Can you bead blast stainless steel

I see passivate called out all the time prior to post surface treatments which would destroy the "passive" surface.

In many cases engineers have called out for this as a precleaning more than anything else. They know the grit blasting will roughen up the surface to allow for better grip of the primer into the roughness of the surface. I've Worked in architectural metals for the last 20 years. We discovered some years ago that different types of wire wheel brushes, contaminated Scotch-Brite and sanding discs would embed carbon into the stainless steel.

Also, not sure if already mentioned but T does rust, and is magnetic. We use TL stainless for applications prone to corrosion. The bead blasted surface will still provide an ideal "substrate" for rust, etc. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:. Ted Mooney , P. Striving to live Aloha finishing. Dear Craig As a supplementary to my peers which gave you bright answers I suggest you will passivate your equipment as soon as you finish your glass blasting. Standard mill finishes — whether hot- or cold-rolled — may be directly applied by rollers or mechanical abrasives to stainless steel that is flat rolled.

The process is fairly basic. After being rolled to size, the steel is then annealed, allowing the properties of the final material to change. Pickling removes any oxidation that forms on the surface during this process, and the final finish is then applied to achieve the desired look and feel as the steel passes through rolls or dies that can create everything from dull to mirror-like reflectivity.

There are three important things to be aware of when considering a milled finish for a stainless steel handle:. Machined finishes — also known as mechanical finishes — can be wet or dry and are generally more expensive than milled finishes due to an increased complexity in processing.

Machining leaves numerous scratches on the surface of the material, creating areas of varying electrical potential. A machined finish is a frequent choice for stainless steel handles on everything from restaurant equipment to elevators because it retains a clean look with less effort. Two frequent forms of machined finishes include grinding and polishing.

Blasting Grit blasting — Grit blasting is generally unsatisfactory because the grit is seldom clean, and even if it is initially, it soon becomes contaminated with abraded material.

Grit blasting leaves a rough profile that makes the stainless steel prone to crevice corrosion, whether or not the surface is free of iron. Thus, grit blasting should be avoided. Sand blasting — This method is generally unsatisfactory. However, for a severely contaminated surface, sandblasting can be used as a last resort.

New, clean sand will remove debris and heavy iron-contamination from the surface. But avoid using sandblasting, if possible. Stainless steel, 2B, Hairline, Mirror, Etching. Request a Quote. Why Bead Blast Stainless Steel? Uniform, Non-Directional Finish Bead blasting provides a consistent matte finish that contrasts well with other highly polished finishes. Improve Stress Corrosion Resistance The peening action of bead blasting stainless steels will cause them to both work harden and stress relieve the metal.