Thread: Renewing aluminium alloy with media blaster?

Can you renew the aluminium allow parts with a media blaster. If so what media do you use?

I've tried hand polishing a couple engine covers. They came out all right but it sure was a lot of work.

Jeff

I have sucessfully blasted many aluminum parts and wheels in a beadblaster. It uses finel crushed glass bead that looks like gray sand .I then paint and/or clearcoated the parts. I also blasted some badly stained and peeling wheels for my ATV and painted them Gold.

You can clean then but you definetly wont be polishing them after your done glass bead blasting them. You need to strip the clearcoat off the aluminum before trying to polish it

Thanks guys

I sent out a cylinder to get bored one over a while back and it came back like it was brand new. I just assumed it was media blasted, but I guess it could have been boiled. The surface of the cylinder being textured, lends it self to media blasting I guess.?

Alternator and points covers are polished smooth so I'm not sure media blasting would be healthy for them?

I wonder if ground walnut shell media would work on the polished aluminium? Anyone ever try it?

Jeff

You see a lot of engine blocks bead blasted with glass and it looks like new but its ruined a lot of motors. The glass gets into the pores of the metal and no amount of cleaning will get it out. Ive seen a beautiful Norton Commando engine ruined from doing it, Glass was everywhere inside of it after careful cleaning. Ive also been advised of this by pro engine builders. I know people who use the walnut shells and a plastic media to clean body parts but dont really know what kind of finish it leaves. Stripping the clear coat and polishing works best for me but there may be better ways. I do know the chrome shops prefer that you dont try to clean them at all with any blasting equipment as everything has to be buffed out.

Use some tripoli and a buffing wheel and you can make your aluminum look like chrome. Then clear coat it to keep it from tarnishing. If you have any nicks or gouges, use some 600 or 800 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I've used the Mothers Billet aluminum polish, but it doesn't work any better, is much more expensive and much more labor intensive. Plus, it doesn't do anything for nicks/scratches but make them shiny nicks/scratches. It is a good finishing polish though.

Thanks again guys.

I'll have to ask around, and do a google search, to see what can be used safely on the casted aluminium parts. Seems if you did your media blasting before you bored out the sleeve you would eliminate the glass bead damage, but I am a total rookie on this subject.

I just tried using some mothers and tried tripoli also. Looked pretty good except for the deep scratches and dings. If you want it done right you do have to polish out the scratches by progressively polishing with finer sand paper. I've learned that polishing is used to bring the surface even and blemish free, and buffing is what gives the mirror shine. It was a lot of work and very messy, but it sure looked lots better than before. If you try this be sure not to load up the buffing wheel with too much buffing compound or it will just stick to the metal. Theres some sort of special tool that looks like a comb thats used to clean the buffer. I just used a plastic brush and it cleaned up the buffer just fine. I have no shortage of parts to buff so hopefully I'll get better.

I plan on getting a media blaster for Christmas but my wife has other ideas. I may have to settle for a dremmel(sp) tool set with all the fixin's, which is a purchase long over due. I also have a mig welder on the list, but you can imagine how that went over.

Jeff

have your wife work 2 jobs so u get all your presents LOL

This is prolly obvious to all of you, but was not to me, anyway you need to remove the clear coat before attempting any polishing or buffing. Either soak in carb cleaner or use paint remover. Sure makes the job a whole heck of a lot easier.


Jeff

This is prolly obvious to all of you, after reading your posts, but for some reason was not to me, anyway you need to remove the clear coat before attempting any polishing or buffing. Either soak in carb cleaner or use paint remover. Sure makes the job a whole heck of a lot easier.


Jeff