Bead blasters and engine parts...

[Steve V]

I am looking to buy one for my garage at some point soon,along with a nicer compressor. It is my understanding that the are good for external parts only,because the blast materail gets imbeded into the parts and will come out with heat and ruin your engine? Yes or no please educate me so I buy the right stuff the 1st time.

 

[aminga]

I think it depends on the material. But you can't go wrong with a TP-tools cabinet.

 

[turbofabricator]

You can safely use soda as a blasting media for internal engine parts. I do glass bead intenal parts from time to time. I use a stainless wire brush and brake clean to help remove the media. Then I spray the parts with graphite dry film lube (to contain any media that wants to go for a high boost ride.)

 

[rmar]

It helps if ya use your noodle a little. Tape or plug all holes and scrub with in an inch of it's life afterwards. Some media will even jam up in bolt holes. so I plug everthing. and scrub,scub scrub when done.

 

[Pronto]

I use 20 micron alumium oxide to clean gold castings. Even after rinsing it off we clean the castings in an ultrasonic cleaner. It's amazing how much grit is left behind. I can't imagine what's left behind on engine parts that have been blasted. Hate to see that stuff go though the bearings.

 

[S10xGN]

It helps if ya use your noodle a little. Tape or plug all holes and scrub with in an inch of it's life afterwards. Some media will even jam up in bolt holes. so I plug everthing. and scrub,scub scrub when done.

Yessir! I glass-beaded a complete LS-1 longblock this way. Taped everything up, made a small tent over my workspace, and recycled (swept up) my beads several times. A half dozen cans of brakeclean later and it was looking "as new". Been in the car over a year and running strong!