Using glass beads offers a range of benefits across various applications and industries due to their unique properties and versatility. Here are some key benefits of using glass beads:
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1. Gentle Abrasive Action:
Glass beads provide a gentle abrasive action that effectively cleans and finishes surfaces without causing damage or distortion. This makes them suitable for delicate materials like metals, plastics, and glass.
2. Controlled Surface Finish:
Glass beads allow for precise control over the surface finish. By selecting the appropriate bead size and pressure, you can achieve a range of finishes, from matte to glossy, according to your specific requirements.
3. Uniform Surface Texture:
The spherical shape of glass beads results in a consistent and uniform surface texture. This is especially important for applications that demand a uniform appearance and texture.
4. Reduced Dust Generation:
Compared to other abrasive materials, glass bead blasting generates less dust. This enhances visibility during the process and creates a cleaner work environment.
5. Environmentally Friendly:
Glass beads are environmentally friendly as they are made from recycled glass. This promotes sustainability by reducing the demand for new raw materials.
6. Versatility:
Glass beads are versatile and can be used in a wide range of applications, from surface cleaning and finishing to shot peening and decorative effects.
7. Non-Toxic and Inert:
Glass beads are non-toxic and chemically inert, making them safe to use in various industries, including those involving food, medical devices, and electronics.
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8. Consistent Results:
Due to their uniform shape and size, glass beads deliver consistent results, ensuring that each treated surface receives the same level of cleaning or finishing.
9. Stress Relief and Strengthening:
In shot peening applications, glass bead blasting induces compressive stress on metal surfaces, enhancing their fatigue resistance and overall strength.
10. Preservation of Dimensional Accuracy:
Glass bead blasting removes surface contaminants without altering the dimensions of the underlying material. This is crucial for applications where precise measurements are essential.
11. Wide Range of Applications:
Glass beads find applications in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, jewelry making, manufacturing, construction, and more.
12. Cosmetic Enhancement:
In industries like jewelry making and high-end products, glass beads can be used to create visually appealing matte or satin finishes.
13. Enhanced Adhesion:
The etching effect of glass bead blasting enhances the adhesion of coatings, paints, and adhesives, leading to longer-lasting finishes.
14. Easy to Dispose Of:
Glass beads are non-hazardous and can be safely disposed of, reducing environmental concerns associated with other abrasive materials.
Conclusion:
The benefits of using glass beads span across a wide range of applications, from surface cleaning and preparation to decorative finishes and industrial strengthening. The gentle yet effective abrasive action, combined with their uniformity and eco-friendly nature, make glass beads a preferred choice for professionals in various industries seeking precise, consistent, and environmentally responsible solutions.
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I was surprised how glass bead got lodged in a fork slider,it only takes a small amount to ruin bearing surfaces...so when a head is blasted ,spend Lot's of time cleaning the glass out, it will fill up any corner ,hole etc. the head drain is a cross drilled affair ,and this is a likly area to hold the stuff..so tap in some small taper plug's to stop it from the start!
De-grease well before . after wash,wash.wash....then wash again!
Frames require fine grit ,alloy Oxide ..just hope its not been powder coated :!:
Cost? Green backs or beers?...take a few of each...just in case
For the frame, they will probably use sand. I talked to one place and they just charge by the hour. If you're powdercoating the frame most powdercoaters will sandblast or have someone do it.
Vaporblasting is another option for the engine, although they use glass (I think) it's suspended in a water vapor. I'm still not convinced that's not enough to prevent later contamination.
I found blast media in the flats of my rocker spindles that had been there 25 years since my last rebuild. I thought I had made a pretty good job of cleaning it all out, obviously not. A friends Rocket three race bike ran the big ends after the cases were blast cleaned and a bloke at a campsite in Shropshire last year told me of his T140 with a trashed engine after the "oil in frame" frame had been grit blasted and powder coated.
Soda blasting is the way ahead and you can rig something up using a cheap compressor with good results. My article on this has just been printed in May Roadholder.
I've used bead blasting for 30 years without any of the reported problems, but I have had a lot of stick over the years from the women in my life for 'inappropriate' use of kitchen facilities to wash things down afterwards.
As JRB stated - clean is everything, and if you haven't got a compressor to get into all the crevices, you need to get friendly with someone who has, or buy one (never lost once bought).
I'd have to take issue with the statement that bead blasting erodes the alloy; it certainly erodes the corrosion, but that's all, IME.
I get my frames sandblasted, and expect to pay £30 for the frame, swinging arm and cradles. The small bits fit in the bead blaster, so I do those myself.
I had a T14o frame blasted and powdercoated 20 or so years ago, and it took me half a day to clean the grit out - there was a lot of it. Been using the bike for many years since and the engine still hasn't exploded.
I have sandblasted my own stuff in the past, which is why I'm more than happy to pay others to do it!
I'll be researching soda blasting though... pity I didn't renew my NOC menbership this year :roll:
sean said:
anyone had any parts blasted lately ?
Yes, but the guy I went to uses soda as a medium for engine parts. It's slightly less abrasive than glass and the blasting media is water soluble which means cleaning afterwards is a lot safer. Dry ice pellets or snow are good alternatives for engine parts which are often crusted with material that is much softer than the metal. The frozen ice hits the dirt and instantly evaporates which gives an extra cleaning effect.
Soda is not very good though for parts which are to be painted as the soda leaves a slightly alkaline trace on the surface and etch primers therefor are partially neutralised and thus stick less to the substrate. Walnut shells have a similar problem as the blasting hammers essential oils into the substrate which e.g. disturbs anodising of aluminium parts.
For frame parts I usually use glass or well used corundum.
Tim
Aren't there modern ceramic beads that would be good for blasting? And yes, lots of air and solvent to get the crap out of the nooks and crannies. That said, I had my barrels sand blasted and there was sand all in the thing. I used a power washer on it to get the stuff out, but of course it flash rusted immediately. I used a can of WD40 on it with a steel brush and scotchbrite to clean the rust off, it didn't seem to suffer from it. I'm not sure I would do that again, but not sure what I would do. A power washer with solvent like varsol or similar would be nice.
Dave
69S
When I used to design and build plastic injection tooling we would sometimes be required to produce a finish that would give the product a textured surface similar to the one on your monitor case, mouse or cell . A kind of matt surface for tactility.
We cut the tool out of stavex or EN 34 which was then hardened to ROC 38.
Glass bead blasting would erode that very hard surface. It will erode alloy. Steel and cast iron are able to withstand some types of media blasting such as wall nut shell's quite well.
Tomb stones are made by masking out the rock with masking tape and cutting out the letters of art work. The blast medium erodes the rock and just bounces off the masking tape.
If you really need to media blast your motor you may want to mask critical areas first. You can also mask out security code marking on cases so you can ID your shit if it gets stolen. Just do it subtlety and somewhere unobtrusive. keep a photo record of the job too.
What ever you do, find someone who is experiences and has a good reputation at doing this.
Good luck to you.