Whats up guys, welp I have a problem. I dun't know if there is any one on this forum who knows Aluminum good. But heres the story, The last week of October I let my paintball Tippman A5 gun go with a co-worker who has sand blaster and powder coater. He was doing at the time all sorts of free work for us, he was kinda new and wanted to fit in I guess. Well he said he would coat my A5 for free, so I let it go with him. Nearly 6 weeks later I finally got him to bring it back to me, it came back he said he didn't get to powder coat it just sand blasted it. The thing came back looking and feeling like it had been through a spray in bedliner setup. Also I could tell right off the bat the shells didn't feel right. Sure enough the next day during re-assembly I realized the shells were not fitting right. Long story short I took it to a paintball store and the guy told me he had seen 100's of guns blasted and never had one F'ed up like mine. It has apparently warpped in 4 different areas of the metal, attached is a pic the middle photo is how the gun fits together on each end which is correct. While in the middle it has a gap which wont seal, it also has warped to the point where its not as tall, the bolt will not fit in the bolt slide anymore if you can get what im saying. I am just wanting to know how the F someone could do such a thing. I though blasting would make a shiny smooth finish? Also can it warp aluminum, can it be heated back up and pressed or something back into correct form? New sides are nearly 100 bucks and Id rather buy a new gun. This gun was used anyhow if I can salvage it I will. Thanks guys.

 

Since aluminum is a realatively soft metal, my guess would be he used the wrong sand blasting medium, one used for harder metals, resulting in the rough surface that the parts now have. As for the warpage, my guess would be it's from the non-uniform heating and cooling brought on by the blasting process, which was exaggerated by using the wrong medium.

I dont really know what you can do about fixing the problem, but I do know youre kind of SOL, so you might as well try and fix it. You could try to uniformly heat it and let it cool in open air, but I'm not sure if it would relax back to its original state.

 

Looks like you have a paper weight now.

 

The truth hurts. I have been looking at new ones. It actually was performing at 100% before the dood took it. Thanks for the info.

 

I dont think I've ever seen aluminum sandblasted. It is a very harsh process and for someone who probably doesn't know what they are doing, it can be detrimental.

Your gun is lost. It would cost more to fix then 5 guns (To get the tolerances correct)to fix.

 

Wrong blasting medium was used and parts were destroyed. Not much you can do.

 

this is probably why some people choose anodizing, chemical strip the coating already applied and then anodize it to another color, it gives a slightly hardened finish.

 

Would aluminum be a type of metal you would use walnut shell on, or what mediun would you use?

 

Some info on blasting media.

http://www.kramerindustriesonline.co...ting-media.htm

Each one has more info if you hit the enter button.

 

We use bead blasting media on aluminum painted parts at the fighter plant.

 

He had a bead blaster too, I bet he didn't think of it. Of course he was probley looking at it down a beer bottle haha O well guys Imma just try to sale the parts I do have. Thanks

 

scrap aluminum is another option

 

It may have some O rings left.
Paintcho Villa needs more like it.

I guess sandblasters should come with a tag that says "DOn't try this at home."
I'd have been to embarased to bring that back to someone. I would have found a replacement somehow. I know he was a newbe trying to make an imperssion. "But DAAAAMN!!"

 

looks like it's time to get an auto****er

**damn it. how did i know it would do that.