Does anyone here do, or know of someone who does, glass bead blasting?

I have a couple of revolvers that I would like to have done.

I do my own and if you like to piddle in the garage, I would recommend you try it yourself. As long as you have an air compressor, you can get everything else you need for $150. As long as you know how to completely dissasemble and reassemble the revolver, its pretty easy. I gt great satisfaction out of buying a neglected stainless revolver into a nice satin beast.

qballwill, can you post some before and after pictures?
Thanks!

I have some after pictures I can post later, but no before pictures. I wouldn't mess with one that has later etching though. The blasting will take the etching right off.

Mag-Na-Port does it, and they do it well.

Here are some that I have done.
65 retired police duty gun

Pawn shop neglected 66

686-3 I found in a pawn shop that was scratched, light corrosion specs and stains.

Another 686 that had a rough life

625 that was sick lookin

S&W will do it:



(I wish I had a 'before' picture; this 65-2 was in really bad shape before I had S&W fix it up)

When you bead blast, do you do anyting to protect the writing on the gun?

no protection for the stamping. The laser engraving on the other hand needs to be covered but keep in mind whatever is covered wont match the rest of the gun.

I media blast all day every day. You could probably abrade without worry also (?)...but I prefer the sand-blasting typically. I work in a Speed Shop and have access to these machines every day. Something cool about starting with a neglected part and ending with something purty.

OK guys, thanks.

could you guys please give me some info about how to do this. i have access to all the stuff. but what PSI should i blast at and what what media should i use?

KEEP IN MIND I HAVE NO TRAINING AND I JUST GUESSED ON WHAT I WAS DOING. With that said, Ive done mine anywhere from 85 psi to 115 psi. I think 90-100 does a good job. Of course if you start out on the lower end, you can always move up if you arent happy. I have read some people blast their guns as low as 40 psi. I am not even sure what size media I use. I just bought a box of whatever Harbor Freight had in stock.

qballwill, you did a really nice job on those!
One day I'll have my 3" CS-1 bead blasted back to perfection.
I'm still in the process of trying to wear it out and make it look ugly every chance I get. It goes on every hunting trip and most fishing and camping trips. The finish on those guns show the wear so badly but I know a quick bead blast will have it looking new again somewhere down the road so I don't worry about it. It's my workhorse!

Looks much rougher than this now!

I ordered a "select" M66 from J and G. The top strap was so beat up, it looked as if the pistol was worn by a motorcycle cop in a bad spill. I cleaned it up with a file, then bead-blasted the entire pistol lightly, with fine media, probably aluminum oxide. It took a lot of time on the "soft" setting. But it was a nice result. I think it is better to use a fine media, and a light setting, even though it takes longer.

I haven't seen anyone mention media size. There is quite a range, and the finish will vary greatly based on the media size.

Glass bead media

Here's the setup I've been thinking about getting for the garage, is their something better around the same price <$200.. Which Glass Bead Media will give that satin look...

Harbor Freight sells a small bench top blasting cabinet that comes with the gun, pickup hose, replacement sheilds for the top. I bought mine some years back for about $100 so the price may have gone up since then. Frank