Sandblasting a Sword?

Jeff D · 19th September 2009, 10:09 PM

Hi all,

Has anyone here tried sand blasting a heavily rusted sword? I have a few projects which are heavily corroded which I would like to try it on. I have in the past tried the usual iron wool, oil and time, but, I find that it doesn't get the oxide out of the pits and grooves which could be hiding markings.
I will show a trial run I made on a old rusty square. It seems to work fairly quick. I would appreciate any tips and/or advice.

Thanks Jeff

Atlantia · 19th September 2009, 10:22 PM

Results look similar to vinegar de-rusting.

But I guess a damn site quicker!

kronckew · 20th September 2009, 10:05 AM

purists would not like the removal of the patina that has taken ages to develope, and consider a piece devalued if so treated; but if you must, i'd try glass bead blasting. it's less likely to remove precious metal and is a bit more delicate and less abrasive than sharp sand. still, it's better than taking an angle grinder to it.

Jeff D · 20th September 2009, 04:49 PM

Thanks Kronckew,

I used 30-60 crushed glass on the square above, and I think it is too aggressive to use on a sword. I will experiment with the glass beads next. In this thread ( http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sandblasting ) it was suggested to use coal slag 'black beauty', wouldn't that be more aggressive than crushed glass? Has any one used it?

Atlantia, the appearance is very similar to a vinegar etch, with a flat dull grey appearance to the metal. I think that is more a result on the oxidation below the original rust in this case? You are also right that the result took only a few seconds and is actually more controllable than a vinegar etch.

Thanks
Jeff

G. McCormack · 20th September 2009, 05:37 PM

maybe you could try a lighter medium, like walnut shells?

kronckew · 20th September 2009, 06:07 PM

having read the post no. 4, i was about to also suggest ground up walnut shells, the cutter i served on had two Solar 1000 HP gas turbine engines (as well as two 1500 HP diesels), and we would occasionally have to clean the crud off the blades, we'd slowly dump a sack of ground walnut shells in the air intake. worked a treat. nice smoke and sparks out the stern exhausts too!

other forms of shells were tried, but walnut worked the best and was the least destructive.

glass bead blasting, a less intensive form of shot blasting, can also increase the surface hardness of the metal slightly due to the compression of the metal in the teeny dimples created by the impact, where sharp abrasives are more likely to cut away material.

you can also get plastic beads for even more benign bead blasting crud removal. linky on available mtls.

19th September 2009, 10:09 PM	#1
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Sandblasting a Sword? Hi all, Has anyone here tried sand blasting a heavily rusted sword? I have a few projects which are heavily corroded which I would like to try it on. I have in the past tried the usual iron wool, oil and time, but, I find that it doesn't get the oxide out of the pits and grooves which could be hiding markings. I will show a trial run I made on a old rusty square. It seems to work fairly quick. I would appreciate any tips and/or advice. Thanks Jeff Attached Images

20th September 2009, 06:07 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	having read the post no. 4, i was about to also suggest ground up walnut shells, the cutter i served on had two Solar 1000 HP gas turbine engines (as well as two 1500 HP diesels), and we would occasionally have to clean the crud off the blades, we'd slowly dump a sack of ground walnut shells in the air intake. worked a treat. nice smoke and sparks out the stern exhausts too! other forms of shells were tried, but walnut worked the best and was the least destructive. glass bead blasting, a less intensive form of shot blasting, can also increase the surface hardness of the metal slightly due to the compression of the metal in the teeny dimples created by the impact, where sharp abrasives are more likely to cut away material. you can also get plastic beads for even more benign bead blasting crud removal. linky on available mtls. Last edited by kronckew; 20th September 2009 at 06:31 PM.

19th September 2009, 10:22 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Results look similar to vinegar de-rusting. But I guess a damn site quicker!

20th September 2009, 10:05 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	purists would not like the removal of the patina that has taken ages to develope, and consider a piece devalued if so treated; but if you must, i'd try glass bead blasting. it's less likely to remove precious metal and is a bit more delicate and less abrasive than sharp sand. still, it's better than taking an angle grinder to it.

20th September 2009, 04:49 PM	#4
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Thanks Kronckew, I used 30-60 crushed glass on the square above, and I think it is too aggressive to use on a sword. I will experiment with the glass beads next. In this thread ( http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sandblasting ) it was suggested to use coal slag 'black beauty', wouldn't that be more aggressive than crushed glass? Has any one used it? Atlantia, the appearance is very similar to a vinegar etch, with a flat dull grey appearance to the metal. I think that is more a result on the oxidation below the original rust in this case? You are also right that the result took only a few seconds and is actually more controllable than a vinegar etch. Thanks Jeff

20th September 2009, 05:37 PM	#5
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	maybe you could try a lighter medium, like walnut shells?