Description
Glass beads are the most popular cabinet abrasive for a reason: chemically inert, lead-free soda-lime glass with no free silica that cleans, hones, deburrs and peens without removing base metal or changing dimensions, leaving a bright satin finish smoother than any angular media produces. Kresco glass beads are certified for cleaning and peening in blasting equipment, and the MIL-SPEC G-9954D grades meet the military specification for aerospace and defense work. Supplied by Solvent Recycling Systems in 50 lb bags and 40-bag skids, ten sizes from 20 to 325 mesh.
Quick Specifications
| Working speed | Medium |
| Recyclability | High to low depending on size and pressure |
| Probability of metal removal | Very low |
| Hardness | Mohs 5.5 (TDS: 6–7) |
| Bulk density | 100 lb/cu ft (1.5 g/cm³) |
| Specific gravity | 2.4–2.6 |
| Mesh range | 20–325 (30–440 available) |
| Typical blast pressure | 30–80 psi |
| Shape | Spherical, 65–90% round by size |
| Free silica / free iron | None / ≤ 1% |
| Packaging | 50 lb bag; skid of 40 bags |
Advantages
- Non-aggressive: no change to workpiece surface or dimensions
- Works on every metal regardless of hardness; leaves no ferrous residue
- Silica free, environmentally friendly, low-cost disposal
- Improves corrosion resistance and fatigue life by stress-relieving machined and forged parts
Applications
- Cleaning and surface finishing of parts without damage; carbon and residue removal from pistons and valves
- Deflashing and deburring cast or molded parts
- Surface preparation before plating, anodizing, coating or paint
- Light shot peening of aircraft engine blades, turbine components, gears, shafts and springs
- Sanitizing stainless fabrications for food, pharmaceutical and medical use
Choosing a Size
| Range | Use |
|---|---|
| Coarse | Heavier contamination; peening for stress relief |
| Medium coarse | Engine rebuilding, mold texturing, peening softer metals |
| Regular (medium) | Plating and anodizing prep; most general applications |
| Fine | Light contamination and the finest surface finishes |
Grades and Kresco Codes
| Code (standard) | Code (MIL-SPEC) | Grade | Mesh |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGB-BT3-50 | AGB-BT3-50-MIL | BT3 | 20–30 |
| AGB-BT4-50 | AGB-BT4-50-MIL | BT4 | 30–40 |
| AGB-BT5-50 | AGB-BT5-50-MIL | BT5 | 40–60 |
| AGB-BT6-50 | AGB-BT6-50-MIL | BT6 | 40–70 |
| AGB-BT7-50 | AGB-BT7-50-MIL | BT7 | 50–80 |
| AGB-BT8-50 | AGB-BT8-50-MIL | BT8 | 60–120 |
| AGB-BT9-50 | AGB-BT9-50-MIL | BT9 | 80–120 |
| AGB-BT10-50 | AGB-BT10-50-MIL | BT10 | 100–170 |
| AGB-BT12-50 | AGB-BT12-50-MIL | BT12 | 120–270 |
| AGB-BT13-50 | AGB-BT13-50-MIL | BT13 | 170–325 |
Technical Data
Composition: SiO2 71–73%, Na2O 13–15%, CaO 8–10%, MgO 3–5%, Al2O3 0.5–2%, K2O 0.2–0.6%. Meets AASHTO M247, BS 6088, EN 1423/1424, JIS R3301 and KS L2521 standards. Stock sieve sizes from 20–30 mesh (850–600 µm, 65% round) down to minus-270 mesh (85% round).
Equipment Notes
Glass bead is the only media rated for the ECO420 and is the standard fill for CleanBlast and PowerBlast suction cabinets. For faster cutting switch to aluminum oxide; for stripping delicate substrates, plastic media.
Ordering
Glass bead media ships by the bag, skid or drum from Solvent Recycling Systems with the rest of your blasting consumables. Tell us the grade, quantity and your blast equipment and we’ll quote delivered pricing. Request a media quote or call (847) 833-7010. Not sure which abrasive? Start with our blast media selection chart and the nozzle air consumption chart.
