Glass Bead Blasting Cape Town uses small round glass beads to clean metal and leave an even satin finish. It is a metal finishing process, not decorative work on glass. Describe your parts once and compare quotes.
- For engineering parts, stainless fittings, motorcycle and car components and tooling.
- For frosting or patterns on windows and mirrors, see glass sandblasting below.
Describe your parts once and compare glass bead blasting quotes.
Get Glass Bead Blasting QuotesSuitable Work
- Stainless steel fittings, handrail parts and food equipment that need a uniform satin finish.
- Aluminium parts, housings and brackets.
- Removing heat tint and discolouration after welding stainless.
- Cleaning light oxidation and carbon from engine and motorcycle parts.
- Moulds and tooling, where the contractor confirms tolerances will not be affected.
What Glass Bead Does and Does Not Do
- Round beads peen rather than cut, so they clean with little loss of metal.
- It leaves a smooth, bright satin look, not a rough profile.
- It is slow on heavy rust, thick paint and powder coat. Those usually need stripping or grit first.
- Because it leaves little profile, it is not usually the right preparation for heavy-duty paint systems.
What the Process Involves
- Degrease and strip seals, bearings and plastic parts.
- Mask threads, bores and machined faces.
- Blast in a cabinet at a pressure suited to the part.
- Blow off and wash out beads from recesses.
- Optional sealing or clear coat on aluminium.
Limitations
- Thin parts can still distort if blasted too hard in one spot.
- Beads can lodge in threads and passages, so internal passages must be blanked.
- Contaminated or recycled media can embed steel particles in stainless steel and cause rust spots. Ask what media the contractor uses for stainless.
- Not for glass windows, mirrors or shower doors.
Glass Bead Blasting Prices
We could not find a published South African glass bead blasting price list. Small parts are normally priced per item from photos.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Glass bead blasting, per part | Quoted per part - no reliable published rate |
| Abrasive blasting, for comparison | R80 - R150 per m² |
| Powder coating aluminium or stainless sheet | About R260 per m² |
| Powder coating a brake disc | R380 - R650 |
| Powder coating engine covers | From about R320 each |
Ballpark figures, not quotations. Compiled from price guides and price lists published on South African websites (published between April 2025 and October 2025, plus one undated powder-coating price list), checked 13 October 2026 and rounded. Most are national or Gauteng guides, so Cape Town quotes can differ. Unless a row says so, the sources do not state whether VAT is included, so confirm VAT on every quote. Photos, an inspection and a written quote set the actual price.
What Affects a Glass Bead Quote
- Number, size and complexity of parts.
- Existing coatings or heavy corrosion to remove first.
- Masking of threads and machined surfaces.
- Finish required and any sealing after.
- Turnaround time.
What to Send With Your Request
- Photos of the parts and current condition.
- The metal and approximate sizes.
- Surfaces that must not be blasted.
- The look you want: satin, matt or uniform clean.
For other blasting methods, see Sandblasting Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is glass bead blasting the same as glass sandblasting?
No. Glass bead blasting uses glass beads to finish metal parts. Glass sandblasting frosts or decorates glass with an abrasive.
Can glass bead blasting remove paint?
Light coatings, slowly. Thick paint and powder coat are usually stripped first or removed with grit.
Is glass bead blasting good for stainless steel?
Yes, it is commonly used for a uniform satin finish and to remove weld discolouration, provided the media is clean and not contaminated with steel.
Will it change the size of machined parts?
Very little, but machined faces, threads and bores should still be masked.
Can bead blasted aluminium be left bare?
Yes, but it marks and dulls over time. A sealant or clear coat helps keep the finish.
Related Services
Sandblasting Cape Town is a free quote-comparison service. Work is assessed, quoted and carried out by independent contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Ask each one for a written quote, what is and is not included, proof of insurance and the payment terms before paying anything.
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