hi
is there a blast media that will polish my cal custom valve covers ?

thank you !

A fine glass bead media will leave alum. with a nice smooth but somewhat dull finish, ready for buffing

Blasting is for removing rust/paint etc not for polishing. You can use a "soft" media such as walnut shells or backing soda that won't gouge the aluminum like some media can. Then you still will have to sand and polish.

Glass bead I think is what is used on aluminum. It cleans the pores and makes the surface uniform, but it also leaves the surface far from shiny.

Glass beads is a "mild" form of shot-peeening on softer surfaces. Larger beads if surface ruff or very pouris.

The only safe way to blast them is vapor blasting, or sometimes called water blasting. It will leave them mostly like new. Another type of blasting, especially glass will mess them up. Elbow grease is the only thing that will polish them and lots of it.

"vapor blasting" is nothing more than glass bead and water solution, soda blasting on "clean" aluminum is about the only way to go as not to add any texture to the surface prior to polishing....

I've purchased a new locking key cylinder for my 70 Challenger glovebox from classic industries. I cannot figure out how the keyed cylinder goes into and out of the latching mech. Can anyone tell me the trick for installation/removal? I managed to get it into the latching cylinder and now I am stuck. Thanks

This thread is about blasting valve covers. Go start you own thread !!

I don't know how bad your valve covers are but I've blasted a lot of stuff with different media and there is no "blasting" that will polish. Personally I gave up on polished aluminum 40 years ago. If it hasn't been anodized then its just going to oxidize and need periodic polishing - which can be a PITA to do on many parts. All my aluminum parts get the casting edges blended, blasted with aluminum oxide, washed with aluminum etch, primed with yellow zinc primer then painted - usually "blasted aluminum".

But back to your valve covers ... if they're not all banged up or have deep gouges (in which case polishing is pointless) I'd first wash them down with an aluminum cleaner which will be slightly acidic to remove oxidation. They will likely turn a little grey. Then I'd go at them with the finest scotchbrite or 0000 steel wool. Then I'd hit them with an aluminum polishing compound. And if you want to spend the bucks you could buy some different size buffers that fit in your drill to get in the tighter areas.

But I like paint !! The only aluminum not painted are the alternator, pulleys and water neck.