electricity was really bad ! The beads collected so thick on the window that I could hardly see through it. How do I prevent this ?

Joe

[Don Robinson]

You're welcome, Joe.

Your compressor should have a built-in pressure regulator on it. A second one isn't necessary, but can be handy to reduce the pressure for other chores.

There is no moisture in glass beads, so the buildup on the screen must have come thru the hose as water vapor.

The beads will scatter all over in the cabinet, and soon make so many scratches on the plexiglass that it becomes difficult to see thru it. Most cabinets come with a clear peel0off plastic film on the inside of the window that is replaceable.

My window is badly scratched, so I've been thing of peeling off the protective sheet and seeing if a sticky plastic like Saran Wrap will work to replace it. :cool:

[Don Robinson]

Oh, I get it now. Static electricity, huh? I've never had that problem myself.

You might try grounding the metal fittings on the air line with a wire to someting else metal.

[joe sangster]

Don . maybe the static electricity thing is just an Artic problem. It has been from - 30 to +10 degrees F. here for the past 2 mo. I'll try grounding it & see if that helps.

Thanks for your help.
Joe

[Jeff Higgins]

Hey Joe, I get the static in my cabinet too. I peeled-back a few feet of copper bell wire and wrapped it around the gun all the way around the hose and grounded to the cabinet with a screw. I then grounded the cabinet to the metal conduit servicing the unit with power. That did the trick for me.