Just Curious , need info

[harry strasil]

Has anyone tried using the crushed walnut shell blast media that HF sells for cleaning old handtools with the nickel plated finish? And if so, does it harm the plating?

Thanks in advance.

Jr.

[Jeff Burks]

There are many grades of crushed walnut from fine powders to extra coarse chunks. From what I understand the coarse variations used in blasting are better suited to cleaning surfaces rather than polishing them, but I don't know if the blasting will leave the correct texture on the plated surfaces.

Most of the finer grades are used to polish jewelery in tumbler or vibration machines rather than blasting. They often coat the walnut bits with rouge for that type of application.

If you were to search for the right information on the subject I would suggest restoration forums related to automotive, guns, jewelry & watches, airplanes etc.

I'll post some links if I find anything good on the subject.

[Jeff Burks]

It's always good to start with Wikipedia
Sand Blasting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_blasting)
Walnut Shells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut#Shells)

Blasting Media (http://atozsodablasting.com/Media.htm)
They tried walnut shells and corn cobs (http://books.google.com/books?id=4DkGrUmHwRYC&pg=PA108&dq=crushed+walnut+shell+blasting&lr=&as_brr=1&ei=nc7AS7fiO57-zQTIxrH3Bw&cd=8#v=onepage&q&f=false) on the Statue of Liberty.
Metal Restoration in Historic Buildings (http://books.google.com/books?id=J1a3hvykc_0C&lpg=PA125&dq=crushed%20walnut%20blasting&lr&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is&as_brr=1&pg=PA125#v=onepage&q=crushed%20walnut%20blasting&f=false)
Old House Journal (http://books.google.com/books?id=kDEBXLD1Wn4C&lpg=PA27&dq=crushed%20walnut%20blasting&lr&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is&as_brr=1&pg=PA27#v=onepage&q=crushed%20walnut%20blasting&f=false)
A gun forum (http://rugerforum.net/projects/14540-sand-blasting.html)
Restoring Decorative Metal (http://books.google.com/books?id=N4b-KFxd5LwC&lpg=PA57&dq=restoring%20nickel%20plated&lr&as_brr=1&pg=PA56#v=onepage&q=restoring%20nickel%20plated&f=false)
Gentle Blasting (http://books.google.com/books?id=3TYS_PVx34YC&lpg=PA49&dq=crushed%20walnut%20shell%20blasting&lr&as_brr=1&pg=PA46#v=onepage&q&f=false)
Soda Blast (http://books.google.com/books?id=69x6cZ4GsREC&lpg=PA54&dq=crushed%20walnut%20shell%20blasting&lr&as_brr=1&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q&f=false)
Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts (http://www.villageofowego.com/pdf/streetscape_facade_report/NPS_Preserv_Brief.pdf) PDF
Most of the sand blasting threads on Old Tool Archive (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/search.php) deal with removing japaning, but if you search "blasting" there might be some quality info in the threads that turn up.


It would seem that it is very important to know:
Type of media
Grade of media
PSI of blasting
Methods of protecting adjacent surfaces
Condition of the plating - intact, or flaking with rust underneath
Intended results