oneoldbanjo
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have seen engine cases, cylinders, etc. that people have bead blasted to get them cleaned up and they look pretty good at first. The problem I have is that the original casting is fairly shiny (shiney?) and the surface is pretty smooth when it was as originally cast - then after bead blasting the surface is much more porous and holds onto stains and oxidizes much faster and is harder to keep clean. It also has a very flat appearance and does not have the dull gloss of the original casting.
Does anyone know of anything that can bring back the shine to aluminum afer it has been bead blasted? I have tried bead blasting with Walnut Shells and that doesn't do a thing to erase the dull appearance left by glass beads. Has anyone tried tumbling a cylinder in Walnut Shells, Corn Cobs, etc.? I don't want a bright shiny polished finish - just something that more naturally matches the original aluminum finish. (Specifically I am talking about a cylinder where it is impossible to get back into the fin area and polish or buff by any mechanical means).
Does anyone know of anything that can bring back the shine to aluminum afer it has been bead blasted? I have tried bead blasting with Walnut Shells and that doesn't do a thing to erase the dull appearance left by glass beads. Has anyone tried tumbling a cylinder in Walnut Shells, Corn Cobs, etc.? I don't want a bright shiny polished finish - just something that more naturally matches the original aluminum finish. (Specifically I am talking about a cylinder where it is impossible to get back into the fin area and polish or buff by any mechanical means).
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