Bead blasting

[Chadly]

I have access to a bead blaster and was thinking about using it on some valve covers. Is there a certain grit I should use? I plan on either painting or polishing them, but dont want to use anything too harsh.

If it turns out well I will use it on the cobra intake as well.

 

[94m5]

Bead Blasting will give you a MUCH smoother finish than any type of Sand, but will take longer to strip. I stripped a set of Gen1 covers with glass bead, and gave up halfway through the second one.


I would have them Sand blasted to strip them, THEN hit them with the glass bead to smooth them up.


Mike

 

[Kevin O'Connell]

media blasting

There are many media you can use, including ground walnut hulls that won't damage or change the surface finish of the items. Check with media manufacturers for advice. Sand blasting removes lots of material. Bead blasting can be regulated with air pressures to give the desired resluts. If paint removal is the desired result, use a stripper, then media blast for desired finish.

 

[ford nut]

I use glass bead at work, I don't know how many people or shops who use silica sand anymore.
It is close to being outlawed here by OSHA.
Once it gets in your lungs its there until you take a dirt nap.
If you get the right grit of bead it should strip a valve cover easy.
Do you know what grit you were using Mike?
You can get 80 grit then finish it with 170.

 

[ground_zero298]

Bead Blasting will give you a MUCH smoother finish than any type of Sand, but will take longer to strip. I stripped a set of Gen1 covers with glass bead, and gave up halfway through the second one.


I would have them Sand blasted to strip them, THEN hit them with the glass bead to smooth them up.


Mike

+1 for the sand then bead to get the finish, pops did it to his shovelhead, looked real good when done.

 

[kustomizingkid]

I've always used coal slag for blasting... but I've never used it for finishing purposes...

 

[lsc8]

soda blasting works pretty fast too

 

[slowmkviii]

we only use glass at work too and there are a lot of grits to choose from

 

[Kevin O'Connell]

blasted

They even use dry ice now- no residue and no damage to surfaces. Lots of options to sand.