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  #1  
Old 12-14-2018, 9:28 PM
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Dale's Dead Bug Dale's Dead Bug is offline
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Default Anyone in SF Bay Area looking to share their blast cabinet?

I'd like to do a home clear anodize on some AR parts I have, including a lower, but I'd like to bead blast them for texture first. I still need to pick out a scope mount, but once I do I'd like to blast it back to raw and clear anodize with the rest. Are there any Calgunners in the Bay Area (East Bay preferred, but not necessary) that have a bead blast setup they'd be willing to rent an hour of time on for a 12-pack and a bucket of blast medium (or whatever other exchange seems fair)? (note: I have never done bead blasting, though I'm familiar with the equipment)
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Old 12-15-2018, 7:00 AM
shafferds shafferds is offline
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Already raw aluminum or is it coated?
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Old 12-15-2018, 9:30 AM
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Handguard, lower, & buffer tube are raw. The handguard is already blasted/textured though. I haven't received the tube yet, but it appears it will need blasting. The lower has some fine engraving but the guy at a plating shop I went to said light bead blast won't damage it; I may just mask it regardless. I assume a scope mount will be type II or III black. I'd like to do the knobs for my side-charge BCG, and I think they're aluminum (too light for steel) with some type of black coating or ano, but I'm trying to get material/coating info from the mfg to confirm.

edit: I suppose a good question would be whether there is a chemical stripping method alternative that will leave that matte "frosted" texture. I've seen some suggestions around the web (sodium hydroxide) but if I'm going to be buying chems I'd like to be confident in the result I'm going to get. (I think bead blasting would be easier to mask too).

edit2: Guess I should have researched more. Poking around more, it appears I'm looking for a "satin" finish, which seems to be primarily achieved via acid etching.

Last edited by Dale's Dead Bug; 12-15-2018 at 11:02 AM..
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Old 12-15-2018, 11:45 AM
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ar15barrels ar15barrels is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dale's Dead Bug View Post
Handguard, lower, & buffer tube are raw. The handguard is already blasted/textured though. I haven't received the tube yet, but it appears it will need blasting. The lower has some fine engraving but the guy at a plating shop I went to said light bead blast won't damage it; I may just mask it regardless. I assume a scope mount will be type II or III black. I'd like to do the knobs for my side-charge BCG, and I think they're aluminum (too light for steel) with some type of black coating or ano, but I'm trying to get material/coating info from the mfg to confirm.

edit: I suppose a good question would be whether there is a chemical stripping method alternative that will leave that matte "frosted" texture. I've seen some suggestions around the web (sodium hydroxide) but if I'm going to be buying chems I'd like to be confident in the result I'm going to get. (I think bead blasting would be easier to mask too).

edit2: Guess I should have researched more. Poking around more, it appears I'm looking for a "satin" finish, which seems to be primarily achieved via acid etching.
Here is glass bead on raw aluminum:





All blast patterns are different based on the media, pressure and technique used so if you want things to match, you will need to blast all of them at the same time.
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Old 12-15-2018, 12:27 PM
shafferds shafferds is offline
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Different media, techniques, pressure, distance from the parts all affect the outcome of the finish.
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Old 12-15-2018, 3:28 PM
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Dale's Dead Bug Dale's Dead Bug is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ar15barrels View Post
Here is glass bead on raw aluminum:

All blast patterns are different based on the media, pressure and technique used so if you want things to match, you will need to blast all of them at the same time.
Thanks, that's what I was thinking and how the handguard came delivered. I'm looking around at what kind of finish one gets from lye baths of various concentrations/durations, as that's much easier to get my hands on than a blast setup.
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