Blast cabinet media

[o1racing03]

I think I am near the end of the usefulness of the glass bead in my cabinet and may want to try AO in it this time. It is more expensive than GB ($43p/50lb). I use BB when blasting the larger parts outside and am able to reclaim some of which doesnt concern me too much as it is so cheap($8p/50lb). Should I consider using BB in the cabinet over AO? How much differance will I see if using the AO?

[SCOTTRODS]

I think I am near the end of the usefulness of the glass bead in my cabinet and may want to try AO in it this time. It is more expensive than GB ($43p/50lb). I use BB when blasting the larger parts outside and am able to reclaim some of which doesnt concern me too much as it is so cheap($8p/50lb). Should I consider using BB in the cabinet over AO? How much differance will I see if using the AO?

It's faster tha Glass.... AO is very quick compared to almost any media I've use,.... But I agree, the price is something to consider. I've got 110 pounds of Ruby Garnet I'm going through now,.... It's as good as the glaass bead at cleaning and profiling, but it's a lot quicker to wear out, and it's pretty dusty.

Have you tried the Crushed white glass outside? that's the only way to use it,.... It's cheap (close to black beauty) and it produces dust beyond compare! does a great job, very fast,... first time used,... wears out quick.

[o1racing03]

I tried the red garnet and immediately saw the 2 issues you refer to, so I have shied away from that stuff, I was given a bag to try by my buddy with the waterjet table as this is what is used to cut on the table. How would the BB be in the cabinet compared to the price of AO? and I havent seen the cut glass you refer to, where would I find it, I usually get my media at the local TSC. If I ever want to use the red garnet , I can get thousands of pounds of reclaimed from the waterjet table, after they use it once they shovel it into a dumpster to discard.

[SCOTTRODS]

I tried the red garnet and immediately saw the 2 issues you refer to, so I have shied away from that stuff, I was given a bag to try by my buddy with the waterjet table as this is what is used to cut on the table. How would the BB be in the cabinet compared to the price of AO? and I havent seen the cut glass you refer to, where would I find it, I usually get my media at the local TSC. If I ever want to use the red garnet , I can get thousands of pounds of reclaimed from the waterjet table, after they use it once they shovel it into a dumpster to discard.

I have a place down the street that sells all kinds of abrasives, from diamond cut wheels/blades, to steel shot, sandpaper,.... you name it. They sold me the crushed glass.... all I have heard about the Black Beauty is that it's very inconsistent as far as size and shape of grain, thuis causing clogs in a siphon feed gun.... I won't use it simply because I don't want to play that game with a media. I want consistent size shape and quality.... I'm going back to the AO next time around, but probably a smaller grit... 80 or higher... maybe 120 even.

[o1racing03]

I have a place down the street that sells all kinds of abrasives, from diamond cut wheels/blades, to steel shot, sandpaper,.... you name it. They sold me the crushed glass.... all I have heard about the Black Beauty is that it's very inconsistent as far as size and shape of grain, thuis causing clogs in a siphon feed gun.... I won't use it simply because I don't want to play that game with a media. I want consistent size shape and quality.... I'm going back to the AO next time around, but probably a smaller grit... 80 or higher... maybe 120 even.

I only use the 80 grit BB ,so it might be worth a try, if it doesnt work i'll just put it in the outside blaster and get the AO.

[BubbaKahuna]

Old thread but since I just found it on Google I'll reply anyway.

At the blasting place I used to work at, we would regularly add some glass bead to AO or BB to keep it flowing freely if the humidity in the shop got too high. The dark medias will clog easily in lots of conditions, but I've never seen Glass Beads clog. If you've ever spilled some glass bead blast media on a concrete floor you'll know why. It's slipperier than Armor-All on wet ice.

Cheers!

[FigureLLC]

add some glass bead to AO or BB to keep it flowing freely
Cheers!

good piece of advice! i know of one coater that is fantastic that uses AO/glass mix, and i always wondered why he used that over straight AO. that's probably it.

i don't feel like the cost of AO is a big deal. it works fast (time is money, right?), is low-dust, and it lasts forever. i never change it, just add more as it breaks down and gets taken into the dust collector. i use 60 in a blast-it-all siphon blaster with a pretty big hose at 60-70psi and it leaves a nice profile.

[mcuozzo]

FWIW, I use bb in my harbor freight cabinet and have not had any problems with clogging. It's pretty humid in the summer here (NJ) but dries out after August.

I'm using the smaller size BB though and I get it from grainger. As mentioned I just add more media as it's used up and sucked up by the dust collector.

Matt