Bead Blast Recommendations

[BigD6765]

I have an older Springfield 1911, bead blasted with polished sides. It's got some wear, and I was wanting to straighten in out. I can handle the sides pretty easily, but the bead blast is where I don't have experience.

1. Any good reasonably-priced options in SoCal for getting it bead blasted?

2. Anyone have good suggestions for DIY? I don't have a blast cabinet...I'd love to have one but don't have much room for something that size. I had considered going gravity fed or something...but, as I said, I don't have experience in this arena.

Basically, just looking for options / suggestions.

[USPSA GM]

Bead blasting can be a bit tricky. There are several different media's to choose from depending on the finish you want, air pressure is important as well. And technique can have a big effect as well. You are probably better off having someone with experience do it for you. Any good gunsmithing shop should have a bead blaster and there are lots of good gunsmith's in So Cal.

[ar15barrels]

I can do it.
You will have to re-polish the flats after the blasting as there's not a reliable way to mask polishing that will still give you that nice sharp edge that you get from polishing after blasting.

[xsefan]

On that springfield they acid etched the blasted area.

[xsefan]

Try ferric acid etching you can get that on Amazon and get a hair dryer warm the metal rub the acid on with a qtip. Use baking soda to stop the acid

[jsanch03]