Sand/Media blasting for plastic?

[Dan66460]

After seeing Scalemaster's A110 Wip I was intrigued by his use of a Badger media blaster to clean residual paint off the body.
I thought I could get an old airbrush to do the same. I have an old Binks/Wren single action. I tried using baking soda in a cup and in a bottle, both times it "tried" to work. The "soda" clogged in the siphon tube. I haven't gave up yet, Ill keep trying.
I have acouple of 1:1 blasters and they are always alittle stubborn to get going.
Anyone else use a "mini" blaster? Pro's/Con's?
BTW Paasche also makes a "mini" blaster, they are around $70US. There is a Badger on e-bay for $24(buy it now).

Dan

[gionc]

Originally Posted by Dan66460

After seeing Scalemaster's A110 Wip I was intrigued by his use of a Badger media blaster to clean residual paint off the body.
I thought I could get an old airbrush to do the same. I have an old Binks/Wren single action. I tried using baking soda in a cup and in a bottle, both times it "tried" to work. The "soda" clogged in the siphon tube. I haven't gave up yet, Ill keep trying.
I have acouple of 1:1 blasters and they are always alittle stubborn to get going.
Anyone else use a "mini" blaster? Pro's/Con's?
BTW Paasche also makes a "mini" blaster, they are around $70US. There is a Badger on e-bay for $24(buy it now).

Dan

Dan, a little polish bird said me that I know you from another great place: sorry if I didn't recognized before, I'm a bit distracted. So welcome here!

On the topic: I want to try too, I hoped yoy were more lucky with the attempt: I'll search those ebay auction too, 24 bucks is good deal. At least with my bazooka sandblast gun I'll turn my labrador in a pig that's trendy

[klutz_100]

Any news on how the sand blasting experiment went, Dan?

TBH, I'm not sure I fully understand the benefit of blasting, but I am willing to learn...

[Dan66460]

I think the process would benefit the folks that build the metal kits. Depending on what media you use you could put a realistic texture on the item. You can mask a metal part, like transmission ribs and media blast the unmasked areas to represent a "cast texture". I've read where jewelers will use "glass beads" to texture gold on watches.
This all started after seeing the great work ScaleMaster did cleaning up his A110 body.
I also think it may be the trick to removing chrome off parts.

The experiment was shelved when I found I could get one for $24.00......

This is all theory of course, I was hoping someone had tried this and could relay their results.
Dan

[gionc]

Yep, no matter to me to use those on plastic: chlorine on chrome or DOT/isoprphilic on laquers are enough (and at last self-working LOL) but I was impressed by the appeal have the metal after sandblasting: dunno know if you'll recognize by picts but at naked eye is seems "real"

this is before:



and this one is after:




It's smooth. TBH my search started to see if I can clean metal from prototypin marks and dirty... this can't be done, or not at 100%.

[klutz_100]

The "after" shot seems less shiny, more matte - is that right?

[gionc]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

The "after" shot seems less shiny, more matte - is that right?

It's so, just sandblasted

[Dan66460]

Thanks Gio, it seems to give the whole assembly the same "texture". What did you use for "media". Did you get the Badger unit?
Dan

[gionc]

Originally Posted by Dan66460

What did you use for "media". Did you get the Badger unit?
Dan

Not Dan, was one of the best italian masters, Roberto Quaranta aka R40 or Roberto's cave for who know him by the website, to sand my stuff in a professional sandblaster, one of those box used by dentist. He used first silica and than a fine alu oxide, with two types of brush, coarse with silica and thin with oxide.

Yep it give th same texture smoothing everything a bit , and clearing minor scratches done cleaning white metal parts.