best type of media to sandblast gun parts

[cplstevennorton]

What is the best media to sandblast gun parts? I have a blasting cabinet, and I tried aluminum oxide that is 80 grit. It's way too aggresive.

What have you guys used that gets a good bite for parkerization but still doesn't wash out the letters.

Thanks guys!

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[JBS]

Parkerization makes its own “bite” you just need very clean steel. If you need a frosted surface use #13 glass Beads. If you want a very clean surface I do not want to risk stamps of lettering washout use Soda blasting (bicarbonate of soda based media ). You can also use chemical striper / prep like that sold by Brownells.

[Chuckindenver]

i strip with deluted phosporic acid, and wrinse,
then beadblast with aluminum oxide 100 Grt,
for fine, i use ultra fine glass beads, 400 grt i do belive..been a while since i ordered any.
anyplace that sells beadblast cabnits should carry media,
turn your air pressure down to 60 to 80 pounds, and keep the gun at least 6 inches away from your work.
and only put clean gunparts in that cabnit,
no car parts, bike parts ect..only gun parts.
change your media every 6 mos. more if you use it daily.

[Buntlineguy]

I use glass bead media. Does a great job without erasing detail. Used on 1873 trapdoor and no damage to emblem.
If you are after a parkerized finish, bead blast and hot blue after a light once-over with 0000 steel wool. I did this to an original 1911 and it looked better than a new one. Holds up very well, also.

Buntlineguy

[Chuckindenver]

why blue, when real manganese phosphate is correct for parkerizing, and easier to do?
less heat, and more forgiving then hotsalts blue.
if your going to do it, do it right.
iv redone many a gun that was {parkerized} so to speak by beadblast blue finish.
took more work to finish the pistol right, and redo what they had screwed up, then if it would have been done right the first time. pistol pictured is one that someone had beadblast blued, and tried to say it was parkerized.
i restored it the right way, and now, it IS parkerized.