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  #51  
Old 09-25-2020, 02:38 PM
Gilly11277 Gilly11277 is offline
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Skjos: I am assuming all of your work was done via dry blasting correct? Have you ever tried a wet blasting cabinet, or vapor blast, to accomplish any of this? The reason I ask is that I purchased a wet blast cabinet and normally use 325/170 glass bead media and it normally works quite well. Main use is for cleaning up old motorcycle parts, which are normally aluminum.

If I have something in really bad condition I will add some aluminum oxide, but then I have to change out my media back to pure glass beads. I have run into some issues with "hot spots" on large, flat pieces so you have to be careful how you approach them. I didn't see it mentioned, but especially on carburetors after blasting them I rinse as best I can and then put them in my ultra-sonic cleaner to make sure no residue is left on/in the part. You gave great advice to strip all parts down.

I have used baking soda by itself and it really does very little other then super clean the pieces. Running with 70 psi and 325/170 glass beads tends to make parts quite shinny but using a smaller blast nozzle and about 35 psi tones down the shine. With old motorcycles it is all about making the parts look original which can be quite difficult to do.

I am wondering what your thoughts are about wet blasting firearm parts and if you have ever tried this method? Thanks for all your earlier efforts.

Rick H.

I can't believe you just asked this, I was thinking the same thing. I live in IL and found a guy that does "Vapor Honing" and from what I can see it's superior to a dry blast but also gives a different finish, even if using the same type of media. I'm genuinely torn but I know he can do conventional dry blasting so I may stick with that to be safe. I'd love to see pictures comparing the two on the same pistol, that would be neat.
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  #52  
Old 09-25-2020, 06:11 PM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Gilly: I am not declaring which method is better, but I like to wet/vapor blast because it is more forgiving. There are some down sides to it such as getting rid of the rinse water and changing the solution. It is not as easy as dry blasting for sure. I have to formulate a system for saving media that is still good and can be re-used. Blending of the final finish is much easier with wet blasting though and worth the effort and investment. The more I work with this wet blast machine the more I like it and it gives some amazing results on motorcycle parts that most people would throw away. I will try to post some pictures of some of the work I have done with it later on. I wish I had an old junk S&W frame to experiment with, but alas I do not. Where do you live in Illinois? I am near Milwaukee, WI.

Rick H.

Last edited by Rick H.; 09-25-2020 at 06:12 PM.
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  #53  
Old 09-25-2020, 06:43 PM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Here are a few pictures of some of the stuff I played with. The aluminum block was taped in half to show what it looked like before and after. A piece that large and flat is somewhat difficult to do because it is easy to get what's called a "hot spot" if you aren't careful. Much as I hate to say it, there is also some luck involved in a piece this big to avoid the dreaded "hot spots".

The next picture is "before" shot of a brake drum from an old Kawasaki. I never thought it would turn out worth a hoot, but the second picture shows the "after". I was truly amazed at how this piece turned out. Rick H.
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File Type: jpg Aluminum Block.jpg (61.1 KB, 44 views)
File Type: jpg Brake Drum Before.jpg (77.0 KB, 43 views)
File Type: jpg Brake Drum After.jpg (79.8 KB, 44 views)
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  #54  
Old 09-27-2020, 01:38 PM
Gilly11277 Gilly11277 is offline
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Gilly: I am not declaring which method is better, but I like to wet/vapor blast because it is more forgiving. There are some down sides to it such as getting rid of the rinse water and changing the solution. It is not as easy as dry blasting for sure. I have to formulate a system for saving media that is still good and can be re-used. Blending of the final finish is much easier with wet blasting though and worth the effort and investment. The more I work with this wet blast machine the more I like it and it gives some amazing results on motorcycle parts that most people would throw away. I will try to post some pictures of some of the work I have done with it later on. I wish I had an old junk S&W frame to experiment with, but alas I do not. Where do you live in Illinois? I am near Milwaukee, WI.

Rick H.
I live in Dekalb, IL. Not too far from you. Also I just acquired my 4506, so now I have a 9mm and a .45. Both will need to get blasted but they are in great shape already, should be pretty painless once I can find someone to help me do it and not charge an arm and a leg. I’m definitely liking the McMaster-Carr results though.
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Old 02-15-2024, 05:52 PM
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paknheat paknheat is offline
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This has been one of the most informative threads I’ve ever read on metal finishing. Necro thread & all.


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