The glass microsphere offers multiple possibilities in the restoration of brocante objects, vehicles, etc. This activity, which is carried out either as a hobby or structured as a business, requires very few elements for its development. The essential material is a small compressor, a Venturi gun and a glass microsphere.
This material, sprayed at a certain speed (regulated by the pressure of the compressor), effectively removes unwanted surface residues such as incrustations, oxides or paint, among others. Its light pickling effect allows it to be used even on soft and thin materials, such as copper tools (cutlery, pans, etc.).
Surfaces blasted with glass beads are easily recognizable as they have a minimally rough appearance and a semi-glossy tone (depending on the base material, of course). In harder materials we appreciate a clear tone of clean material.
The elements belonging to the engine parts of automobiles or motorcycles are especially grateful to this type of treatment. It should be considered that many of them were initially shot-blasted at the time of manufacture. The shot blasting process has many similarities with shot blasting, the basic difference being that while in shot blasting we use compressed air as a propulsion system, in shot blasting it is done by turbines.
These initially shot-blasted parts, when blasted with glass beads, regain their original appearance. Before carrying out a treatment of this type, it is advisable to seek advice on the type of microsphere to be used and its conditions of use.
Within the microspheres there are numerous particle sizes that are identified by two consecutive numbers and their purpose is to determine the size of the lower and upper particles, expressed in microns. For example, microsphere 105-210 indicates that the particles of this item are between 105 and 210 microns (thousandths of a millimeter).
Within the conditions of use, it is important to consider that blasting will produce dust from both the surface to be cleaned and the fragmentation of the microsphere itself. To avoid this, minimum safety measures must be taken, such as: using goggles and a mask, or using a blasting cabinet that isolates the work area from the person handling the gun.
The trigger pressure The pressure must be regulated from less to more, since the norm is to use the minimum pressure necessary to carry out the process efficiently, so it will start to be projected around the 2 bar pressure and tests will be carried out gradually increasing until the desired effect is achieved.
It should be noted that the use of glass beads in restoration is by no means limited to metals, both stone and wood are perfectly sandblasted under the right conditions. As always, we must think before the operation about the type of material suitable for the process. There are notable differences in hardness between sandstone, limestone and granite. If the surface to be treated is wood, then the differences are not so significant, but we must be very careful in case of wood attacked by termites, for example, since they can be very weakened and therefore it is not advisable to sandblast them.
If you need advice on processes, machinery or beads, consult our specialists and they will help you find the solution you need to obtain the desired results.
