Sandblasting Aluminum Prismatic Letters

[UglySign]

Hey all you sand blasting gurus,

We're about to take on a lettering job in Aluminum that will have a prismatic
top face. 3/8"the Alum w/ most strokes @ 1/2~3/4" wide. Some parts could be
as small as 1/4", a font resembling Times roman. We usually send out
alum letters for polishing and they sandblast the sides. We grain the faces
so why cant we blast edges in house?

Anyways...
This would be a prismatic top face that has slopes from the middle &
go down about 1/2 way. Plan on using a ball nose w/ the cnc. BN's usually
leave slight 'ridges' along its path. We would like to know instead of hand sanding
will sand blasting be better to knock down the ridges/lines. We're not looking
to do a mirror finsh, they would primed then painted.

Here's an idea. Pretend it's not finished and needs a smoothing.
Basically how the letters would be shaped

Blasting seems it would cut prep time down considerably.
Yes, the backs would be either by hand or some rotary contraption
to knock down the fuzz/sharpies.

If the above is doable, what abrasive type & grits are needed?

Btw, we dont have a sandblast cabinet yet. Is this one decent?
The size inside seems spacious, which would help us on certain things.

USA 966 Pro Finisher Abrasive Blast Cabinet

Also, we're just looking to add an SBC to clean up alum/acrylic projects
and other things that need a blastin. Nothing mad dirty like oily stuff or auto parts.

Please, no Harbor Freight. I live 2 blocks from it and the rubber smell....

Thanks all

Ronnie

 

[metaleltr]

I have no idea regarding your application but the bast cabinet from tp tools is well regarded. I have a 940-Dlx myself. I haven’t set it up completely yet but I’m pretty happy with it.

 

[dodge610]

TP tools has nice cabinets that is what I have had for years. Getting ready to sell mine and get a Bad Boy blaster from you guessed it Badboy blaster company. Pretty impressed with there line.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SGKent]

there are many grades of grit, and many pressures you can shoot at. None will smooth a rough surface unless the rough is scale that it knocks off, but they will clean it. If you have a smooth surface to begin with, some will leave it with a satin finish. If you are blasting a metal that has lead in it, make sure you take many precautions. Silica dust can cause major lung diseases so be sure to buy adequate filtration.

 

[Falcon67]

Aluminum oxide is an aggressive blast material, but it will chew aluminum up quick. I would not try to use it in place of sanding out CNC path marks. You'd be better off doing the sanding then maybe blasting with glass bead to give it any surface texture.

 

[SGKent]

maybe the right size and contour file might work, followed by a fine glass bead. Emery boards might work too.

 

[rsanter]

Is the bevel concave or convex? If not and it is just flat I would use a beveled cutter instead of a ball mill

Bob

 

[UglySign]

Aluminum oxide is an aggressive blast material, but it will chew aluminum up quick. I would not try to use it in place of sanding out CNC path marks. You'd be better off doing the sanding then maybe blasting with glass bead to give it any surface texture.

Sounds reasonable... for the glass that is as the texture to it would enhance the design on other elements I have in mind.

maybe the right size and contour file might work, followed by a fine glass bead. Emery boards might work too.

Glass beads seem to be it. Will look into that.

Is the bevel concave or convex? If not and it is just flat I would use a beveled cutter instead of a ball mill

Well, some of the angles are shallow as they are steep. So it varies. This isnt v-carve style and the normal look or machine done.

one job will have that metal paint from sculptnouveau.com


I understand blasting is not a cure-all. Just wanted to know of what
abrasives would be ok to use on primarily aluminum. No lead.

Should be cool when the time comes.

thanks all for the replies!