I bought some glass blasting media today, the old stuff is a bit old, and getting a bit worn. The old media was excellent stuff: Did an excellent job and left a nice finish on the material blasted, whether that be aluminium, steel, brass, even plastic.
This new stuff, although advertised as glass beads, is actually crushed glass. It takes forever to clean anything whether it be steel or aluminium. It struggles to remove mill scale on mild steel and leaves a pitted finish on aluminium and is not particularly kind to brass.
Some pictures:
1 and 2. Comparing the old glass beads with the new (crushed glass).
3. A speedo drive unit., wasn't kind to the brass threading and did a rubbish job on the aluminium housing.
4. A couple of bolts, before and after, New stuff doesn't do a very good job on steel in particular.
5. Piece of aluminium before and after blasting.
6. Tool finish on aluminium. Ok for tools like this, but not bike parts like carbs.
7. Finish on a side panel from the old, finer glass beads is superior.
Unfortunately, I can't find anyone who sells the old stuff I had, they all seem to have changed to the crushed glass. The crushed glass takes forever to do the job as well.
To get a good idea of the finishes, expand the pictures.
This new stuff, although advertised as glass beads, is actually crushed glass. It takes forever to clean anything whether it be steel or aluminium. It struggles to remove mill scale on mild steel and leaves a pitted finish on aluminium and is not particularly kind to brass.
Some pictures:
1 and 2. Comparing the old glass beads with the new (crushed glass).
3. A speedo drive unit., wasn't kind to the brass threading and did a rubbish job on the aluminium housing.
4. A couple of bolts, before and after, New stuff doesn't do a very good job on steel in particular.
5. Piece of aluminium before and after blasting.
6. Tool finish on aluminium. Ok for tools like this, but not bike parts like carbs.
7. Finish on a side panel from the old, finer glass beads is superior.
Unfortunately, I can't find anyone who sells the old stuff I had, they all seem to have changed to the crushed glass. The crushed glass takes forever to do the job as well.
To get a good idea of the finishes, expand the pictures.
