Glass beading Pistons

[std]

What do you guys think? I'm thinking from the ring lands up. I've seen it but I've never done it.

[squirrel]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

best to keep glass far away from pistons.....although I've done the tops of some. Not the ring lands though.

lotsa careful masking before, and lotsa careful cleaning afterwards.

[horsewidower]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

Yeah, I'm with squirrel on this one. Its my understanding that you may get some embedment in the aluminum. I've thought about it on skirts, but never on ring lands.

Guys, any other medium that you'd think about using? Walnut shells, maybe soda??

[min301]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

No, not the ring lands, the tops, and skirts, yes.

[DanStokes]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I usually hit the crowns and even the lands with the bench-grinder mounted wire brush and never had an issue. The wires tend to clean the outside of the lands w/o going into the grooves. If you're worried about damage you can get the brush in brass. By using the brush there's no grit involved to get left behind in the subsequent cleaning steps. Works for me.

Dan

[JeffMcKC]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I am not for doing this, the skirts will hold glass and then oil after, it will round the ring lands (very bad idea) It can also round the top edge, and give carbon a good place to hold onto on the top.

I soak mine plastic scraper them and put them back, I use a ring I take out break it and grind a edge to clean the grooves with

[BangShiftChad]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I'm with Jeff on this one. I do know an engine builder that uses soda blasting now to clean blocks, pistons, etc. He says it works like a champ and is super easy to clean up.

I like the soak and scrape method myself.

[DanStokes]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

As I said, I've used the wire brush method but now I think about it I wonder if the Easy-Off thing would work. I don't think it would screw up any coating, would it (like tin or some such)? Just thinkin' out loud.

Dan

[horsewidower]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

Dan: I've always wondered if Easy-Off, or whatever brand of oven cleaner you like, would soften the aluminum.

[Dynoroom]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I and many other builders I know have been doing it for years.......

Don't hit the ring lands (tape them if you like) but otherwise it's no big deal. I also hit the bottom of the skirt's with a "scotch brite" wheel, and dang if I don't radius the bottom of the cylinder bores too. Funny how my pistons come out of a racing engine looking like new. ;)

Of course I'm just some guy with a keyboard. 8)

[horsewidower]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

Of course I'm just some guy with a keyboard. 8)

OUCH

[Huskinhano]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

Walnut shells instead of glass ?

[milner351]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I have heard of folks using walnut shells to remove surface rust and junk from "machined surfaces" so I would think they'd be great for pistons.

[JeffMcKC]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I have heard of folks using walnut shells to remove surface rust and junk from "machined surfaces" so I would think they'd be great for pistons.

Ford used it to clean the back side of intake valves, on the car, just in case some got in the cylinder.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Glass beading Pistons

I think Buick did the same for the old 215 Aluminum motors, right DanStokes?