Sand blasters

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Tue Jul 10, 2001 1:30 pm

Does anybody use a sand blaster for rust removal or anything else?

Does anybody know what the coresponding grit size would be for the aluminum oxide or glass beads would be? Would I be making extra work for myself? Would walnut shell be a better medium?

Melchior · Post by **Melchior** » Tue Jul 10, 2001 3:11 pm

I have a blast cabinet for just that thing. Aluminum oxide is quite abrassive. Remember sand blasting removes metal. I use a medium glass bead. It takes a little longer but I have more control. Air pressure, also contributes on how fast the rust is removed and the amount of pitting that occurs. It leaves a satin finish wich can be hard to polish out. It works well on small areas.
Walnut shell is used for polishing (coloring) metal. Best used on aluminum.

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Melchior Erasmi von Frankfurt
AKA Neil Erasmus
In Service to the Dream
www.geocities.com/neilerasmus/index.html

JJ Shred · Post by **JJ Shred** » Tue Jul 10, 2001 5:20 pm

Patty's company (a general contractor) has sand blasting equipment they've offered to let us use. Would that work for removing zinc from riveted maille? Or would it deteriate it the way they are describing that acetic and muratic acid does? Anyone know?

Vermin · Post by **Vermin** » Wed Jul 11, 2001 1:02 pm

Yes, you'll be fine.
I use one most every day in the lab.
Just go easy!
Remember, it takes the surface off.
If the surface is steel, because you've blasted all the zinc off, steel is what is going to go away......
V