Glass beads are a common abrasive blast media used in abrasive blasting. All of the bead blasting cabinets at Raptor Blasting Systems can use glass beads. Use the glass bead media size chart below to see what sizes correspond to each brand and spec.
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Glass beads used in abrasive blasting are come in different sizes and diameters. Much like you would use different grades of sandpaper for different jobs, you would want to use different sizes of glass beads for different levels of blasting. Choose a No. 7 or No. 8 to clean or strip surfaces quickly.
In industrial blast cabinets, glass beads are for removing small burrs, cleaning, peening, honing, polishing, blending, and finishing. For delicate metal or thin welds, peening with glass beads can provide the right amount of stress relief without going overboard and causing damage.
Glass beads can usually be re-cycled 30 times under normal use.
US Standard Screen SizeMIL-PRF-BMIL-S-CPotters Ballotini®Glas-Shot®Blast-O-LiteZeroSAE Intl JBead Size Range (Diameter in Inches)12-14No. 11BT 1801-201.-.-20No. 22BT 2801-202.-.20-30No. 33313 or AMS-XGXBT 3801-203GB-70.-.20-80.-.-.-.-45AAAAAA.-.30-40No. 42324 or BBT 4801-204GB-50.-.35-.-.-60.-.-50No. BT -205GB-35.-.-60CBOL 21.-.-70AAAA.-.-.-.50-70No. 61176 or DBT 6801-206GB-25.-.50-80ABABBOL 23.-.60-80No. 7987 or EBT 7801-207GB-20.-.60-100BOL 24.-.-120ACAC.-.70-100No. 8838 or FBT 8801-208GB-18.-.70-140ADADBOL 25.-.80-120No. 9709 or GBT 9801-209GB-15.-.100-140H.-.100-170No. 1010 or AEAFBT 10801-210.-.100-200BOL 26.-.-170AGAG.-.120-200No. 1111BT 11801-211.-.140-200J.-.140-230No. 1212BT 12801-212.-.140-270BOL 27.-.-230K.-.-325No. 1313 or AHAHBT 13801-213.-.170 and FinerAL. and Finer200-270N.-.-325BOL 29.-.-O.-.-400P.-. and FinerAIMS-XL. and Finer325 and FinerAQBOL -214. and Finer400 and FinerAS. and FinerThe most commonly used glass bead sizes are highlighted. MIL-PRF-B No. 8 is the most commonly used glass bead size.
The MIL-PRF-B spec is for glass beads used for cleaning and peening, approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense. This spec was approved on September 26th, .
The MIL-S-C spec is for for glass beads used for shot peening of metal parts, approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense. This spec was approved on June 7th, .
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In the SAE International J spec, published on September 1st, , the following applies:
This specification covers the characteristics of glass beads used for peening, and provides for standard glass bead size numbers. The glass bead classification number is the approximate nominal diameter of the glass spheres in that classification, in hundredths of a millimeter, with the prefix GB added. Glass beads used for peening shall be made from high quality glass of the soda-lime type. They should be as resistant as possible to breakage from shock-impact, or by abrasion during shipment and handling. The particles should be substantially round, free-flowing, and free from chemical impurities or contaminants that might be detrimental to the workpiece.
Blast-O-Lite, Potters Ballotini®, Glas-Shot®, and Zero are commonly found brands of glass beads for bead blasting. We usually use Potters Ballotini® beads, which we normally get from Kleen-Blast.
Glass bead blasting media is a unique force in the world of surface refinement. Unlike blast media that cuts aggressively, these gentle, lead-free soda lime spheres offer a smoother, brighter finish. They are ideal when finesse matters more than brute strength.
With no free silica and made into perfectly round shapes, they’re the gold standard for finishing without distortion, especially when you want peened, satin brilliance with no dimensional change. Glass bead media can be recycled up to 30 times, making them not only economical but environmentally friendly too.
Glass bead blasting media creates a clean, bright surface. There are no gouges or stress fractures here. In a world of angular abrasives, glass bead blasting is the soft professional who is refined and efficient. They produce a much smoother and brighter finish than angular abrasives. Glass bead blasting is ideal for medical components, engine parts, and stainless applications.
Chemically inert and environmentally friendly, glass beads are an acceptable method of metal cleaning or surface finishing when properly controlled. Available in a wide range of sizes, glass bead abrasives are primarily used in blasting cabinets for honing, polishing, peening, blending, finishing, removing light burrs, and cleaning most light foreign matter. For delicate thin-walled parts and thin welds, peening with glass bead abrasive material provides the right balance of stress relief without over-stressing and causing damage.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Blasting Glass Beads. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.