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Posted: 9/1/2008 12:02:52 AM EDT
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Having read opinions regarding bead blasting before Duracoat, I was curious as to the benefit of blasting. I understand that Duracoat will probably adhere better to the rough surface, but I don't have access to any bead blasting equipment. I have a new lower and would like to give it a new finish. Can I really just degrease my lower and give it a coat or two with Duracoat and still get good results? I'd imagine that I could, but whether it will last is more my concern. |
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Well if you bead blast an aluminum lower you will probably remove the hard coat anodizing as well. If it were me, Id just degrease the living shit out of it and Duracoat it. In place of Duracoat, I use Gunkote with very good results and I never bead blast...just degrease with acetone, or denatured alcohol. IHC |
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DO NOT USE GLASS BEADS prior to DuraCoating. If you really want to blast use Aluminum Oxide grit (I like #220). But geez - if the lower is NEW why bother? If it is one of the teflon impregnated finishes you'll have a tough time getting anything to stick. Otherwise just degrease it (twice, minimum) and coat. I always blast with aluminum oxide but then again I have NEVER DuraCoated a brand-spanking-new part. I'm usually working with crusty old junk pieces no one else wants to look at. |
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To hell with it! BLAST BLAST BLAST! I blast everything. And then I coat the hell out of it. I've honestly never had the guts to just degrease something and paint it. Too afraid it might decide not to stick properly. When I hand someone a finished product, I know it is good. I bought my first Glock a few months ago. Bought it on a friday, picked it up monday, shot it saturday morning, stripped (and blasted) and painted it saturday late morning ( and sunday, mon & tues), I do multi coats on everything. Yeah, kinda hurt to paint a brand new gun, but damn did it come out looking awesome. And blast it I did! Look up Anodizing in Wikipedia. See what it's function really is. If you want it blasted, mail it to me and I will do it for free. Just because. Dan ps. Morne is on the money again. Never use glass, always aluminum oxide! |
LOTS of reasons: 1-Glass beads actually smooth out surface roughness rather than create it. Coatings adhere better with more roughness. 2-If a stray glass bead or two shatters (and they do) it can embed in the surface and be harder to remove than residual aluminum oxide grit which is just blown free with (CLEAN) compressed air. 3-If aluminum oxide starts getting dirty/greasy it is VERY obvious since its flow alters dramatically. When glass beads acquire some oil/grease you might not realize that you are dirtying up a good part. EVERYONE recycles blasting media - so cleanliness is an issue. 4-Glass is actually slightly hydrophilic (water-loving). Thus, in humid climes you may be depositing water spots to form microscopic corrosion products. One reason you blast is to remove corrosion that you can't see with the naked eye (it is there, trust me). Also, the presence of such moisture can alter certain coating chemistries. Glass beads are GREAT to use for polishing out scratches and the like on stainless steel parts. But they are NOT to be used for coating prep. EVER. |
Don't think I could have answered that better myself! -TS |
+1 Unique1 |
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