The pros and cons of bead blasting

Key  words: glass bead ,blasting

There are several finishing techniques out there, with so many to choose from. Media blasting stands right at the top of the list. There are several types of media blasting techniques ranging from sandblasting to plastic abrasive blasting and bead blasting. Each of these methods has its advantages and drawbacks. In this article, we will be focusing on brad blasting and bead blast finish.

The most important bead blasting material is the media itself – the glass beads. Glass beads come from a lead-free, soda-lime glass shaped into spherical objects. Glass bead blasting is environmentally friendly. You can recycle them up to 30 times. Compared to other abrasive blasting techniques, glass bead blasting is gentler since the beads are softer on the parts’ surface.

Pros and Cons of Bead Blast Finish

While bead blasting offers several advantages to the manufacturing space, there are a few downsides to consider. Here, we will be going through the different benefits and drawbacks of the bead blasting process.

Pros

• It is a safe process compared to other blasting methods.
• Glass bead blasting is a good alternative to sandblasting.
• The process is environmentally friendly.
• Recycling is possible before replacement.
• Glass beads are useful in pressure or suction blast cabinets.
• Excellent for delicate components.
• Not suitable for tough materials as it may take a longer time.
• It may not last as long as steel blast media.
• Glass beads do not leave any profile for paint adherence.

Cons

• Not suitable for tough materials as it may take a longer time.
• It may not last as long as steel blast media.
• Glass beads do not leave any profile for paint adherence.