Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Cheaper blasting media than glass beads for stainless product

We are manufacturing SS-304 deep draw products. We have to eventually do steel ball polishing on these parts (vibratory), but prior to steel ball polishing we are doing shot blasting on these parts to hide the draw marks and give the parts an even surface. As of now we are using glass beads AF superfine as blasting media. Could you suggest any other media which solves the same purpose, as glass beads are very expensive?

Rishi Dewan
Stainless Steel 304 Deep Draw - Ghaziabad, U.P, India
2003

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First of two simultaneous responses --

CORN BLASTING? NO SPECIFICS ON HOW NON DESTRUCTIVE A PROCESS YOU ACTUALLY NEED.

Keith Mixdorf
Ind. ovens & washers - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2003

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

I am concerned about your processing. I would not recommend glass bead or any blasting operation prior to ball burnishing. Draw marks can also be removed via mass finishing equip. systems and you should save a lot of time and money. What you are doing is roughing up the surface profile in order to get a more uniform surface profile, but about the smoothest you are going to achieve is about a 35 RMS or greater. If your draw marks do not exceed 35 RMS, you are better off using an abrasive mass finishing process which should achieve a low 20's RMS in a one step operation. Ball burnishing should improve the RMS and achieve the brightness a lot quicker.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
2003

Thanks for the insight AF. As always, a learning experience.

Keith Mixdorf
- Milw.,Wisconsin
2003