Aluminum Part Original Finish Questions

[RamAirBirds]

Like Turbo69bird mentioned. The level of shiny vs dull is calibrated by the size of the media along with pressure. I have done many trans cases so far and the look is great. I do see the (Tumbled in shot) examples but it appears that has Made the case a little rougher than when it started. The Vapor Blast/Hone is surface recon only....does not tear open the casting pores like Sand or Glass does. Best to start with a clean part before the Vapor process.
I have many parts that were blasted with walnut for cleaning and then to Vapor. If it's too shiny the bead size of pressure needs adjust. Even if it comes out to shiny just go back over once set up right.
Thanks for everyones comments / thoughts...

[BCreekDave]

'837 alternator case before-after nitric acid "desmutting" soak. Not too bright, just clean and aluminum oxide tarnish removed

[turbo69bird]

Like I say you can vary the finish to whatever you want. So it can’t be too shiny it can only be that the operator is making it too shiny . When I did that RAIV intake I did it to match a NOS factory intake. You can make it as dull or as shiny as you want if you know how to vary it
Most people are basing what they think is correct on very old pieces that no matter how well kept have dulled to some extent
I was amazed at just how much sheen that NOS in the box intake actually had in comparison to what I expected . .

[turbo69bird]

That trans case had been dipped and they couldn’t get the black specs out of it no matter what they did. It took a lot of work but I was able to get it right w the Vapor blaster

Took me about 5 hours to get it right certainly wasn’t a money maker by any means.
In fact IMO vapor blasting isn’t a fast low labor solution. Takes a long time and a lot work to get it right. There’s alot of angles and I’m constantly pulling the part out washing it, inspecting it and putting it back in to get it right

I don’t want to do any more to a part than I need to, but I also don’t want it unfinished. You just can’t tell while it’s in being done.

Idk how anyone could ever make money doing vapor blasting for a living.