Sandblasting Wheels


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Old 10-15-19, 06:56 PM
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Sandblasting Wheels

I want to blast my stock aluminum wheels to prep them for painting. I have some 80 grit glass beads but I read that glass may not "profile" the surface for painting.

Anybody here got the skinny?
 
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Old 10-15-19, 08:48 PM
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Glass beads or sodium bicarbonate are two things that can be used on aluminum rims.

Profiling means to leave a mark in the metal. Is that what you want ?
I'd think you'd want no marks..... smooth aluminum.
 
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Old 10-15-19, 09:40 PM
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That's just it, I don't know. Don't you want some kind of scuffing for the paint to stick to?
 
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Old 10-15-19, 11:33 PM
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Glass beads produce a very fine finish since the material breaks as it strikes the surface and is typ used on softer materials.

Since you are painting them it really doesn't matter since the paint will cover over the finish.

For my auto related work I use fine white sand, it's cheap and sharp and cleans well, just be sure to use a good mask.

Id also recommend a good epoxy primer!
 
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Old 10-16-19, 07:19 AM
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Excellent, thank you very much!
 
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Old 11-16-19, 04:56 PM
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Eastwood's guide suggests 100/170 grit glass bead or 80/90 grit aluminum oxide shot is best for cleaning aluminum. 12/20 grit walnut shells can also be used.

Aerospace uses plastic blasting medium for aluminum, so there is that too.

Here are the Eastwood recommendations for posterity...

https://www.eastwood.com/images/pdf/...last_media.pdf
 
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Old 11-16-19, 05:47 PM
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I ended up using the 80 grit glass beads. It worked great!
 
 

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