Is it safe to media blast an aluminum frame? I have read differing opinions. Are there other medias besides glass bead?

Lastly, what the best way to remove powder from an entire aluminum bmx frame?

I guess it depends on the media used. I have used glass bead 80 grit and it leaves brake calipers nice and smooth......

Maybe PM waza007. He's done a fair bit of blasting aluminium components in the last couple of weeks. I have a set of motomags that had been blasted (literally) and they now have a hole near the hub and a bad section of the rim area. Because aluminium is so soft it can be damaged easily. I'm sure it can be done though.

Based only on my personal experience, no problem blasting aluminum with PLASTIC bead at 35-40 psi. Works great for removing paint, with no effect on the substrate metal. I have blasted aluminum and steel with 220 grit aluminum oxide media for preparation for paint at similar low pressures. This makes a great paint prep surface. However, the aluminum oxide will abrade the surface some. I have done it with no noticable loss of serial numbers, weld detail, etc. I have used the plastic media to remove powdercoat from aluminum too. It works, but is more difficult to remove than paint. Maybe chemical stripping is the way to go with powdercoat. That I have not tried.

Jon

The media has always been biased against aluminium and has a record of blasting it every chance they get. Stick with chromoly and you won't be blasted yourself.

Plastic beads is the ticket...