Vapour Blast sent my engine grey - New Pics added 08/01/2012

[kennym]

Hi has any one had any experience with vapour blasting turning their parts grey? I just had my head, barrels, sump etc vapour blasted and was expecting to receive them back a shiny aluminium colour but alas the all look grey WTF was I expecting something more than what is possible, looking at the pics on the forum the vapour blasting seemed to be the answer with the results looking a fresh 'Aluminium' colour but now I'm not so sure and are pretty pissed with my results, I half expect the reason is too much caustic in the mix and or possibly the incorrect beads being used, I was hit with the crap that it is because of the magnesium in the aluminium but if there was no magnesium there would be no cases to start with ,I actually recieved my parts back duller than before4 I had them basted, I can buff it to a mirror finish as per the rocker cover cam cap ends, clutch, point cover etc any thoughts appreciated and will be shared with the vapour blaster [/img]

[baz]

something wrong there pal, all the engines i have had done have always come back shiney, too shiney to be honest, a good coating of GT85 penetrating oil tends to dull them down abit did you have them wet blasted or dry blasted

[hillbilly]

sounds like they were done,then left for a while and they have tarnished.cast alloy is grey in color anyway.

[skibs]

like baz,my stuff usually comes back to shiny,but a friend of mine had same problem as you.apparantly his casings were to grotty for vapour,so the company dry sandblasted them first,then vapour blasted.dull"ish grey finish.

anyway,a little elbow grease with some steel wool(dry)gave very good results

[hanskloss]

kennym sounds like wrong media has been used - sand rather than fine glass beads, I've seen alloy bits sand blasted and they were matt grey finish, looked more like stone than metal

[DogsbolloxofZ1B]

Sounds like you've had the old fashioned grit blasting done. I've had loads of engines done with vapour blast and as the others say they always come back shiny.

[Keefleaf]

Were the parts bare alloy or covered with paint?
Some old Hammerite paint gets so baked on you have to get something more aggressive....That said,it shouldn`t look grey if Vapour blasted after.

P.S modern paint strippers seem CRAP.Haven`t tried Eco stuff yet but won`t hold my breath.

[kennym]

thanks for all yourv responces so far, yes I'm completley miffed, they parts were definatley wet blasted, Im not sure of the medium used, was told it was glass beads, i'll try and post some pics, yes it is a dull grey like it has been sand blasted dry. I did notice a lot of white powder redsidue hence my thoughts solution was to caustic

Ken

[Z903]

How much White powder? Hasn't been Soda blasted has it?

[kennym]

Before 3


Before 2


Before 1


after 6

after 5

after 4 white residue - oxidisation ?

after 3

after 2

after 1

Hopefully I have managed to post some b4 and aftrer pics o0f the vapour blasting includiung the whitr residue around the oil filter recess I dont know where to next this nnot at all what I was expecting, the finish is a duller grey than before it was - vapour blasted, any thoughts much apriciated regards and seasons greetings Kennym

[Is Vic There]

Hey Ken,

Where did you get the parts done?

[kennym]

Hi Is V ic There

at S.A. Chassis Service

369 South Rd, Mile End, SA 5031
Western Beachside Suburbs, Western Adelaide

p: (08) 82349777

Website - none provided

Chap by the namre of Eddy

[Is Vic There]

Kev,

I have had a few bits done now by a "One man band" called Specialised Blasting and have had no problems.

Here's a link to the, shuss (GPZ forum) were I'm in the middle of restoring a 900R

http://www.gpzzone.co.uk/gpzforum/showt ... 67&page=11


Also used him also for my BMW K1100 cylinder head, don't worry I don't own a BMW bike, just that these cylinder heads fit on a "A" series mini engine which is a project I've nearly finished.

Here's a picture before -



And here's a picture after-



here's a picture of the built engine, were going for 225bhp at the wheels, the mini moke weighs in at just under600kg, should be fun!



Anyway hope this helps, he's a top bloke and does a great job.

[DDZ900]

In my oppinion the media that they have used is filthy, we filter it all the time & you need shades on when the jobs finished ! to do this aqua blasting properly it doesnt just take 5 minutes iv done dozens of "z" motors

[mikey]

I get quite a bit of vapour blasting at griff's for customers
and it always comes back very clean and shiny