Farm Equipment - walnut blasting

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walnut blasting

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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20797
Printed Date: 11 Feb 2025 at 10:35am
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Topic: walnut blasting

Posted By: Ed in TX
Subject: walnut blasting
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 5:30pm

I have a friend that owns an abrasives supply company. I showed him the rear steels I have. There is some decay that needs to be repaired but the welder that's helping me wants them blasted down to bare metal. Gordon, the abrasives guy tells me the best medium to use would be walnut shells. They grind walnut shells and run them through standard blasting equipment. He quoted me $25 a bag, said I should be able to do the job with 2 bags. Anyone heard of this?

Replies:

Posted By: Max(ia)
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 5:41pm

I know that is a way of blasting, but can't give you any particulars on it.

Posted By: Dnoym N. S. Can.
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 5:41pm

yes we have used it to
blast intake valve on the
early Toyota and yes he would
think it the best because he
sell it . baking soda would work
also glass bead seem faster
B:-) Dnoym

Posted By: Leonard
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 5:47pm

I use red garnet for all my blasting needs. Just have to be careful of the air pressure on thinner metal. Garnet works better than everything else I have used and if you can catch it with a tarp can be reused a couple of times. Makes the money spent last longer.

Leonard

Posted By: amac
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 6:14pm

I have blasted lots of tractors and plain old brown sand will clean them up as good as walnut shells. Shouldn't take much more material and you can buy it at lumber yards for around $5/bag.

Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 6:48pm

I think walnut media is to expensive for blasting rusty steel. Reserve its use for something you want to polish and not pit. I would go with fine blasting sand if it were me. $50 bucks buys a lot more than 2 bags of sand.

Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2010 at 6:53pm

I don't know how effective walnut shells are on heavy rust, but I have found black beauty works very well on really rusty parts. Like the others say, unless you plan on trying to polish something, I don't think walnut shells are what you want.

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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford

Posted By: Ed in TX
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 9:40am

So what you're saying is my salesman friend is more salesman than friend.

Posted By: JohnThomas
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 10:03am

I have even used the tiny plastic beads from a water softener...works real well on small parts like carb's and where ever you don't want sand to get into.

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Life is short...Make haste to be kind

Posted By: injpumpEd
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 10:08am

reserve the Walnut shells for the blasting cabinet. Black Beauty will work fast on thick rusty steel like the wheels you are needing cleaned.

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210 "too hot to farm" puller, part of the "insane pumpkin posse". Owner of Guenther Heritage Diesel, specializing in fuel injection systems on heritage era tractors. stock rebuilds to all out pullers!

Posted By: Chris(WA)
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 12:28pm

I get ground glass from a recycler locally. It works real good on rust. May cut a bit agressivly on a fine surface but a rusty wheel? Great cheap stuff!

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Washingtonian by choice, Wisconsin Farmboy by the grace of God!

Posted By: john(MI)
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 1:34pm

I have only ever heard of walnut shells used at low pressure for stripping furniture. Sand would be your best, economical choice.

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D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446

Posted By: Nathan (SD)
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 2:42pm

I always thought walnut shells were for softer metals where sand is too rough. Shells are abrasive but softer than the metal.

Posted By: injpumpEd
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 4:20pm

I have been told use walnut shells to blast aluminum intake manifolds for a nearly polished result. Never tried it though.

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210 "too hot to farm" puller, part of the "insane pumpkin posse". Owner of Guenther Heritage Diesel, specializing in fuel injection systems on heritage era tractors. stock rebuilds to all out pullers!

Posted By: Bret (OH)
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2010 at 5:52pm

The best blasting media for what you are wanting to blast would be white silica sand. We have put hundreds of tons of it through our blaster since back in the 70's when we began blasting with our 600 lb Clemson, but thanks to the "nanny state" because it may cause "silicosis" it can no longer be purchased. Last we bought was nearly $10 per 100 lb bag. The brown sand will work but it is much "softer" and not quite as agressive as the harder white was. It is cheap media but takes longer to blast with it because it is less agressive and it is also much more dirty and dusty. We use the black majic product now and sometimes mix it with the brown sand depending on what we are blasting. I would recommend the black majic for the rear rims you are working on. The black majic is ground and screened coal sl*g product.

Posted By: Clay
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2010 at 8:34am

Black Diamond (Black Beauty) is available at TSC (Tractor Supply Co.).
It does a very good job.