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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 08:25 PM

Title: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 08:25 PM
Alreet lads :)

I've got an idea for some cranks and am looking to get them media blasted with baking soda, walnut shell or something similar to achieve a matt nice flat alloy look but without the overly granulated look of heavier media.

Tried wet or dry and fine wire wool but it's impossible to get a truely even matt look. Don't want to trust them to a company that don't appreciate the finesse needed so who can help me?

:)
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: sawzall on February 19, 2015, 09:03 PM
Try a red layered scotch bright wheel on a polishing
Mop clint,great for a satin finish
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 09:12 PM
Cheers Phil will give it a whirl, hopefully it should just get in around the spider. Did think about a light etch with oven cleaner but the parts I have stripped in the past have never had a totally even finish :(
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: Bfellows on February 19, 2015, 09:15 PM
You need to tumble them rather than blast for a nice matt even finish - have a mooch through the yellow pages for metal burnishers ;)
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 09:20 PM
I've actually got a vibratory tumbler and was playing with it this evening but it's not really big enough for a crank arm. I know a company in Birmingham but I plan on leaving the face of the arm and the spider rim polished so would be easier to mask off for shot blasting.

will get a pic of thermal up in a min :)
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: Bfellows on February 19, 2015, 09:26 PM
Awkward sod ;)
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 09:29 PM
Here she is. Want it all matt grey with high polish on the Fuji logo surface


(http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x455/oldschoolace/Mobile%20Uploads/dcbd2bdb-d8a0-48f3-8288-5cfc9b0e5285_zpsd112a6a9.jpg)
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: Bfellows on February 19, 2015, 09:37 PM
Could you not tumble them then re polish the other bits......?
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 09:44 PM
Probably but i hate polishing and the faces are only a wipe over with some peek away from being perfect  :-[
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: dp and chopper dude on February 19, 2015, 10:46 PM
Could you attach a container big enough for the crank arms and the media to a sander (or other power tool) and vibrate it that way?
Or even make your own blaster like this one:
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 I'm sure you'd be able to knock something up.
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 19, 2015, 11:05 PM
I have already "upgraded" my tumbler with a few mods and it will now vibrate heavy cone shaped media but a bigger bowl would render it useless :(

might try and find a pal with a compressor and go the homebrew box of baking soda route
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: Bfellows on February 20, 2015, 09:12 AM
Must be a decent soda blasters in your neck of the woods?  For the £5 it would cost on a dinner break special I'm sure they'd sort it for you?
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: griff on February 20, 2015, 10:06 AM
I've actually got a vibratory tumbler and was playing with it this evening

That's something you don't hear every day  :teef:
Title: Re: Any of you lads do media blasting?
Post by: oldschoolace on February 20, 2015, 10:40 AM
I've actually got a vibratory tumbler and was playing with it this evening

That's something you don't hear every day  :teef:


 :LolLolLolLol: have to do it in the man shed, the missus finds the noise I make really annoying  ;)

Think you might be right Bert after a bit of research it looks like this homebrew stuff is very hit and miss if you don't have the right compressor. Will give Phil's idea a go and if not will ask the lads who aquabasted my mags in Stockport.
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