I got some fine glass beads for my $100 Chinese bead blaster
and unlike walnut shells they actually work. Anybody want
a couple of bags of walnut shells?  The glass beads are
so fine I had to take my bead blaster all apart and seal
all joints with RTV to keep the beads from blowing out
through the crevices. $100 for the bead blaster and
twenty man hours to tune it up.

Here is a rotor housing that has been cleaned with
my bead blaster. I masked off the inner surface with 
masking tape. This is with a 2 HP air compressor
which is marginal. Three or four HP would be better.

I had a talk with Rick at Aero Engines while I was taking
a tour through the facility with one of Robin's A&P classes.
Aero Engines is the largest rebuilder of R985's & R1350's.

Rick confirmed my experience with chemical cleaners. He has had
to convert to bead blasting because the EPA has drastically 
reduced the effectiveness of chemical cleaners.
All pistons and cylinders are bead blasted at Aero Engines.
Pistons and cylinders are the tough ones anyway as they have
the baked on crud.

Paul Lamar
 
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