What Media For Blasting Aluminum

[Brad93]

Have got a job coming up to modify a aluminium transit body to fit a Mitsubishi canter. The body is a few years old and has oxidised to a dull grey.

The guy wants to tart it up back to nice clean shiny aluminium.

What media could I run through my Hodge Clemco pot and road compressor?

Normally use Iron Silicate / Sulphate for steel.

Needs to be a smooth satin finish.

I was thinking crushed glass or glass beads?

 

[brightspark]

fine crushed glass would leave a finish suitable for painting .glass beads would give a peened satin finish but would cost u an arm and a leg to buy its not expendable

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ That's what I used to get rid of paint & dirt and then beads for those parts that had to look pretty. Keep the pressure down too.

 

[Shedendman]

Me,i'd sand it right down to say a 1000 grit and buff it up with brown then blue compound

 

[Brad93]

Me,i'd sand it right down to say a 1000 grit and buff it up with brown then blue compound

Dude it’s a 20ft long tipper, I’d be there a month!

 

[Shedendman]

Is any form,of blasting going to make it "nice and shiny"?
3.5T or a 7.5T Canter?

 

[brightspark]

Is any form,of blasting going to make it "nice and shiny"?
3.5T or a 7.5T Canter?

no in a nutshell .clean and a satin finish yes shiny no

 

[Brad93]

no in a nutshell .clean and a satin finish yes shiny no

Clean and satin is fine. It’s currently crummy and grey

 

[brightspark]

beads will be very expensive there generally only used in cabinets for multi use. next best would be soda but that's expensive 2

 

[TechnicAl]

Dude it’s a 20ft long tipper, I’d be there a month!

I once told someone to cut a cog with gouging electrodes........I noticed they kept buying loads so I rang him back and asked why.....turned out the cog was about 150 tonnes....I was thinking of something a few inches diameter......i always remembered to ask afterwards

 

[Brad93]

I once told someone to cut a cog with gouging electrodes........I noticed they kept buying loads so I rang him back and asked why.....turned out the cog was about 150 tonnes....I was thinking of something a few inches diameter......i always remembered to ask afterwards

Hahahaha ah we get some funny ones like that. Chamfertrode being one. Oh I’ve got this to gouge out and bevel and I’ve seen you do some electrodes for gouging.

Move along nothing to see here

 

[Brad93]

beads will be very expensive there generally only used in cabinets for multi use. next best would be soda but that's expensive 2

I was going to tent the area. Or remove the drop sides and do them in a tent

 

[Shedendman]

Did you know,and i'm sure you all do,good old fashioned vinegar and a bit of elbow grease cleans the crud off ali,cheap to
You can also get whats known as etching wash best done with a pressure washer
Mind you,in any case,it'll need a coat of something to slow down the oxidisation of it looking carp again

 

[rtbcomp]

Bear in mind when blasting ally to keep the nozzle at a shallow angle and don't concentrate on one spot. Quite a lot of heat is generated and panels can distort. I actually managed to blast a hole through an ally wheel trying to remove a stubborn bit of primer.

 

[Brad93]

I might try the ALU BRITE type products first as a cheap solution and see if that gets the oxidation off.

 

[zeppelin builder]

I might try the ALU BRITE type products first as a cheap solution and see if that gets the oxidation off.

some of that road film remover stuff is very powerfull i think a lot of alloy bulk grain wagons are cleaned with it

 

[Brad93]

some of that road film remover stuff is very powerfull i think a lot of alloy bulk grain wagons are cleaned with it

Yeah I've heard that. Will see what I can turn up today.

 

[rtcosic]

I might try the ALU BRITE type products first as a cheap solution and see if that gets the oxidation off.

Before and after photos?

I have read about this product but never seen it in use or heard first hand from a user.

I would only use small quantities for external cleaning of engine blocks, gearbox casings etc.

 

[brightspark]

I used some traffic film remover neat using a paint in engine bay my hands went bright red and started burning. it softened the paint off

 

[500e]

TFR has caustic base, softens the skin as well in undiluted form
Alloy wheel cleaner ? expensive though
https://www.bilthamber.com/auto-wheel