Media Blasting

I just picked up a bench top cabinet and would like to be educate on the subject of media blasting.
What do you use yours for?
Which type of media do you prefer?
What grit/screen size of media?
What your preference on tip materials and size?
What are your creative solutions to keeping the dust down and the visibility up your cabinet?

I have a friend that has a bench top model and I have used it a few times for cleaning heads and various aluminum parts. Soda worked fine for cleaning the aluminum to a new state as long as you use an overlapping pass with the nozzle. Glass beads are also nice for the same results, but I didn't use on anything that had a possibility of internal engine exposure. Not being an expert I believe the soda is harmless for about all applications anything else is more abrasive in nature and I wouldn't use on internal engine surfaces. As for keeping dust down he has a exhaust vent hooked up to the back that has a filter on it before blowing outdoors. I'm sure someone will chime in with better and more extensive facts, but this is what works for me the little I use a blast cabinet.

From my experience. I use a shop vac for dust removal. I have a bench top plastic cabinet and recently purchased a 40LB self standing HF cabinet. Best purchase ever. I got it for $160 after coupons (they have since changed coupon policy, it's now $200) I have used black beauty for many things, but again not around engine internal stuff. It's the only thing that works well to remove powdercoat. I have walnut shells, works great for pistons. Also silica sand, good general media.

I am thinking my first project will be the aluminum cases, followed by the jugs and possibly the head. For the cases I have some staining that the degreaser didn't remove. The jugs are the only thing with paint. I wont be blasting anything that need to be polished. I am also thinking that I'll just let the powder coater take care of anything he is going to do. Will the walnut shell do the job or should I get the glass beads, and of course what grit size?

You should consider the material to be blasted prior to selecting the appropriate blast media. Alloy cases do well with soda or bead blasting, walnut shells are gentle but can leave a film of oil that could contaminate surfaces to be painted, cylinder barrels are cast iron and you will spend hours trying to clean them with anything too soft and paint removal can be difficult and time consuming with most types of media, you are generally better to use paint stripper first.

dave M said:

You should consider the material to be blasted prior to selecting the appropriate blast media. Alloy cases do well with soda or bead blasting, walnut shells are gentle but can leave a film of oil that could contaminate surfaces to be painted, cylinder barrels are cast iron and you will spend hours trying to clean them with anything too soft and paint removal can be difficult and time consuming with most types of media, you are generally better to use paint stripper first.

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Good Advice,
I was worried that the glass beads might be too aggressive for the cases. The paint stripper makes good sense.
Thanks