The Benefits of Glass Bead Blasting Media

Blasting is a common practice in parts finishing in which certain types of media are rapidly shot at a part in order to polish or clean it. Originally, the term sandblasting was used and sand was the only media, but over time more types of media became popularly used. There is no true best type of blasting media, with each kind having benefits to it, so the choice of which one to use falls to if it suits the operation you are performing at your business’s facility. Glass beads are a media that is sometimes used in blasting processes and has unique benefits to it that make it a useful type of media that sees use in all kinds of industries.

Glass beads are unlike other kinds of media, which are typically made of metal or plastic, and instead are made from soda lime-type glass. This is a sturdy material, so it can be used in blasting processes without breaking. The main benefit to glass beads, however, lies in the fact that they are free of lead and silica. This means that glass beads as a blasting media do not leave any contaminants behind that might damage or corrupt the finished parts, making them among the safest forms of blasting media. This is useful in the medical industry and fields where cleanliness is of high importance.

Glass beads are also unique in the fact that they produce a smooth finish on the part that is being blasted, as opposed to the slightly rougher edges left behind on other types of blasting media. This makes it most effective when you are looking to polish or smooth a part, rather than grind out anomalies. Finally, glass beads are aesthetically and uniquely useful, but they are not the most cost-effective, as they can only be used a handful of times before needing to swap them out. This makes them less useful in mass production settings, but invaluable where they are needed in smaller batches.

Glass beads as a blasting media are unique and highly useful for smooth and clean finishing. At Mikro Industrial Finishing, we carry glass beads as well as many other kinds of blasting media to suit any operation that your company and facility may have. To learn more about our blasting media, as well as finishing equipment and Job Shop, call us any time at (860) 875-6357.