Most of the time I use a Walter zip disk (light touch, constant movement, about a 45* angle) if there's mill scale - then smooth it out with a CGW 40 grit flap disk (same method as the zip disk, only almost flat) - a NEW 40 grit is a little aggressive, so I use NEW ones for bevels, etc, til they "mellow out" a bit, then I use them for the "final shiney" part -
If a part has sat long enough to start a light rust coat before I get around to finishing the job, I have an old B&D "professional" high speed corded drill (came as a 1/4", I put a 3/8 keyless chuck on it) - it runs 4000 rpm, usually keep a 6" wire wheel on it and use it to get REALLY light rust off and add a bit of "tooth" before painting.
There's so much rain and humidity here a lot of the year, if I DON'T do that EVERYTHING is the SAME COLOR (reddish brown) and has its own "non-skid" finish
My favorite "bb blaster", for FLAT surfaces anyway, is an air hammer with a wide flat chisel, kept pretty sharp - you can just PUSH it along (low angle) til it stops on a more stubborn "bb", then just touch the trigger. That also works really good on the light slag after plasma cuts.
Small needle scaler for corners, fillets, etc...
If there's quite a bit of "flat land", this
Ingersoll Rand 315 Heavy Duty Air Twin Piston Straight Line Sander - 2-3/4-Inch x 17-1/2-Inch Pad - Power Random Orbit Sanders - Amazon.com
works pretty good too - I quit tryin' to live with plain-backed paper, now I buy the pressure-sensitive stuff in 40 grit. I got the idea from my GOOD neighbor, he runs a custom car shop next door. Side benefit - I can drool over all kinds of fun toys without havin' to use perfectly good TOOL money to do it :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I got the rest of the pieces cut (no pics yet) for both the "porch roof" on the container, AND the other tubing pieces for the HF crane's corner braces; might get more "shinifyin'" done after supper, I wanna get the "porch roof" part done (welded and painted) so I can keep the (coming soon,AGAIN) horizontal rain outa the weld shop container with the doors open... Steve
Oh, BTW - now you can join the "pick on Shiny Steve" club, Terry (Big Barn) is prez, but I'm pretty sure the "Veep" slot is still open :laughing: