Supplies to buy for glass bead blasting putters?

[jtitleist12]

I have read a lot of great posts regarding the bead blasting of stainless steel putters lately and want to get the supplies to be able to start doing this myself.

 

A lot of the common numbers I have been reading are 80 grit glass beads for the media and 90 psi for the compressor. The "bench mark" look I am after is the normal, run of the mill bead blasted look of Cameron's stainless steel putters.

 

My questions are what size compressor will I need to be able to work consistently without the compressor needing to refill every minute or two?

 

And also, what type of blaster should I use? Would any of the following work better than the other?

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/gravity-feed-blaster-gun-93221.html

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/21-oz-hopper-gravity-feed-spot-blaster-gun-95793.html

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-liter-abrasive-blast-gun-92857.html

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/abrasive-blast-gun-with-bag-96972.html

 

Thanks,

 

- Josh

[simple36]

I've been looking into doing the same thing so I would be interested to see what people say as well.

[jtitleist12]

Anyone??

[ws6]

Are you planning on using a blasting cabinet? I use this setup and it works well for me. http://www.harborfreight.com/abrasive-blast-cabinet-42202.html


I also use 80 grit and blast at approximatley 90psi. This setup gives me a result that looks like the factory Cameron studio select finish.

[BuckeyeGolfer]

I'll be excited to see this process and results.

[Scotty1140]

[quote name='ws6' timestamp='1365265846' post='6774133']
Are you planning on using a blasting cabinet? I use this setup and it works well for me. http://www.harborfreight.com/abrasive-blast-cabinet-42202.html


I also use 80 grit and blast at approximatley 90psi. This setup gives me a result that looks like the factory Cameron studio select finish.
[/quote]
Same here. 80 grit glass bead from harbor freight with a PSI of about 100 gave me the exact same results.

[kmac02576]

Just make sure to get an oiled compressor. Not one of those oil free pieces of crap. The oilless takes forever to fill and runs out quickly. The oiled compressor fills up in about 1/10 the time and you don't have to wait around after 15 seconds of use.

[BuckeyeGolfer]

I love this thread. Just what I need. Another DIY idea.

[jtitleist12]

I'm bumping this thread because I would like to do this project.

After reading some more posts on others who have refinished their Cameron Selects, it seems like the consensus to achieve the best results are to use a coarser media first to remove the black PVD, and then hit the entire head with 80 grit glass beads to achieve the Cameron "factory" silver mist finish.

What is the best media to use first to remove the black PVD...will 70 grit aluminum oxide work? I don't want something that is so harsh that it removes any metal or existing mill marks.

Thanks in advance.

- Josh

[sandtrap]

Will the glass beads remove any finish,( pro plat, rust,) or only "polish"?

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Just be careful and wear a respirator, head cover, and some coveralls to keep the glass out of your lungs and off your body if you do not have a blasting cabinet. I used the HF 1 liter abrasive blast gun with 40/70 grit media on these EYE2 wedges I have for sale. Worked great!

[attachment=1883611:007.JPG]

[ws6]

[quote name='drevil' timestamp='1379690577' post='7883281']
Will the glass beads remove any finish,( pro plat, rust,) or only "polish"?
[/quote]

Yes glass beads will make quick work of rust. I have never tried to remove a pro plat finish, but I am sure if you knew what you were doing and spent the time you could take one off. I assume a chemical strip of a pro plat finish would be a better way to go.

[Stu-Co]

[color=#008000]Be sure to do a test run on an old beater before going at one of your nice putters![/color]

[Bob Cat]

[i]Baking soda may take a little longer but w/o removing precious milling and turning stamps into mush.[/i]

[Nessism]

You need at least 20 gallon and 1.5 hp to do any decent blasting work. Even at that you will have to wait for the system to catch up, but it will be tolerable. Agree about "oil less" compressors being junk. Get an old fashioned piston compressor with oil lubrication. Craigslist is a good way to find cast off tools such as this. A cast iron compressor is more durable than aluminum so keep that in mind as you hunt around.

A mini blast cabinet is recommended to recycle the media. Total loss blasting works fine but makes a mess and costs you media.

You can't expect to blast off chrome or nickle plating, That should be done chemically.

[Scotty1140]

[quote name='jtitleist12' timestamp='1379688525' post='7883047']
I'm bumping this thread because I would like to do this project.

After reading some more posts on others who have refinished their Cameron Selects, it seems like the consensus to achieve the best results are to use a coarser media first to remove the black PVD, and then hit the entire head with 80 grit glass beads to achieve the Cameron "factory" silver mist finish.

What is the best media to use first to remove the black PVD...will 70 grit aluminum oxide work? I don't want something that is so harsh that it removes any metal or existing mill marks.

Thanks in advance.

- Josh
[/quote]
A Golo a did today for my brother-in-law. Used a courser aluminum oxide to remove the PVD. Smoothed out the head by hand (the AI leaves the surface pretty rough), then hit it with 80 grit glass beads around 100psi to finish it out. No mill marks removed.

[attachment=1919971:photo (8).JPG]

[jtitleist12]

[quote name='Scotty1140' timestamp='1382315958' post='8031963']
[quote name='jtitleist12' timestamp='1379688525' post='7883047']
I'm bumping this thread because I would like to do this project.

After reading some more posts on others who have refinished their Cameron Selects, it seems like the consensus to achieve the best results are to use a coarser media first to remove the black PVD, and then hit the entire head with 80 grit glass beads to achieve the Cameron "factory" silver mist finish.

What is the best media to use first to remove the black PVD...will 70 grit aluminum oxide work? I don't want something that is so harsh that it removes any metal or existing mill marks.

Thanks in advance.

- Josh
[/quote]
A Golo a did today for my brother-in-law. Used a courser aluminum oxide to remove the PVD. Smoothed out the head by hand (the AI leaves the surface pretty rough), then hit it with 80 grit glass beads around 100psi to finish it out. No mill marks removed.

[attachment=1919971:photo (8).JPG]
[/quote]

Nice work! That looks fantastic!

- Josh

[sandtrap]

Bringing this thread back to the forefront.
Took the blasting cabinet out of the box last night and got her hooked up.
Need to pick up some glass beads and the balls to turn it on.
This weekend if I can get the garage under 40, only 14 in Chicagoland and going down.
pictures to follow.

[sandtrap]

First attempt at bead blasting
Raw, cleaned, one cleaned one blasted, both blasted

[attachment=2020225:IMG_1144.jpg][attachment=2020243:IMG_1147.jpg][attachment=2020307:IMG_2682.jpg][attachment=2020357:IMG_2686.jpg]

[wrbush31]

Bigger balls than me! Chicago winter had me officially shutting the garage down for the season!

[sandtrap]

missed the comparison shot, also added bead blasted next to pro plat that I had on the bench
[attachment=2020381:IMG_2702.jpg][attachment=2020377:IMG_2686.jpg]

[ws6]

Good work, next you will be shooting your wedge faces.

I do a putter here and there, but I really like a fresh wedge.

[sandtrap]

Getting back on topic, this is my set up

[attachment=2020905:IMG_2792.JPG][attachment=2020903:IMG_2791.JPG][attachment=2020911:IMG_2794.JPG][attachment=2020909:IMG_2793.JPG]

[jgagai]

what type of store carries the glass beads?

[ws6]

Harbor Freight

[jtitleist12]

I buy my supplies @ Harbor Freight too.

Having said that, I recently needed some new glass bead and my local Harbor Freight only had it packaged in small cardboard boxes and not the typical plastic canisters I have purchased in the past. It was the same mfg Central Pneumatic and 80 grit as previously. I asked about the packaging and was told it was the same stuff...

However, when I went to use it, it was [b]MOST DEFINITELY NOT[/b] the same stuff! The finish I got with it was chalky and rough and was nothing like the beads I had purchased before. I still don't know what happened. Luckily I had some back up glass beads from another mfg that did the trick.

- Josh