Blast media for matte silver finish on stainless

[eww1350]

Trying to find what is the idea dry blast media to give me a bright matte finish on stainless steel barrels that duplicates the Remington 700 vssf and others.. would rather have sparkly finish than soft matte...I tried coarse glass beads but it gave a darker finish...

Eddie in Texas

 

[Robert Robinson]

I use glass bead at work, 316 and 304 looks just like a savage barrel after blasting. Very small round beads. Slick as ice when spilled on floor. Be next Friday before I go back to work, get you the name if you want it. If I can figure out this forum thing, this being my first reply or post. Not sure.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Fine grit glass like 180 plus. For a bit more shine blast it with walnut hull media afterwards.

 

[paperpuncher]

Eddie the glass beads I use are bt-6 or bt-8 size. This give a soft matte finish that is dull. The glass beads are going to "peen" the surface. You used the word sparkly to describe the finish you are trying to achieve, the only way I know is to use alox. This is going to cut the surface and give that spark to the finish. The attached pic is 100 grit alox on a piece if scrap stainless steel barrel. I would guess that if you use a finer grit you will get a less aggressive finish but still get the sparkle

 

[eddief]

You want glass beads for that luminous finish.

Alox is matte and dull. Alox will scuff extremely easy, it's really meant for metal prep for paint or coating.

Basically glass beads are smooth and polish the metal more or less. Alox is jagged and etches metal to give it tooth.

 

[ROCKJAG4]

TRY BAKING SODA. MATCHES PERFECTLY.