Best thing to Bead blast Aluminium with?

If you want the best surface for the paint to adhere to then 120 grit aluminum oxide is your best get. Silica sand and glass don't rough the surface up enough.
 
I've used sand and aluminum oxide. Didn't use Armacoat, used a spray and bake. Worked out just fine. Watch your air pressure; you can cut aluminum.
 
Trust me, i use a LOT of armacoat and Striker is right, aluminium will rough the surface enough(120 is good), i have done 3 or 4 complete ar-15 in armacoat and i clean to remove all old oil and grease (to be sure nothing stick to it) then blast and ONLY remove all dust with air (careful, use a dryer or 2 on the line or you will throw fine particle of water) and paint, with air dryer too. don't clean with other stuff prior to paint and the less delay from sand to paint is the best, also, use rubber glove at ALL TIME to hold part's, you don't whant to have grease from the finger that MAY prevent the paint from a good adesion to melal... ar-15 plastic part is the same, sand blast and paint, i have NEVER used more than 50PSI on a tank sand blast (don't know for suction sand blast) for aluminium or plastic...
just my 2 cent's

Sendero
 
Here are some helpful hints.
Don't go over 20 psi
use fine glass beads
remember that anodizing physically soaks in to the aluminium.
don't try to remove all of it. you are basically just cleaning it
if you remove all the anodizing you are removing way to much material.
aluminum oxide is too aggressive. It leaves a great surface for paint to bond to but removes too much material.


Hope this helps.
 
Patriot said:
Here are some helpful hints.
Don't go over 20 psi
use fine glass beads
remember that anodizing physically soaks in to the aluminium.
don't try to remove all of it. you are basically just cleaning it
if you remove all the anodizing you are removing way to much material.
aluminum oxide is too aggressive. It leaves a great surface for paint to bond to but removes too much material.


Hope this helps.
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It won't blast a gob of grease off metal so I don't think you need to worry about removing any material. And I blast at 40 psi.
This is the method recommended by KG Coatings and ArmaCoat.
from the ArmaCoat website.
Sandblasting: At Barret Arms we use 120 grit aluminum oxide for it provides a nice fine porous finish for Arma-Coat® to adhere to, but grit anywhere between 60-120 is adequate.

Plastic and Synthetics are to be blasted lightly around 40-60 psi to slightly roughen the surface. Do not leave any surface shiny and/or smooth.
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Depends on where you start. Finished product or not. Some parts are made with the intent on blasting in a certain manner. Sure if you want to give someone that advice then go for it. I'm not giving the advice at the drop of a hat. We do this on a daily basis. I am aware of what is recommended. My recommendation stays the same.

High pressure or low pressure won't remove grease well. The beads hit everything around it and start wearing the metal around it. When it does finally get it off you may have a spot left. This is why people have parts washers. You should never stick a greasy part in your blaster. It contaminates the media. I'm not trying to start an arguement. I'm stating what I know to be true.
 
On aluminum aircraft parts we use plastic media to remove paint, glass to clean/remove corrosion then if the part needs to be work hardened we blast with ceramic beads. I would go with the glass beads before painting.
 
Patriot said:
Depends on where you start. Finished product or not. Some parts are made with the intent on blasting in a certain manner. Sure if you want to give someone that advice then go for it. I'm not giving the advice at the drop of a hat. We do this on a daily basis. I am aware of what is recommended. My recommendation stays the same.

High pressure or low pressure won't remove grease well. The beads hit everything around it and start wearing the metal around it. When it does finally get it off you may have a spot left. This is why people have parts washers. You should never stick a greasy part in your blaster. It contaminates the media. I'm not trying to start an arguement. I'm stating what I know to be true.
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Regarding the grease..it only happened to me once and it was in one of those nook and crannies.
I wash everything before I blast it. I'm not trying to start an argument either..just sharing my opinion and what I was told by the folks at KG . :)
 
No worries. I've screwed up more things in life than a person could possibly imagine over the years of trial and error. I don't comment unless I have some personal experience with it. I talked to them as well back in the day. Found out real quick that everyone thinks they have the right answer. Some times you gotta find out for yourself what works. I used the recommend way and trashed a reciever. Well trashed in the since that when I was done nothing fit tight at all.
 
Patriot said:
No worries. I've screwed up more things in life than a person could possibly imagine over the years of trial and error. I don't comment unless I have some personal experience with it. I talked to them as well back in the day. Found out real quick that everyone thinks they have the right answer. Some times you gotta find out for yourself what works. I used the recommend way and trashed a reciever. Well trashed in the since that when I was done nothing fit tight at all.
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tks for the insight...I'll keep that in mind. I did my ar and so far no issues with sloppy pins,etc..*knock on wood*.
 
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