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View Full Version : Took a sandblaster to my P380 today...


dsk
03-20-2016, 05:05 PM
Today I decided to bead blast the entire slide of my Kahr P380. It already had a small nick on the top from when I dropped something on it during a cleaning session, so it was a good candidate to try out my newly-acquired sandblasting skills and fix the damage. My equipment was mostly all from Harbor Freight, using one of their cheap gravity-fed guns and 80-grit glass beads hooked up to a 4gal. Dewalt air compressor.


First, the before picture:


http://www.fototime.com/%7B60EC4258-923B-4C3E-8220-A5EB5B82C3FA%7D/origpict/p380.jpg


Now, the after pics:


http://www.fototime.com/%7B6DA75659-A5D3-4008-B50E-04FCE5467C6E%7D/origpict/kahr.jpg


http://www.fototime.com/%7B834F7740-0136-40B5-BE48-6C1F75E8B64A%7D/origpict/kahrtop.jpg


I'm liking the grey finish a lot more than the bright silvery finish it had before. The only downside is that the coarser finish picks up lint more easily, so we'll have to see over time whether that becomes an issue with a pocket pistol. At first I was just going to sandblast the flat surface of the top of the slide, but my masking skills proved too unrefined so I ended up just blasting the whole thing (minus the insides). In the end I prefer it this way, as the cocking serrations now feel sharper which makes the slide easier to retract. Who knows, if I get bored with this pistol I may try polishing the sides someday for a true two-toned look.
Bobshouse
03-20-2016, 05:37 PM
Very nice job!
Bawanna
03-20-2016, 06:23 PM
What did you do to contain the blast media or did you coat yourself in the stuff.

I got the same setup via a friend here on the forum but I'm still tossing around idea's in my head on a cabinet to work inside so I'm not covered in blast media and the stuff goes every where.
Scarywoody
03-20-2016, 07:00 PM
Harbor freight sells a bench top cabinet for $114. They always have a 20% off coupon as well. It would be hard to build one much cheaper.
dsk
03-20-2016, 07:38 PM
What did you do to contain the blast media or did you coat yourself in the stuff.

I got the same setup via a friend here on the forum but I'm still tossing around idea's in my head on a cabinet to work inside so I'm not covered in blast media and the stuff goes every where.

I just blasted it outside in the back yard, using gloves, a respirator and goggles. A 25# box of media will probably last me 20 years so I'm not concerned about re-using it. But yes once I was done it was time to hook up the air gun and clean myself off before I could even go back inside.
Bills1873
03-20-2016, 08:43 PM
Years ago, I made a blast cabinet from a large cardboard box and a piece of plexiglass for a project. Threw an old bed sheet over the open top to keep the dust down. Had holes in front ringed with cloth to put my hand through. Used a suction gun and fine sand, worked pretty good at the time. Great for small parts. Blasted quite a few things in that box. Even had a light bulb in the side.
muggsy
03-20-2016, 09:00 PM
Looks good, even though I prefer the original finish. You did a very nice job. Looks very professional.
items
03-20-2016, 10:09 PM
I like the look! I had my eye on the CT380 Tungsten model from Kahr. But the LGS had only the two tone one in stock - and I guess I'm weak and impatient :)

Nice work on your P380 sir!
Ronni3_J
03-20-2016, 10:23 PM
Get it cleared with ceramic coating from Cerakote. The color will stay but it will roughness will go away
dsk
03-20-2016, 10:53 PM
Looks good, even though I prefer the original finish. You did a very nice job. Looks very professional.

Thanks. It would've stayed original finish had I not fumble-fingered my Glock 42's barrel while cleaning it and the Kahr one day. It landed right on the Kahr's slide and a sharp edge dug into the steel. That was the umpteenth time I dropped or banged up one of my guns or its parts while cleaning it... you would think I'd have learned to stop doing that by now.
yqtszhj
03-21-2016, 01:16 PM
I like the looks of that.
cw9 covert
03-21-2016, 03:38 PM
did you take off the sights or blast over them?
CJB
03-21-2016, 06:36 PM
Nice job
gb6491
03-21-2016, 06:55 PM
That looks like a nice even finish...well done!
Regards,
Greg
dsk
03-21-2016, 07:55 PM
did you take off the sights or blast over them?

Yes, I removed the sights and all the internals, and taped off the insides. I put the rear cover plate back on to keep from blasting inside the striker channel and also to match the slide.
OvalNut
03-21-2016, 09:28 PM
I'm glad you blasted it to remove the damage, and I prefer a more finished finish though.


Tim
MBSL500
03-21-2016, 10:36 PM
It looks like you used aluminum oxide rather than glass bead.
In my humble opinion, if you blast it again, try fine or medium glass bead at 30-40 PSI from about 6-8 inches.
Shoot the slde at a 45 degree angle relative to the nozzle.
Make sure you keep the slide the same distance from the blast nozzle from front to rear of slide.
It will give it a beautiful satin finish...better than new.

My PM9 after bead blasting using the method above.
Note: The slide isn't glossy like shown over the slide release.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/PrivateStock/PM94_zpsflpmbhm7.jpg
dsk
03-22-2016, 12:52 AM
It was 80-grit glass beads, but I shot it from just a couple inches away at 95psi. If get bored with the look or have a bunch of idle time again some weekend I'll try blasting it again from further out and lower pressure like you suggested. More practice will make perfect, and I've also got spare stainless parts to practice on.

BTW here is the RH side:

http://www.fototime.com/%7B59AC044F-F588-4562-83CB-A50F45D4075A%7D/origpict/kahrright.JPG
b4uqzme
03-22-2016, 07:50 AM
I sorta like the matte gray look. But it does have me wondering what it would look like if you did a brushed finish on the sides. Please post if you ever do something like that. It would be easy to do with just a straight edge and some sandpaper.
dsk
03-22-2016, 06:07 PM
Will do. The nice thing about being able to do things like this yourself is that if you don't like the results you can always do it over again.
MBSL500
03-23-2016, 11:55 AM
Will do. The nice thing about being able to do things like this yourself is that if you don't like the results you can always do it over again.

You probably want to avoid using sandpaper. Bad idea.
If you want a brushed finish, use either 3M Grey Scotchbrite, or buy a
few "Satin Buffs" from a jewelery supply company
To use either you'll need to first polish the slide to almost a mirror finish.
Check out any Seecamp.
He used 3M Grey (fine) on a buffing wheel to achieve his finish.