Glass bead is one of a variety of medias that you can blast with. Like any blast media it has a variety of benefits and drawbacks. This guide will cover important things to know about glass bead blasting including the benefits and drawbacks, equipment considerations for glass bead blasting, and more.
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Glass beads can be safe compared to other blast medias. In particular, glass bead blast media can be a good alternative to silica sand depending on your application, which while silica sand is still legal it is becoming more regulated and is recognized as a source of a variety of health problems including silicosis. For more on silica sand and sandblasting check out this in depth guide. Additional benefits of glass bead blasting include that you can use them for a few cycles before they no longer clean a surface. It is common for glass bead media to last 4 &#; 6 cycles before needing to be replaced. Finally, glass beads can be used in a suction or pressure blast cabinet. This makes it versatile and can help offer a blast cleaning media that keeps your blast cabinet costs down (suction feed cabinets are more affordable than pressure feed).
Its not as fast as other medias at cleaning and doesn&#;t last as long as harder blast medias like steel. Since glass is not as hard compared to steel grit, steel shot, and even coal slag it doesn&#;t clean as fast as these blast medias. Additionally, glass beads do not leave a profile, which can be problematic if you need a profile for your paint to adhere. Finally, compared to steel grit or shot and aluminum oxide glass bead blast media is only reusable a few times compared to numerous times with steel blast medias.
Knowing the benefits of glass beads, it is also good to know the common uses for glass bead blasting. Glass bead blasting is well suited for use in sandblast cabinets where blast media will be recovered. It is effective at cleaning a surface without leaving much of a blast profile. This makes it ideal for cleaning paint or coatings off a part as well as removal of rust. If a profile is needed though blast media like steel grit or aluminum oxide can be required as glass bead typically doesn&#;t profile when blasting
While glass bead blast media comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 40 &#; 325 mesh sizes there are mesh sizes that are more common. Common mesh sizes for glass bead blasting include 50-70, 60 -80, 70-100, 120 &#; 200. The fastest cleaning glass bead is typically 60-100 mesh. The right size blast media will ultimately depend on your individual application.
Glass bead is meant to be reused and so will require specific equipment. Glass bead is typically used in asandblast cabinet. Specifically, since it is not a very heavy blast media it works well in a suction feed sandblast cabinet. Using glass bead with a standard sandblast pot is not very common but you can used crush glass with a standard sandblast pot.
In general the higher pressure you use the greater impact and faster you will be able to blast. However, it can also create changes in your product surface. Between suction and pressure blasting, pressure is faster but again can create changes in the surface (if blast time or pressure is not well controlled). It is always a good idea to start at a low blast pressure and gradually increase to determine the blast pressure that is best suited for your needs. The maximum blast pressure for glass bead blasting is typically 80 psi for suction blast cabinets and up to 40 PSI for pressure blasting. Using these reference numbers you should be able to slowly determine the right blast pressure and time that will work well for your use.
When it comes to finished metal surfaces, manufacturers need parts that not only look a certain way but also perform to necessary specifications &#; this could include stripping paint, removing corrosion, providing a non-reflective (matte) finish, increasing adhesion, or smoothing out burrs. There are two common, effective finishing types that many businesses look to for their applications: sandblasting (AKA grit blasting) and glass bead blasting services. While both finishing options are used for similar purposes, they are very different processes that aren&#;t necessarily interchangeable.
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Keep reading to understand the difference between these two well-known types of metal finishing services!
While both sandblasting and bead blasting serve as efficient surface finishing options, they differ in many ways.
Glass bead blasting involves tiny glass beads used as abrasive media to strip or clean metal. It&#;s a slower process using less energy, meaning it doesn&#;t shape or smooth parts. That said, it is also much gentler and does a successful finishing job without causing damage to your parts.
Sandblasting or grit blasting uses ceramic media as abrasive media, blasting it using high air pressure onto metal parts. This process is quicker compared to bead blasting and has the capability to smooth and shape metal, but it&#;s much harsher on the material of your application.
When determining which surface finishing process is better for your project, the answer should be what the application&#;s requirements are and the level of intricacy needed for finishing.
Sandblasting is one of the most common surface preparation processes due to its effectiveness. When done properly, sandblasting offers the following advantages:
The bead blasting process achieves a finish that is consistent but considered &#;rough&#; by some standards, all depending on the size of the media used. Fine glass bead blasting, using a smaller size media, gives a satin finish rather than a shiny, glossy finish; coarser beads create a rougher yet more uniform surface while masking imperfections. Other benefits of glass bead blasting include:
RP Abrasives is an experienced New England metal finishing company that specializes in some of the most sophisticated finishes available on the market. Our team offers more than 100 combined years of experience and works tirelessly to provide the highest-quality metal finishing services to our customers. If you are looking for advanced metal finishing, including glass bead blasting services, you have come to the right place!
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