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can you mix blast media? #2393162
10/26/17 12:13 AM
10/26/17 12:13 AM
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Oklahoma
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gregok Offline OP
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I have a small blast cabinet and have some aluminum oxide media in it and was wondering if I could mix glass bead media in with it or is that a no no?

Re: can you mix blast media? [Re: gregok] #2393219
10/26/17 02:09 AM
10/26/17 02:09 AM
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N.E. OHIO, USA
A12 Offline
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Originally Posted By gregok
I have a small blast cabinet and have some aluminum oxide media in it and was wondering if I could mix glass bead media in with it or is that a no no?


Of course you can BUT I would think it's a BAD idea. To me it would be the same as putting two different grit sandpaper side by side on a sanding block. The more course grit will always be dominant and you will get a somewhat uneven finish to whatever you're blasting IMO. Kind of like how the finish is different with new glass beads versus the finish is with worn out and contaminated glass beads. I used a bead blaster at work for over 25-years and always used as fresh media of one grit as possible. Always disposed of the existing media then added all new media of one grit. Just me.


MikeR

Re: can you mix blast media? [Re: A12] #2393327
10/26/17 01:10 PM
10/26/17 01:10 PM
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Oklahoma
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gregok Offline OP
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Thanks Mike, just wanted a learned opinion.

Re: can you mix blast media? [Re: gregok] #2393472
10/26/17 06:22 PM
10/26/17 06:22 PM
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Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Offline
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First, I wouldn't mix media. Second, I wouldn't bother with glass ever again. The aluminum oxide leaves such a nice finish I can't see the point in using glass. Furthermore, next to diamonds, aluminum oxide is the hardest substance on the planet so as a blast media it literally never wears out whereas the glass beads shatter into powder and create a ton of dust and need frequent replacement. There is a reason aluminum oxide is expensive !!

Re: can you mix blast media? [Re: gregok] #2394559
10/29/17 01:51 AM
10/29/17 01:51 AM
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British Columbia
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silicon carbide is harder than alox and is a blast media.

#1 reason not to re-use media is contaminants, you don't want to use rust and dirt as a blast media, so even though your media lasts a long time its full of crap and it needs to be changed often. Unless you have a cyclone for removing dirt/paint/rust i would just change the media on a regular basis.

brown aluminum oxide has silica in it as well so not a good plan in a enclosed shop with no outside venting

Re: can you mix blast media? [Re: gregok] #2398954
11/05/17 06:02 PM
11/05/17 06:02 PM
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Utah and Alaska
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My blaster guy mixes a blend of walnut shells, glass beads and plastic media for doing whole cars, works quite well and he avoids the large flat surfaces so they don't get wavy from the peening and heat. Tim


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Re: can you mix blast media? [Re: gregok] #2399347
11/06/17 02:05 PM
11/06/17 02:05 PM
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Rust Belt, SW PA
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Rust Belt, SW PA
I've used mixed sands many times, works perfectly fine. It's not like using different grit sandpapers... you have how many grains of sand constantly flowing, not glued to paper in a fixed spot.


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