As my 6.9 project progresses I'm always on the lookout for ways to make the engine bay nicer. One of these is media-blasting components. Unfortunately I'm not enough of a car guy to have much experience. I've noticed that (glass) bead-blasting works great on steel. With aluminum the surface takes on a nice matte finish that looks nice but is a bit rough. See picture of nicely cleaned thermostat housing. I'd expect it to retain dirt/grime/oil/etc and look bad again fast.
What do you guys do? Would coconut shell be a better choice? Thanks!
I use glass bead on most everything. If a part has a smooth surface I would not use it.
Walnut shell may be a good choice for something that you want smoother.
https://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/resources/blasting-media-selection-guide/
Quote from: rumb on 19 June 2019, 07:36 PM
I use glass bead on most everything. If a part has a smooth surface I would not use it.
Walnut shell may be a good choice for something that you want smoother.
https://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/resources/blasting-media-selection-guide/
Thanks. Guess I'll stick with glass beads. Following your example replating all the bits and pieces will come next. Cheers,
Dry ice blasting works great on aluminium.
Aquablasting (glass bead in a water jet) works very well on cast aluminium parts.
Dry glass bead blasting makes the alu surface quite sharp and it collects a lot of dirt again very quickly - aquablasting polishes the surface (but not too much), making it both original-looking and easy to keep clean.
Here's a good guy in Ireland, which I've used. A bit far for many reading this, but a good description, and you'll probably find someone more local to you if you use the terms mentioned in his description.
https://www.vapourblast.ie/services (https://www.vapourblast.ie/services)
Quote from: Type17 on 22 June 2019, 02:56 PM
Aquablasting (glass bead in a water jet) works very well on cast aluminium parts.
Dry glass bead blasting makes the alu surface quite sharp and it collects a lot of dirt again very quickly - aquablasting polishes the surface (but not too much), making it both original-looking and easy to keep clean.
Here's a good guy in Ireland, which I've used. A bit far for many reading this, but a good description, and you'll probably find someone more local to you if you use the terms mentioned in his description.
https://www.vapourblast.ie/services (https://www.vapourblast.ie/services)
Thanks for the info. That is exactly what I suspected. For the time being the bright thermostat housing does look sharp though. Probably not for long. I've already got a small cabinet though and I'm too cheap to send anything anywhere. I'm thinking walnut shells for aluminum and glass beads for steel.
Quote from: ptashek on 20 June 2019, 12:44 AM
Dry ice blasting works great on aluminium.
I also hear good reports on dry ice blasting.
If you don't want to send stuff out, then make sure that you get a nice soft grade of glass bead and keep the air pressure low-ish to prevent the bead breaking up into dust too quickly.
Walnut shell is good for cleaning delicate stuff, but won't take off heavy rust or even thick paint. It's brilliant for cleaning rubber, BTW.
Dry ice and soda blasting are two different medias.
Dry ice will clean the bottom of the car very good as it freezes the oil and blasts it off leaving the original undercoat.
Quote from: rumb on 24 June 2019, 08:10 AM
Dry ice and soda blasting are two different medias
You're right, I was thinking of the wrong terms. I've edited my post above to prevent confusion.